United States or Kiribati ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The elder Coretti handed us our portions of sausage on gourd leaves. And then we all began to talk at once about the teachers, the comrades who had not been able to come, and the examinations. Precossi was rather ashamed to eat, and Garrone thrust the best bits of his share into his mouth by force.
But Nelli replied: "They will not do anything to me and then, there is Garrone. It is sufficient for him to be present, to prevent their laughing." And then he was allowed to come. The teacher with the wound on his neck, who was with Garibaldi, led us at once to the vertical bars, which are very high, and we had to climb to the very top, and stand upright on the transverse plank.
While the master was giving to Garrone the rough draft of The Sardinian Drummer-Boy, the monthly story for January, to copy, he threw a petard on the floor, which exploded, making the schoolroom resound as from a discharge of musketry. The whole class was startled by it. The master sprang to his feet, and cried: "Franti, leave the school!" The latter retorted, "It wasn't I;" but he laughed.
But I like Precossi, the son of the blacksmith-ironmonger, the one with the long jacket, who seems sickly. They say that his father beats him; he is very timid, and every time that he addresses or touches any one, he says, "Excuse me," and gazes at them with his kind, sad eyes. But Garrone is the biggest and the nicest. Wednesday, 26th.
Twice the head-master appeared at the door and looked in; but the moment he disappeared the murmur increased as in a market. It was in vain that Derossi and Garrone turned round and made signs to their comrades to be good, so that it was a shame. No one paid any heed to them.
But Derossi pays no attention to him when he is by; and when the boys tell Garrone that Nobis has been speaking ill of him, he says: "His pride is so senseless that it does not deserve even my passing notice." But Coretti said to him one day, when he was smiling disdainfully at his catskin cap: "Go to Derossi for a while, and learn how to play the gentleman!"
To such a degree are ye loved, O children! Think to-day on those dead with gratitude, and you will be kinder and more affectionate to all those who love you, and who toil for you, my dear, fortunate son, who, on the day of the dead, have, as yet, no one to grieve for. Friday, 4th. THERE had been but two days of vacation, yet it seemed to me as though I had been a long time without seeing Garrone.
"Make an effort, Garrone, and write down what I dictate to you as well as the rest." We all took our pens, and the teacher dictated.
We met yesterday at two o'clock in the place of the Statuto, Derossi, Garrone, Garoffi, Precossi, Coretti, father and son, and I, with our provisions of fruit, sausages, and hard-boiled eggs; we had also leather bottles and tin cups.
To work, which will give me back again the kindly smile of my teacher, the blessed kiss of my father! Friday, 10th. Precossi came to our house to-day with Garrone. I do not think that two sons of princes would have been received with greater delight.
Word Of The Day