El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-26
THE INHERITANCE
OF SAN FRANCISCO
The Herald's Daily
Short Story

He says right away: Poor, poor little
one-he is talking to the donkey,
signore-pOOr little creature, he says,
how you must slave and struggled And
what do you get for it all? Mean
words and meaner food, but plenty of
biOwsi If you belonged to me ever--
thing would be different. I would
stroke your gray skin until your
soft and smooth and nice to look
upon. And / would wash your sores
with my own handkerchief and let
you eat all the green grass you could
find along the road? And San Fran
cescO would perhaps add: Little
brother donkey for he called every
thing that was made brother ana sis
ter, for he meant, that when we called
all other creatures our brothers and
sisters signore, We would feel much
more so towards men. This is what
san FrancesO meant
Guilio stops to draw his breath and
can find nothing more to say. But. Of
course, he has spoken well and enough.
There is an exchange OF approving
mods between his father and the rest
Of the audience
The teacher tells Giulio to step back
and sit down. The boys who have
answered are allowed to remain.
Antonio is the next His new shoes
squeak. as he enters proud and self
conscious. Antonio knows he is
bright and Intelligent boy. When the
teacher has read the question he
thinks a little before replying, as any
body ought to. Then he begins
'SignOre, imagine that san Fran
cesco walks up to the man and says
to him: Do you think that because
the donkey belongs to you, you are
entitled to abuse 1t as you are doing?
Don't you know, perhaps, that 1t IS
our duty to protect and treat well all
those that God has confided to our
nd TnnwV "
you are doing is not only wicked, but
also coWardly, because you torture
those who are not able to complain
against you because God has not
granted to the animals the gift Of
speech. But as surely as the sun is
shining on you, God sees you and your
hardness Of heart. Consider what you
are doing and be charitable II you
want God to judge you with charity
when his day comes
It was evident that Antonio's words
made an impression The teacher pats
his shoulder, and Giulio's father moves
uneasily on his chair.
1t IS GiacOmo's turn now. Nobody
mods to him Giulio's father sends him
an unfriendly glance and his home
made shoes do not squeak.
When the teacher has read the ques-
ton, he stands silent and motionless.
For he has seen everything before
him. He IS part OF the scene now
IL
the heavy cart, like an enormous
wicker basket. as all carts are in
Assist And in front Of the cart the
little thin donkey on its trembling
legs.
And there in the dark gateway
stands San francesca.
well" the teacher asks, what does
san francesca say, Giacomo?"
The boy shakes his head emphatic
ally; Nothing, signorei Nothing at
The audience is puzzled. GiuIio's
rather smiles meaningly.
Think little" says the teacher
encouraging, What does San Fran
cescO say2"
Giacomo looks at him with his big.
soulful black eyes. He has forgotten
mat ne Is to answer a prize question.
forgotten the five lires, forgotten
everything except that he feels the
scene with all his soul
Nothing, signore. No, San Fran
cesco says nothing at all He lust
taxes hold Of the harness and stops
the cart Then he unhitches the dom
Aey sentiy' oh so gently, signore. be-
cause OF the bloody wounds. And when
me oOnkey Is free and begins to
Inuncn tnistles along the roadside, san
4 Iancesco bitches himself to the cart
aH "a osglns TO pull 1t through the gate /
anu the man, signore, who has
: tOOu uumDrounded looking at this
Goes not say a word, either But sud-
oenly ne throws the heavy whip FAR 1
f6 ny and begins to push the cart with |
AFTER Giaeomo come all the other 1
boys one after the other But when 1
the committee retires into the next l
room the members all agree that the /
ch0lce IS between the three first bows. 1
now wish might be able to tel 4
ma S1lacomo got the prize, but I can 4
~, Los II was given to Antonio. The /
{ olllhlttee found that the question
read- What did San Francisco saw"
~ l considering that, Antoaio's an
sWer was the best
! wish l might add one OF the audi
shCe, VINO had not grown inhuman by
oeing on committee, one Of the good !
ana rlcn foreigners. took ten lire from
ms pocket and gave It to Giacomo
with the words: I thank you for
your answer, my boy. You easily de-
serve double the prize" But I cannot
40 that either. This is what happens
IN stories, but seldom in life.
Nevertheless. It seems to me, that
Iiacomo did not go home empty
handed, even II he felt poor and dis
appointed, for 7 believe that on that
lay he came into possession OF the