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

43 2 MILITARY LIFE.
"Why won't you take it ? " asked the general.
" It hurts me," the former replied timidly.
" No,
it does not hurt you, my dear fellow. Will you believe
me if I taste it ? " and taking a cup which the doctor handed
him, he swallowed some it and gave
it to the soldier who
was looking at him in surprise.
"
Courage, drink it !
soldier drank, made a wry face, and then laughed.
"
The
The general asked another who was to be removed to the
home for the convalescents " "
: How do you feel now ?
"
How do I feel ?" replied the soldier.
" Ah, Mr. General,
very hungry."
So he moved gradually on through the wards ;
the sick, who
were able to do so, rose to a sitting position, or raised themselves
slightly on their elbows, listening attentively and stretching
out their necks to hear what he was saying, and to look him
in the face.
The last one visited was a dying man. His face was distorted
beyond recognition, with that imprint of old age, that
expression of great fear, which is peculiar to cholera patients,
and which, once seen, is never forgotten. He was raving,
murmuring indistinct words, moving his arms incessantly, and
picking at his counterpane as if looking for something, or
raising his hands as if to seize something that was floating before
his eyes. He was a young sergeant who, in those sad days
of the cholera, had given eVery possible proof of courage, constancy,
and " charity. He has only a few more hours to live,"
said the doctor in an undertone. The general looked a long
time at him with a sad and thoughtful face. He was certainly
thinking
that that brave
young fellow was dying
far from his
own, without any comfort or any tears ;
he thought of his