The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-19

Translated from the Italian by Edmonds
dc Amicis.)


fastened TO their belts and canteens
dangling from their necks. Worn out
and covered with dust. they stood
about in groups or leaned against the
walls with folued arms. Some OF them
went into the public houses to refresh
themselves with a drink of wine; others
rOamed languidly about the streets.
They were gravely silent Or talking in
reluctant undertone. They were
sleepy, tired and unaccustomed 10 the
noises OF a big city.
Ringing amid the mute gravity OF a
small group of soldiers who sat on the
step OF church near the barracks was
the restless gayety and unceasing chat
ter of a small, nimble fellow with "a
pleasing. beardless face and large blue
eyes. He was friskiDg about among
his silent comrades. buzzing in their
ears, tugging at the cloak OF one.
stealing up from behind and covering
the eyes Of a third.
. He had been I'm the service now four
years and through a series Of the mer-
est accidents ne had never ha- a fur
lough, so that he had not visited his ma
tive village nor seen any of his relatives
since he was enlisted He was a ten
his birthplace anu his people, and the
four years seemed an age TO him. He
was usually reticent and retiring.
When off duty. while his comrades
StrOlled about the public garden or
fondled the babies i'm charge of pretty
nurses in their rough way he would
walk up and down the drill grounds
with his cnIn pressed against his chest.
or sit on a stone bench at the end OF
"A
with his boot and thinking OF his home.
and above all OF his mother.
She was a poor. sickly country-wo-
man with the heart OF an angel The
little soldier was her pet and her doting
love for him gave her no rest. She
wrote often TO him and each time she
received a letto' from her soldier boy
she would press IL to her lips and then
carry il about IN her BOSOM "a she
would some sacred relic. i'm order that
IL might soothe the cruel pain OF sep
aration. The soldier cherished his
mothers letters as much as she did.
his but paper is nothing but paper. af-
ter all. The four years were passed by
mother and son i'm the acutest yearn-
ings. The young man was first sent TO
Sicily (think OF what II meant To the
poor woman To be separated from her
boy by such lot OF water'D where he
spent two years. Then the regiment was
TO Calabria for one year.
and thence 10 Central Italy. At last. !
at the end OF the fourth year. a rumor |
was set on foot that the men were to
30 to north Italy. The little soldiers |
heart beat as II h would burst. TO |
what place." he asked tremblingly |
The sergeant named the city. 1t was the |
nearest large town TO his native viii |
age.
"Ah" ne exclaimed. and all but
rugged the sergeant breach Of dsci-
pline which might have got him into
trouble.
And 50 he was within a short dis
ance from his home. and all in a nut
er He was planning TO ask for a brief
when the quartermaster hand
ID him letter
1T comes from some place herea-
)outs.' he said.
The little private took the letter,
opened Il with trembling hands and
.ushed through it's lines, his head fol-
owing the direction OF his eyes and
lis lips mutteIfng the words. Then he
.nnched the letter in his fist, and let
ing his arms DROP he raised his big
ives 10 heaven. The two tears which
lad been trembling behind his eyelids
,roke loose and fell hot upon one OF his
lands. 1t was letter from his mother.
ure enough.
Tomorrow | will go 70 town on foot"
he wrote. Il cannot bear 10 wait any
onger my son. 1t f. FOUR years since
,ou left me. and | must go and fall on
tour neck. my darling"
That night he could not get wink ~
,leep. He tucked himself carefully |
urned this way and that. but all In
,ain. His heart was aching and he was
hoking for breath. In his fever Of eX-
ftement he kicked off his blanket. but
III to no purpose. He might as we'll
lave tried to fall asleep in front Of a
'aker's over Groaning and signing. he
AT up on his cot and looked around
i'm. His comrades were all sleeping
ast. as men will I'm beautiful spring |
light He gazed at the bit OF starry |
ky which showed through a window on
he other side Of the dormBory. and |
hought how good il would be To be out
n the fields and to breathe the fresh air |
ut there. He bed the lamp In re-
note corner of the room and it's flick
ring light Quickened MS rsstlessness
nd made the minutes drag on more
ainfully than ever He lay down again
nd stretching himself and shutting his |
YES. he attempted to beguile the time |
" thinking NJ the coming needing. but !
he thought onIy added to his excite
,ent He lay still. with his eyes closed |
ut his heart beat faster as though
aving. Its no use. NOu dren gong
, get any sleep tonight And again he
pened his eyes and again he looked |
1 the rows OF fast-sleeping men around
i'm.
Completely exhausted at last. his
b art calmcd down and ne drowsed or
When ne woke NJ Tn the morning and ,
came back 10 him that he was near
ONE and that his mother was coming
, see him he had a thrill OF JOY thet J
licht be more easily ma ginod than de-
rrlbed.
Pres ntly reveilie was sounded and
ne men sprang out of their beds. oar
ero slipped or his clothes and went tq
ne morning prayer with a bright face.
4 lest the long-awaited noon hour
hen his mothcr WIS expected tl ar
i've. came round. H. wac ever and
gain sta0ping his feet biting h's lps
him--if ur ntkiuE what timc
WAS The 1uru W-r uui 90 drill bat
/, Was cN.us-d th'- mtru u. 's sIDu I !
s w.. found bifas-if u'uhe 20 d1Itel up-
iiirs Co. where h'- b.t. sf.'d. For a
,inute ui fon ha s..,I ieuu.ur against
,p v.tW frau h. sat down his olbnvs
ropppd ~ his knees. h.s facc in hir
arde and MS ewes cn th" 0s1r.
"shr is crrfrr rvcr fc+c 20 this
c-, 20 n Do th1U1hf fn himse'f. with I ,