Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

DEAD ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE. 357
soon as he appeared, the old man stretched out his arms toward
" "
him, and exclaimed sorrowfully
: Oh, captain
!
captain !
The latter went forward, embraced him, and said affectionately
: Courage, dear sir !
" "
The oldest son and the little
boy placed themselves on one
side of the bed, and the second one on the other.
had laid his head on the captain's arm, and was weeping.
a short time no one spoke.
The father
For
Suddenly the old man moved, raised his head, and wiping
"
his eyes, said in a resolute tone : Captain
. . .
you were
there that day ; you have seen ;
. . . tell me ... relate
to me ... I want to know every thing ;
I will be
strong ... I am strong ... I will listen without
giving way
.
. . without interrupting you ;
but do not conceal
any thing ... I want to know all, I ... I must
know how (and here he broke out weeping afresh)
. . .
how my poor son died ! "
Then he laid his head again on the captain's arm, and shaking
it disconsolately, said :
" He was so young ! "
" But now
" he is so great
!
replied the captain.
At these words the poor old man started, raised his head,
and looked fixedly at the officer ;
and as he looked, his face,
bathed in tears, gradually grew calm and proud, his eyes
were animated, and he slowly drew his
arm from the captain's
shoulder, as if the new thought with which he was occupied
were sufficient to sustain him without any other support. This
thought, which had lain veiled and dormant in his sorrow, suddenly
sprang up in his mind, giving him an unexpected feeling
of comfort, and putting into his soul a strength of which he