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

THE CHOLERA OF 1867. 421
age the soldiers, turned from time to time to the people who
were following them, and said :
"Come now, go and help those
poor fellows who have been working so long for you ; go and
call those who have fled into the country we can all do
;
something
let us
; get the town in order the ; syndic will return ;
the gentlemen will come back and help you so will the
;
bakers
and physicians ; help will soon arrive from Caltanisetta. Courage
come now, let us all work there ! is a ; remedy for every
trouble, and we will remedy even .this. We came here for
your good, rest assured of that, my good people what have
;
you to fear from the soldiers ? Don't we all belong to the
"
same country ;
are we not all
your brothers and defenders ?
These words were followed by a murmur of approbation in the
crowd ;
some instantly detached themselves therefrom and ran
to the assistance of the soldiers ;
others went toward the country
; many scattered through the streets ;
the remainder gathered
around the officer with laments and supplications
:
"
We
are without bread. We are hungry."
" I know it, my good
people ;
have a little patience and the bread will come ;
I
will do all that I can for you ;
I will send my soldiers to get
something to eat at Sutera we will ; give you all that we have.
But meanwhile you must work, carry away the dead, nurse the
sick, and help each other." Then the people thanked him,
began to beg again, complain, and ask for bread.
Suddenly a soldier ran up and whispered in Cangiano's ear.
A difficult test of their charity and strength was now to be
given Cangiano saw, very ! wisely, that every thing must be
done secretly, so ordered those present to go and wait for the
expected succor on the road leading to Caltanisetta, called
fifteen soldiers with their muskets, made twenty peasants with