艾得蒙多·德·亚米契斯（Edemondo De
Amicis）1846年10月31日生于意大利利古里亚大区因佩里亚省一个收奥内利亚的海滨城市。他从小喜爱军旅生活，16岁进入莫德纳军事学院学习，1865年毕业后成为军官，1866年积极参加了意大利第三次独立战争。1868年发表处女作《军营生活》，并因此而成名。1870年罗马解放后，他放弃军事生涯，定居都灵，成为意大利主要报纸的记者，并从此开始从事专业文学创作。1908年3月11日在博尔迪凯拉病逝。
亚米契斯早期曾周游世界，写下不少游记，如《西班牙》、《荷兰》、《伦敦记事》、《摩洛哥》、《君土坦丁堡》、《美国游记》、《西西里的回忆》等。1879年至1889年的10年间是亚米契斯创作的繁荣时期，他写了许多有关社会题材的作品，有《散文集》、《朋友们》、《爱的教育》、《大西洋上》等。他关注社会问题，继而投身政治，参加社会主义运动，1891年加入社会党此后，他先后出版了《一个教师的小说》、《工人的教师》和《公共电车》等作品。
目錄：
第一 十月
October
始业日十七日
The First Day of School
我们的先生十八日
Our Master
灾 难二十一日
An Accident
格??勃利亚的小孩二十二日
The Calabrian Boy
同窗朋友二十五日
My Schoolmates
义侠的行为二十六日
A Generous Deed
我的女先生二十七日
My Schoolmistress of the Upper First
贫民窟二十八日
In an Attic
学 校二十八日
The School
少年爱国者（每月例话）
The Little Patriot of Padua The Monthly Story
第二 十一月
November
烟囱扫除人十一月一日
The Chimney-Sweep
万灵节二日
The Day of the Dead All-souls’ -Day
好友卡隆四日
My Friend Garrone
卖炭者与绅士七日
The Charcoal-Man and the Gentleman
弟弟的女先生十日
My Brother’s Schoolmistress
我的母亲十日
My Mother
朋友可莱谛十三日
My Friend Coretti
校长先生十八日
The Principal
兵 士二十二日
The Soldiers
耐利的保护者二十三日
Nelli’s Protector
级 长二十五日
The Head of the Class
少年侦探（每月例话）
The Little Vidette of Lombardy Monthly Story
贫 民二十九日
The Poor
第三 十二月
December
商 人一日
The Trader
虚荣心五日
Vanity
初 雪十日
The First Snow-Storm
“小石匠”十一日
Muratorino, the Little Mason
雪 球十六日
A Snowball
女教师十七日
The Schoolmistresses
访问负伤者十八日
The Wounded Man
少年笔耕（每月例话
The Little Florentine Scribe Monthly Story
坚忍心二十八日
Will
感 恩三十一日
Gratitude
第四 一月
January
助教师四日
The Assistant Master
斯带地的图书室
Stardi’s Library
铁匠的儿子
The Blacksmith’s Son
友人的来访十二日
A Fine Visit
维多利亚?爱马努爱列王的大葬十七日
The Funeral of Vittorio Emanuele
勿兰谛的斥退二十一日
Franti Expelled From School
少年鼓手（每月例话）
The Sardinian Drummer-Boy
爱 国二十四日
The Love of Country
嫉 妒二十五日
Envy
勿兰谛的母亲二十八日
Franti’s Mother
希 望二十九日
Hope
第五 二月
February
奖牌授予四日
A Medal Well Bestowed
决 心五日
Good Resolutions
玩具的火车十日
The Train of Cars
傲 慢十一日
Pride
劳动者的伤十三日
The Wounds of Labor
囚 犯十七日
The Prisoner
爸爸的看护者（每月例话）
Daddy’s Nurse
铁工场十八日
The Workshop
小小的卖艺者二十日
The Little Clown
“谢肉节”的最后一天二十一日
The Last Day of the Carnital
盲 孩二十四日
The Blind Boys
病中的先生二＋五日
The Sick Teacher
街 路二十五日
The Street
第六 三月
March
夜学校二日
The Evening School
相 打五日
The Fight
学生的父母六日
The Boys’ Parents
七十八号的犯人八日
Number 78
小孩的死亡十三日
A Little Dead Boy
三月十四日的前一夜
The Eve of the Fourteenth of March
奖品授予式十四日
The Distribution of Prizes
争 吵二十日
The Quarrel
我的姊姊二十四日
My Sister
洛马格那的血（每月例话）
Blood of Romagna Monthly Story
病床中的“小石匠”二十八日
The Little Mason on His Sick-Bed
卡华伯爵二十九日
Count Cavour
第七 四月
April
春一日
Spring
温培尔脱王三日
King Umberto
幼儿园四日
The Infant Asylum
体 操五日
Gymnastics
父亲的先生十一日
My Father’s Teacher
痊 愈二十日
Convalescence
劳动者中有朋友二十日
Friends Among the Workingmen
卡隆的母亲二十八日
Garrone’s Mother
寇塞贝?马志尼二十九日
Giuseppe Mozzini
少年受勋章（每月例话）
Civic Valor Monthly, Story
第八 五月
May
畸形儿五日
Children with the Rickets
牺 牲九日
Sacrifice
火 灾十一日
The Fire
六千英里寻母（每月例话）
From the Apennines to the Andes Monthly Story
夏二十四日
Summer
诗二十六日
The Poetic Side
聋 哑二十八日
The Deaf-Mute
第九 六月
June
格里勃尔第将军三日
Garibaldi
军 队十一日
The Army
意大利十四日
Italy
三十二度的炎暑十六日
Thirty-Two Degrees
我的父亲十七日
My Father
多野远足十九日
In the Country
劳动者的奖品授予式二十五日
The Distribution of Prizes To the Workingmen
女先生之死二十七日
My Dead Schoolmistress
感谢二十八日
Thanks
难船（最后的每月例话
The Shipwreck Last Monthly Story
第十 七月
July
母亲的末后一页一日
The Last Page From My Mother
试 验四日
The Examinations
最后的试验七日
The Last Examination
告 别十日
Farewell
內容試閱：
第一十月
始业日
十七日
今天开学了，乡间的三个月，梦也似的过去，又回到了这丘林的学校里来了。早晨母亲送我到学校里去的时候，心还一味地想着在乡间的情形哩，不论哪一条街道，都充满着学校的学生们；书店的门口呢，学生的父兄们都拥挤着在那里购买笔记簿、书袋等类的东西；校役和警察都拼命似的想把路排开。到了校门口，觉得有人触动我的肩膀，原来这就是我三年级时候的先生，是一位头发赤而卷拢、面貌快活的先生。先生看着我的脸孔说：“我们不再在一处了！安利柯！”这原是我早已知道的事，今天被先生这么一说，不觉重新难过起来了。我们好不容易地到了里面，许多夫人、绅士、普通妇人、职工、官吏、女僧侣、男佣人、女佣人，都一手拉了小儿，一手抱了成绩簿，挤满在接待所楼梯旁，嘈杂得如同戏馆里一样。我重新看这大大的休息室的房子，非常欢喜，因为我这三年来，每日到教室去都穿过这里。我的二年级时候的女先生见了我：“安利柯！你现在要到楼上去了！不再走过我的教室了！”说着，恋恋地看我。校长先生被妇人们围绕着，头发好像比以前白了。学生们也比夏天的时候长大强壮了许多。才来入一年级的小孩们不愿到教室里去，像驴马似的倔强，勉强拉了进去，有的仍旧逃出，有的因为找不着父母，哭了起来。做父母的回身进去，有的诱骗，有的叱骂，先生们也弄得没有法子了。
October
The First Day of School
Monday, 17th.
Today is the first day of school. The three months of vacation in
the country have passed like a dream. This morning my mother took
me to the Baretti schoolhouse to have me enter for the third
elementary grade: I was thinking of the country, and went
unwillingly.
The streets were swarming with boys: the two book-shops were
thronged with fathers and mothers who were purchasing bags,
portfolios, and copy-books, and in front of the school so many
people had collected, that the beadle and the policeman found it
hard to keep the entrance clear. Near the door, I felt myself
touched on the shoulder: it was my master of the second grade,
cheerful, as usual, and with his red hair ruffled. He said to me:
—
“So we are to part forever, Enrico?”
I knew it well, yet the words pained me.
We made our way in with difficulty. Ladies, gentlemen, women of
the people, workmen, officials, nuns, and servants, all leading
boys with one hand,and holding the promotion books in the other,
filled the anteroom and the stairs, making such a buzzing,that it
seemed like entering a theatre. I was glad to see once more that
large room on the ground floor, with the doors leading to the seven
classes, where I had passed nearly every day for three years. There
was a throng of teachers going and coming. My schoolmistress of the
first upper class greeted me from the door of the class-room, and
said:—
“Enrico, you are going to the floor above, this year. I shall not
even see you pass by any more!” And she gazed sadly at me.
The principal was surrounded by women who were much worried
because there was no room for their sons; and it struck me that his
beard was a little whiter than 第it had been last year. I found the
boys had grown taller and stouter. On the ground 一
floor, where the divisions had already been made, there were
little children of the 十first and lowest section,who did not want
to enter the classrooms, and who pulled 月
我的弟弟被编入在名叫代尔卡谛的女先生所教的一组里。午前十时，大家进了教室，我们的一级共五十五人。从三年级一同升上来的只不过十五六人，惯得一等奖的代洛西也在里面。一想起暑假中跑来跑去游过的山林，觉得学校里暗闷得讨厌。又忆起三年级时候的先生来：那是常常对着我们笑的好先生，是和我们差不多大的先生。那个先生的红而卷拢的头发已不能看见了，一想到此，就有点难过。这次的先生，身材高长，没有胡须，长长地留着花白的头发，额上皱着直纹，说话大声，他瞪着眼一个一个地看我们的时候，眼光竟像要透到我们心里似的。而且还是一位没有笑容的先生。我想：“唉！一天总算过去了，还有九个月呢！什么用功，什么月试，多讨厌啊！”一出教室，恨不得就看见母亲，飞跑到母亲面前去吻她的手。母亲说：“安利柯啊！要用心呀！我也和你们用功呢！”我高高兴兴地回家了。可是因为那位亲爱快活的先生已不在，学校也不如以前有趣味了。
我们的先生
十八日
从今天起，现在的先生也可爱起来了。我们进教室去的时候，先生已在位子上坐着。先生前学年教过的学生们都从门口探进头来和先生招呼。“先生早安！”“配巴尼先生早安！”大家这样说着。其中也有走进教室来和先生匆忙地握了手就出去的。可知大家都爱慕这先生，今年也想仍请他教。先生也说着“早安”！去拉学生伸着的手，却是不看学生的脸。和他们招呼的时候，虽也现出笑容，额上皱纹一蹙，脸孔就板起来，并且把脸对着窗外，注视着对面的屋顶，好像他和学生们招呼是很苦的。完了以后，先生又把我们一一地注视，叫我们默写，自己下了讲台在桌位间巡
back like donkeys: they had to be dragged in by force, and some
ran away from the benches; others, when they saw their parents
leave, began to cry, and the parents had to go back and comfort
them, or take them away; while the teachers were in despair.
My little brother was placed in the class of Mistress Delcati: I
was put with Master Perboni, up stairs on the first floor.
At ten o’clock we were all in our classes: fifty-four of us; only
fifteen or sixteen of my companions of the second class, among
them, Derossi, the one who always gets the first prize.
The school seemed so small and gloomy to me when I thought of the
woods and the mountains where I had passed the summer! I thought
again, too, of my master in the second class, who was so good, and
who always smiled at us, and was so small that he seemed to be one
of us; and I grieved that I should no longer see him, with his
tumbled red hair. Our present teacher is tall; he has no beard; his
hair is gray and long; and he has a straight line running crosswise
on his forehead. He has a big voice, and he looks at us fixedly,one
after the other, as though he were reading our very thoughts; and
he never smiles. I said to myself: “This is my first day. There are
nine months more. What work, what monthly examinations, what
weariness!” I wanted to see my mother when I came out, and I ran to
kiss her hand! She said to me:—
“Courage. Enrico! we will study together. ”And I returned home
content. But I no longer have my master, with his kind, merry
smile, and school does not seem so nice to me as it did
before.
Our Master
Tuesday, 18th.
I like my new teacher too, since this morning. While we were
coming in, and when he was already seated. some of his scholars of
last year every now and then peeped in at the door to salute him;
they would present themselves and greet him: —
“Good morning, Signor Teacher!” “Good morning, Signor
Perboni!”
Some came in, touched his hand, and ran away. It was plain that
they liked him, and would have been glad to return to him. He
responded, “Good morning” 第and shook the hands which were held out
to him, but he looked at no one: at every 一
greeting his smile remained serious, with that deep wrinkle on
his brow, with his 十face turned towards the window, and staring at
the roof of the house opposite; and 月
回。看见有一个面上生着红粒的学生，就让他中止默写，两手托了他的头查看，又摸他的额，问他有没有发热。这时先生后面有一个学生乘着先生不看见，跳上椅子玩起洋娃娃来。恰好先生回过头去，那学生就急忙坐下，俯了头预备受责。先生把手按在他的头上，只说：“下次不要再做这种事了！”不再说什么。默写完了，先生又沉默了，看着我们好一会儿，用粗大的亲切的声音这样说：
“大家听我说！我们从此要同处一年，让我们好好地过这一年吧！大家要用功，要规矩。我没有一个家属，你们就是我的家属。去年以前，我还有母亲，母亲死了以后，我只有一个人了！你们以外，我没有别的家属在世界上，除了你们，我没有可爱的人！你们是我的儿子，我爱你们，请你们也喜欢我！我一个都不愿责罚你们，请将你们的真心给我看看！请你们全班成为一家，给我慰藉，给我荣耀！我现在并不要你们用口来答应我，我确已知道你们已在心里答应我，‘愿意’了。我感谢你们。”
这时校役来通知放学，我们很静很静地离开座位。那个跳上椅子的学生走到先生的身旁，抖抖索索地说：“先生！饶了我这次！”先生用嘴亲着他的额说：“快回去！好孩子！”
灾难
二十一日
学年开始就发生了意外的事情。今晨到学校去，我和父亲正谈着先生所说的话。忽然见路上人满了，都奔入校门去。父亲就说：“出了什么意外的事了？学年才开始，真不凑巧！”
instead of being cheered by these greetings, he seemed to suffer
from them. Then he looked at us closely, one after the other. While
he was dictating, he got down and walked among the benches.
Catching sight of a boy whose face was all red with little pimples,
he stopped dictating, took the lad’s face between his hands and
examined it; then he asked him what was the matter with him, and
laid his hand on his forehead to feel if it were hot. Meanwhile, a
boy behind him got up on the bench,and began to play the
marionette. The teacher turned round suddenly; the boy sat down at
one dash, and remained there, with head hanging, in dread of being
punished. The master placed one hand on his head and said to
him:—
“Don’ t do so again.” Nothing more.
Then he returned to his table and finished the dictation. When he
was done, he looked at us a moment in silence; then he said,very,
very slowly, with his big but kind voice: —
“Listen. We have a year to pass together; let us see that we pass
it well. Study and be good. I have no family; you are my family.
Last year I had a mother; she is dead. I am left alone. I have no
one but you in all the world; I have no other affection, no other
thought than you: you must be my sons. I wish you well, and you
must like me too. I do not wish to be obliged to punish any one.
Show me that you are boys of heart: our school shall be a family,
and you shall be my comfort and my pride. I do not ask you to give
me a promise; I am sure that in your hearts you have already
answered ‘yes,’ and I thank you.”
Just then the beadle came in to announce the close of school. We
all left our seats as quietly as could be. The boy who had stood up
on the bench went up to the master, and said to him, in a trembling
voice:—
“Forgive me, Signor Master.”
The master kissed him on the brow, and said, “Go, my son.”
An Accident
Friday, 21st.
The year has begun with an accident. On my way to school this
morning I was repeatting to my father the words of our teacher,
when we noticed that the street was 第full of people, who were
pressing close to the door of the schoolhouse. Suddenly my 一
father said: — 十“An accident! The year is beginning badly!”
月
好不容易，我们进了学校，人满了，大大的房子里充满着儿童和家属。听见他们说：“可怜啊！洛佩谛！”从人山人海中，警察的帽子看见了，校长先生的光秃秃的头也看见了。接着又走进来了一个戴着高冠的绅士，大家说：“医生来了！”父亲问一个先生：“究竟怎么了？”先生回答说：“被车子轧伤了！”“脚骨碎了！”又一先生说。原来是洛佩谛，是二年级的学生。上学来的时候，有一个一年级的小学生忽然离开了母亲的手，倒在街上了。这时，街车正往他倒下的地方驶来。洛佩谛眼见这小孩将被车子轧伤，大胆地跳了过去，把他拖救出来。不料他来不及拖出自己的脚，被车子轧伤了自己。洛佩谛是个炮兵大尉的儿子。正在听他们叙述这些话的时候，突然有一个妇人发狂似的奔到，从人堆里挣扎进来，这就是洛佩谛的母亲。另一个妇人同时跑拢去，抱了洛佩谛的母亲的头颈啜泣，这就是被救出的小孩的母亲。两个妇人向室内跑去，我们在外边可以听到她们“啊！洛佩谛呀！我的孩子呀！”的哭叫声。立刻，有一辆马车停在校门口。校长先生抱了洛佩谛出来。洛佩谛把头伏在校长先生肩上，脸色苍白，眼睛闭着。大家都静默了，洛佩谛母亲的哭声也听得出了。不一会儿，校长先生将抱在手里的受伤的人给大家看，父兄们、学生们、先生们都齐声说：“洛佩谛！好勇敢！可怜的孩子！”靠近一点的先生学生们都去吻洛佩谛的手。这时洛佩谛睁开他的眼说：“我的书包呢？”被救的孩子的母亲拿书包给他看，流着眼泪说：“让我拿吧，让我替你拿去吧。”洛佩谛的母亲脸上现出微笑。这许多人出了门，很小心地把洛佩谛载入马车。马车就慢慢地驶去，我们都默默地走进教室。
We passed through with some difficulty. The big hall was crowded
with parents and children, whom the teachers had not succeeded in
placing in the class-rooms, and all were turning towards the
principal’s room, and we heard the words, “Poor boy! Poor
Robetti!”
Over their heads, at the end of the room, we could see the helmet
of a policeman, and the bald head of the principal; then a
gentleman with a tall hat entered, and all said, “That is the
doctor.” My father inquired of a master, “What has happened?”— “A
wheel has passed over his foot,” replied the latter. “His foot has
been crushed,” said another. He was a boy belonging to the second
class, who, on his way to school through the Dora Grossa street,
seeing a little child of the lowest class, who had run away from
its mother, fall down in the middle of the street, a few paces from
an omnibus which was bearing down upon it, had hastened forward
boldly, caught up the child, and placed it in safety; but, as he
had not withdrawn his own foot quickly enough, the wheel of the
omnibus had passed over it. He is the son of a captain of
artillery.
While we were being told this, a woman entered the big hall,like
mad, and forced her way through the crowd: she was Robetti’s
mother, who had been sent for. Another woman hastened towards her,
and flung her arms about her neek, with sobs: it was the mother of
the baby who had been saved. Both flew into the room, and a
desperate cry made itself heard: “Oh my Giulio! My child!”
At that moment a carriage stopped before the door, and a little
later the director made his appearance, with the boy in his arms;
the latter leaned his head on his shoulder, with pallid face and
closed eyes. Every one stood very still; the sobs of the mother
were audible. The director paused a moment, quite pale, and raised
the boy up a little in his arms, in order to show him to the
people. And then the masters, mistresses, parents, and boys all
murmured together: “Bravo, Robetti! Bravo, poor child!” and they
threw kisses to him; the mistresses and boys who were near him
kissed his hands and his arms. He opened his eyes and said, “My
satchel!” The mother of the little boy whom he had saved showed it
to him and said, amid her tears, “I will carry it for you, my dear
little angel; I will carry it for you.” And in the meantime, she
bore up the mother of the wounded boy, who covered her face
第with her hands. They went out, placed the lad comfortably in the
carriage, and the 一
carriage drove away. Then we all entered school in silence.
十月
The Calabrian Boy
Saturday, 22d.
Yesterday afternoon, while the master was telling us the news of
poor Robetti, who will have to go on crutches, the director entered
with a new pupil, a lad with a very brown face, black hair, large
black eyes, and thick eyebrows which met on his forehead: he was
dressed entirely in dark clothes, with a black morocco belt round
his waist. The director went away, after speaking a few words in
the master’s ear, leaving beside the latter the boy, who glanced
about with his big black eyes as though frightened. The master took
him by the hand, and said to the class:—
“You ought to be glad. Today there enters our school a little
Italian born in Reggio, in Calabria, more than five hundred miles
from here. Love your brother who has come from so far away. He was
born in a glorious land, which has given illustrious men to Italy,
and which now furnishes her with stout laborers and brave soldiers;
in one of the most beautiful lands of our country, where there are
great forests, and great mountains, inhabited by people full of
talent and courage. Treat him well, so that he shall not feel that
he is far away from the city in which he was born;make him see that
an Italian boy, in whatever Italian school he sets his foot, will
find brothers there.” So saying, he rose and pointed out on the
wall map of Italy the spot where lay Reggio, in Calabria. Then he
called:—
“Ernesto Derossi!”—the boy who always gets the first prize.
Derossi rose.
“Come here,” said the master. Derossi left his bench and stepped
up to the little table,facing the Calabrian.
“As the head of the class, ” said the master to him, “give a
welcome to this new companion, in the name of the whole school—the
embrace of the sons of Piedmont to the son of Calabria.”
Derossi embraced the Calabrian, saying in his clear voice,
“Welcome!” and the other kissed him impetuously on the cheeks. All
clapped their hands. “Silence!”cried the master, “we don’t clap
hands in school!” But it was clear that he was pleased. And the
Calabrian was pleased also. The master gave him a place, and went
with him to the bench. Then he said again:—
“Bear well in mind what I have said to you. In order that this
case might occur, 第that a Calabrian boy should be as though in his
own house at Turin,and that a boy 一
from Turin should be at home in Calabria, our country fought for
fifty years, and 十thirty thousand Italians died. You must all
respect and love each other; but any one 月
“请你们好好记着我方才的话。格拉勃利亚的小孩到了丘林，要同住在自己家里一样。丘林的小孩到了格拉勃利亚，也应该毫不觉得寂寞。实对你们说，我国为此曾打了五十年的仗，有三万的同胞为此战死。所以你们大家要互相敬爱。如果有谁因为他不是本地人，对这新学友无礼，那就没有资格来见我们的三色旗！”格拉勃利亚小孩归到座位。和他邻席的学生有送他钢笔的，有送他画片的，还有送他瑞士的邮票的。
同窗朋友
二十五日
送邮票给格拉勃利亚小孩的，就是我所最欢喜的卡隆。他在同级中身躯最高大，年十四岁，是个大头宽肩笑起来很可爱的小孩，却已有大人气。我已认识了许多同窗的友人，有一个名叫可莱谛的我也喜欢。他着了茶色的裤子，戴了猫皮的帽，常说有趣的话。父亲是开柴店的，一八六六年曾在温培尔脱亲王部下打过仗，据说还拿到三个勋章呢。有个名叫耐利的，可怜是个驼背，身体怯弱，脸色常是青青的。还有一个名叫华梯尼的，他时常穿着漂亮的衣服。在我的前面，有一个绰号叫做“小石匠”的，那是石匠的儿子，脸孔圆圆的像苹果，鼻头像个小球，能装兔子的脸，时常装着引人笑。他戴着破絮样的褴褛的帽子，常常将帽子像手帕似的叠了藏在口袋里。坐在“小石匠”旁边的是一个叫做卡洛斐的瘦长、老鹰鼻、眼睛特别小的孩子。他常常把钢笔、火柴空盒等拿来做买卖，写字在手指甲上，做种种狡猾的事。还有一个名叫卡罗?诺琵斯的高傲的少年绅士。这人的两旁有两个小孩，我看是一对。一个是铁匠的儿子，穿了齐膝的上衣，脸色苍白得好像病人，对什么都胆怯，永远没有笑容。一个是赤发的小孩，一只手有了残疾，挂牢在项颈里。听说他的父亲到亚美利加去了，母亲走来走去卖着野菜呢。靠我的左边，还有一个奇怪的小孩，他
of you who should give offence to this comrade, because he was
not born in our province, would render himself unworthy of ever
again raising his eyes from the earth when he passes the tricolored
flag.”
Hardly was the Calabrian seated in his place, when his neighbors
presented him with pens and a picture; and another boy, from the
last bench, sent him a Swiss postage-stamp.
My Schoolmates
Tuesday, 25th.
The boy who sent the postage-stamp to the Calabrian is the one I
like best of all. His name is Garrone: he is the biggest boy in the
class; he is about fourteen years old; his head is large, his
shoulders broad; he is good, as one can see when he siniles; but it
seems as though he always thought like a man. I already know
several of my classmates. Another one I am taken with is named
Coretti, and he wears chocolate-colored trousers and a catskin cap:
he is always jolly; he is the son of a huckster of wood, who was a
soldier in the war of 1866, in the squadron of Prince Umberto,and
they say that he has three medals. There is little Nelli, a poor
hunchback, a weak boy, with a thin face. There is one who is very
well dressed, who always wears fine Florentine plush, and is named
Votini. On the bench in front of me there is a boy who is called
Muratorino “the little mason” because his father is a mason: his
face is as round as an apple, with a nose like a small ball; he
possesses a special talent: he knows how to make a hare’s face, and
they all get him to do it, and then they laugh. He wears a little
ragged cap, which he carries rolled up in his pocket like a
handkerchief. Beside Muratorino sits Garoffi, a long, thin, silly
fellow, with the nose and beak of a screech-owl, and very small
eyes, who is always trading in little pens and images and
match-boxes, and who writes the lesson on his nails, in order that
he may read it on the sly. Then there is a young gentleman, Carlo
Nobis, who seems very haughty; and he is between two boys I
like,—one the son of a blacksmith, clad in a jacket which reaches
to his knees, who is pale, as though from illness, who always has a
frightened air, and who never laughs; and the other with red hair,
who has a withered arm, and carries it hung in a sling from his
neck; his father has gone 第away to America, and his mother goes
about peddling potherbs. And there is another 一
curious fellow,—my neighbor on the left,—Stardi—small and
thickset, with no 十neck,—a gruff fellow, who speaks to no one, and
doesn’t seem to understand much, 月
名叫斯带地，身材短而肥，脖颈好像没有一样，他是个狂暴的小孩，不和人讲话，好像什么都不知道，可是先生的话，他总目不转睛地蹙了眉头、闭紧了嘴听着。先生说话的时候，如果有人说话，第二次他还忍耐着，一到第三次，他就要愤怒起来顿脚了。坐在他旁边的是一个毫不知顾忌的相貌狡猾的小孩，他名叫勿兰谛，听说曾在别的学校被除了名的。此外还有一对很相像的兄弟，穿着一样的衣服，戴着一样的帽子。这许多同窗之中，相貌最好最有才能的，不消说要算代洛西了。今年他大概还是要得第一的。我却爱铁匠的儿子，那像病人似的泼来可西。据说他父亲常要打他，他非常老实，和人说话的时候，或偶然触犯别人的时候，他一定要说“对不住”，他常用亲切而悲哀的眼光看人。至于最高大的和最高尚的，却是卡隆。
义侠的行为
二十六日
卡隆的为人，我看了今日的事情就明白了。我因为二年级时候的女先生来问我何时在家，到校稍迟，入了教室，先生还未来。一看，三四个小孩聚在一处，正在戏弄那赤发的一手有残疾的卖野菜人家的孩子克洛西。有的用三角板打他，有的把栗子壳向他的头上投掷，说他是“残废者”，是“鬼怪”，还将手挂在项颈上装他的样子给他看。克洛西一个人坐在位子里，脸色都苍白了，眼光看着他们，好像说“饶了我吧”。他们见克洛西如此，越加得了风头，越加戏弄他。克洛西终于怒了，红了脸，身子都发震了。这时那个脸很讨厌的勿兰谛忽然跳上椅子，装出克洛西母亲挑菜担的样子来。克洛西的母亲因为要接克洛西回家，时常到学校里来的，现在听说正病在床上。许多学生都知道克洛西的母亲，看了勿兰谛装的样子，大家笑了起来。克洛西大怒，突然将摆在那里的墨水瓶对准了勿兰谛掷去。勿兰谛很敏捷地避过，墨水瓶恰巧打着了从门外进来的先生的胸部。
but stands watching the master without winking, his brow lined
with wrinkles, and his teeth set: and if he is questioned when the
master is speaking, he makes no reply the first and second times,
and the third time he gives a kick. And beside him there is a bold,
cunning face, belonging to a boy named Franti, who has already been
expelled from another district. There are, in addition, two
brothers who are dressed exactly alike, who resemble each other to
a hair, and both of whom wear caps of Calabrian cut, with a
peasant’s plume. But handsomer than all the rest, the one who has
the most talent, who will surely be the head this year also, is
Derossi; and the master, who has already perceived this, always
questions him. But I like Precossi, the son of the blacksmith, 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
best.
A Generous Deed
Wednesday, 26th.
It was this very morning that Garrone let us know what he is
like. When I entered the school a little late, because the mistress
of the upper first had stopped me to inquire at what hour she could
find me at home, the master had not yet come, and three or four
boys were teasing poor Crossi, the one with the red hair, who has a
dead arm, and whose mother sells vegetables. They were poking him
with rulers, hitting him in the face with chestnut shells, and
making him out to be a cripple and a monster, by mimicking him,
with his arm hanging in the sling. And he, alone on the end of the
bench, and quite pale, was gazing now at one and now at another
with beseeching eyes, that they might leave him in peace. But the
others mocked him worse than ever, and he began to tremble and to
turn red with rage. All at once, Franti, the boy with the bad face,
sprang upon a bench, and pretending that he was carrying a basket
on each arm, he aped the mother of Crossi, when she used to come to
wait for her son at the door; for she is ill now. Many began to
laugh loudly. Then Crossi lost his head, and seizing an inkstand,
he hurled it at the other’s head with all his strength; but Franti
dodged, and the inkstand struck the master, who entered at 第the
moment, full in the breast. 一
All flew to their places, and became silent with terror. 十The
master, quite pale, went to his table, and said in a stern voice:—
月
大家都逃到座位里，怕得不做一声。先生变了脸色，走到教桌的旁边，用严厉的声音问：“谁？”一个人都没有回答。先生更高了声说：“谁？”这时，卡隆好像可怜了克洛西，忽然起立，态度很坚决地说：“是我！”先生眼盯着卡隆，又看看呆着的学生们，静静地说：“不是你。”过了一会儿，又说：“决不加罚，投掷者起立！”克洛西起立了，哭着说：“他们打我，欺侮我。我气昏了，不知不觉就把墨水瓶投过去了。”“好的！那么欺侮他的人起立！”先生说了，四个学生起立了，把头俯着。“你们欺侮了无罪的人了！你们欺侮了不幸的小孩，欺侮弱者了！你们做了最无谓、最可耻的事了！卑怯的东西！”先生说着，走到卡隆的旁边，将手摆在他的腮下，托起他俯下的头来，注视了他的眼说：“你的精神是高尚的！”卡隆附拢先生的耳，不知说些什么。先生突然向着四个犯罪者说：“我饶恕你们。”
我的女先生
二十七日
我二年级时候的女先生，今日准约到家里来访我了。先生不到我家已一年，我们很高兴地招待她。先生的帽子旁仍旧罩着绿色的面幕，衣服极朴素，头发也不修饰，她原是没有工夫打扮的。她脸上的红彩比去年似乎薄了好些，头发也白了些，时时咳嗽。母亲问她：“那么，你的健康怎样？先生！你如果不再顾着你的身体……”“一点没有什么。”先生回答说，带着又喜悦又像忧愁的笑容。“先生太高声讲话了，为了小孩们太劳累自己的身体了。”母亲又说。
“Who did it?”
No one replied.
The master raised his voice, and said again,“Who was it?”
Then Garrone, moved to pity for poor Crossi, rose abruptly and
said, resolutely, “It was I. ”
The master looked at him, and at the stupefied scholars; then
said in a quiet voice,“It was not you.”
And, after a moment: “The guilty one shall not be punished. Let
him rise!”
Crossi rose and said, weeping, “They were striking me and
insulting me, and I lost my head, and threw—”
“Sit down,” said the master, “Let those who provoked him
rise.”
Four rose, and hung their heads.
“You,” said the master, “have insulted a companion who had given
you no provocation; you have scoffed at an unfortunate lad, you
have struck a weak person who could not defend himself. You have
committed one of the basest, the most shameful acts with which a
human creature can stain himself. Cowards!”
Having said this, he came down among the benches, put his hand
under Garrone’s chin, as the latter stood with drooping head, and
having made him raise it, he looked him straight in the eye, and
said, “You are a noble soul.”
Garrone profited by the occasion to murmur something in the ear
of the master; and he, turning towards the four culprits, said,
abruptly, “I forgive you.”
My Schoolmistress of the Upper First
Thursday, 27th.
My schoolmistress kept her promise, and came today just as I was
on the point of going out with my mother to carry some linen to a
poor woman recommended by the Gazette. It was a year since I had
seen her in our house. We all made a great deal of her. She is just
the same as ever,—a little thing, with a green veil wound about her
bonnet, carelessly dressed, and with untidy hair, because she has
not time to adorn herself; but with a little less color than last
year, with some white hairs, and a constant cough. My mother said
to her:— 第
“And your health, my dear mistress? You do not take sufficient
care of yourself!” 一
“It does not matter,” the other replied, with her smile, at once
bright and sad. 十“You speak too loud,” my mother added; “you exert
yourself too much with your 月
真的，先生的声音，听不清楚的时候是没有的。我还记得：先生讲话总是连续着一息不停，弄得我们学生连看旁边的工夫都没有了。先生不会忘记自己所教过的学生，无论在几年以前，只要是她教过的总还记得起姓名。听说，每逢月考，她都要到校长先生那里去询问他们的成绩的。有时站在学校门口，等学生来了就叫他拿出作文簿给她看，查他进步得怎样了。已经入了中学的学生，也常常穿了长裤子，挂了时计，去访问先生。今天，先生是领了本级的学生去看绘图展览会，回去的时候转到我们这里来的。我们在先生那一班的时候，每逢星期二，先生常领我们到博物馆去，把种种的东西说明给我们听。先生比那时衰弱了许多了，可是仍旧非常起劲，遇到学校的事情，讲起来，很快活。两年前，我大病在床上卧着，先生曾来望过我，先生今日还说要看看我那时睡的床，这床其实已经归我的姊姊睡了。先生看了一会儿，也没有说什么。先生因为还要去望一个学生的病，不能久留。听说是个马鞍匠的儿子，发麻疹卧在家里呢。她又夹着今晚非改不可的作业本，据说，晚饭以前，某商店的女主人还要到她那里来学习算术。“啊！安利柯！”先生临走向着我说，“你到了能解难题、做长文章的时候，仍肯爱你以前的女先生吗？”说着，吻我。等到出了门，还在阶沿下扬声说：“请你不要忘了我！安利柯啊！”啊！亲爱的先生！我怎能忘记你呢？我成了大人，一定还记得先生，会到校里来拜望你的。无论到了何处，只要一听到女教师的声音，就要如同听见你先生的声音一样，想起先生教我的两年间的事来。啊啊！那两年里，我因了先生学会了多少的事！那时先生虽有病，身体不健，可是无论何时都热心地爱护我们，教导我们的。我们书法上有了恶癖，她就很担心。试验委员考问我们的时候，她担心得几乎坐立不安。我们书写清楚的时候，她就真心欢喜。她一向像母亲样地爱待我。这样的好先生，叫我怎么能忘记啊！
boys.”
That is true; her voice is always to be heard; I remember how it
was when I went to school to her; she talked and talked all the
time, so that the boys might not lose their attention, and she did
not remain seated a moment. I felt quite sure that she would come,
because she never forgets her pupils; she remembers their names for
years. On the days of the monthly examination, she runs to ask the
director what marks they have won; she waits for them at the
entrance, and makes them show her their compositions, in order that
she may see what progress they have made; and many, who are now in
the grammar school and wear long trousers and a watch, still come
to see her.
Today she had come back in a great state of excitement, from the
picture-gallery, whither she had taken her boys, just as she had
conducted them all to a museum every Thursday in years gone by, and
explained everything to them. The poor mistress has grown still
thinner than of old. But she is always brisk, and always becomes
animated when she speaks of her school. She wanted to have a peep
at the bed on which she had seen me lying very ill two years ago,
and which is now occupied by my brother; she gazed at it for a
while, and could not speak. She was obliged to go away soon to
visit a boy belonging to her class, the son of a saddler, who is
ill with the measles; and she had besides a package of sheets to
correct, a whole evening’s work; and she had still a private lesson
in arithmetic to give to the mistress of a shop before
nightfall.
“Well, Enrico,” she said to me as she was going, “are you still
fond of your schoolmistress, now that you do hard sums and write
long compositions?” She kissed me, and called up once more from the
foot of the stairs: “You are not to forget me, you know,
Enrico!”
Oh, my kind teacher, never, never shall I forget you! Even when I
grow up I shall remember you and shall go to seek you among your
boys; and every time I pass near a school and hear the voice of a
schoolmistress, I shall think that I hear your voice, and I shall
recall the two years I passed in your school, where I learned so
many things, where I so often saw you ill and weary, but always
earnest, always indulgent, in despair when any one was clumsy with
his pen, trembling when the examiners
第asked us questions, happy when we made a good showing, always
kind and loving 一
as a mother. Never, never shall I forget you, my teacher!
十月
In an Attic
Friday, 28th.
Yesterday evening I went with my mother and my sister Sylvia, to
carry the linen to the Poor woman recommended by the newspaper. I
carried the bundle; Sylvia had the paper with the initials of the
name and the address. We went up to the very roof of a tall house,
and through a long corridor with many doors. My mother knocked at
the last; it was opened by a thin, fair woman who was still young,
and it instantly struck me that I had seen her many times before,
with that very same blue kerchief that she wore on her head.
“Are you the person of whom the newspaper says so and so?” asked
my mother.
“Yes, signora, I am.”
“Well, we have brought you a little linen.”
The woman began to thank us and bless us, and could not make
enough of it. Just then I noticed, in one corner of the bare, dark
room, a boy kneeling in front of a chair, with his back turned
towards us, who appeared to be writing; and he really was writing,
with his paper on the chair and his inkstand on the floor. How did
he manage to write in the dark? While I was saying this to myself,
I suddenly recognized the red hair and the coarse jacket of Crossi,
the son of the vegetablepeddler, the boy with the useless arm. I
told this to my mother softly, while the woman was putting away the
things.
“Hush!” replied my mother; “perhaps he will feel ashamed to see
you giving alms to his mother: don’t speak to him.”
But at that moment Crossi turned round; I was embarrassed; he
smiled, and then my mother gave me a push, so that I should run to
him and embrace him. I did so: he rose and took me by the
hand.
“Here I am,” his mother was saying in the meantime to my mother,
“alone with this boy, my husband in America these seven years, and
I sick in addition, so that I can no longer make my rounds with my
vegetables, and earn a few cents. We have not even a table left for
my poor Luigino to do his work on. When there was a bench down at
the door, he could, at least, write on the bench;but that has been
taken away. He has not even light enough to study without ruining
his eyes. And it is a mercy that I can send him to school, since
the city provides him with books and copy-books. 第Poor Lugino, who
would be so glad to study! Unhappy woman, that I am!” 一
My mother gave her all that she had in her purse, kissed the boy,
and almost 十wept as we went out. And she had good cause to say to
me: “Look at that poor boy; 月
母亲把钱囊中所有的钱都拿出来给了她，吻了克洛西，出来几乎哭了。于是对我说：“安利柯啊！你看那个可爱的孩子！他不是很刻苦地用功吗？像你，是什么都自由的，还说用功苦呢！啊！真的！那孩子一日的勤勉，比了你一年的勤勉，价值不知要大多少呢！像那小孩，才是应该受一等赏的哩！”
学校
二十八日
爱儿安利柯啊！你用功怕难起来了，像你母亲所说的样子。我还未曾看到你有高高兴兴勇敢地到学校里去的样子过。但是我告诉你：如果你不到学校里去，你每日要怎样地乏味，怎样地疲倦啊！只要这样过了一礼拜，你必定要合了手来恳求把你再送进学校去吧。因为游嬉虽好，每日游嬉就要厌倦的。现在的世界中，无论何人，没有一个不学的。你想！职工们劳动了一日，夜里不是还要到学校里去吗？街上店里的妇人们、姑娘们劳动了一星期，星期日不是还要到学校里去吗？兵士们日里做了一天的勤务，回到营里不是还要读书吗？就是瞎子和哑子，也在那里学习种种的事情，监狱里的囚人，不是也同样地在那里学习读书写字等的功课吗？每晨上学去的时候，你要这样想想：此刻，这个市内，有和我同样的三万个小孩都正在上学去。又，同在这时候，世界各国有几千万的小孩也正在上学去。有的正三五成群地走过清静的田野吧，有的正走在热闹的街道上吧，也有沿了河边或湖边在那里走着的吧，在猛烈的太阳下走着的也有吧，在寒雾蓬勃的河上驶着短艇的也有吧，从雪上乘了橇走的，渡溪的，爬山的，穿过森林的，渡过了急流的，踯躅行着冷静的山路的，骑了马在莽莽的原野跑着的也有吧。也有一个人走着的，也有两个人并着走的，也有成了群排了队走着的。着了不同的服装，说着不同的语言，从被
see how he is forced to work, when you have every comfort, and
yet study seems hard to you! Ah! Enrico, there is more merit in the
work which he does in one day, than in your work for a year. It is
to such that the first prizes should be given!”
The School
Friday, 28th.
Yes, study comes hard to you, my dear Enrico, as your mother
says: I do not yet see you set out for school with that resolute
mind and that smiling face which I should like. You are still
unwilling. But listen; reflect a little! How poor and pitiable your
day would be if you did not go to school! At the end of a week you
would beg with clasped hands that you might return there, for you
would be eaten up with weariness and shame; disgusted with your
sports and with your existence. Everybody, everybody studies now,
my child. Think of the workmen who go to school in the evening
after having toiled all the day; think of the women, of the girls
of the people, who go to school on Sunday, after having worked all
the week; of the soldiers who turn to their books and copy-books
when they return exhausted from their drill! Think of the dumb and
the blind who study, nevertheless; and last of all, think of the
prisoners, who also learn to read and write. Reflect in the
morning, when you set out, that at that very moment, in your own
city, thirty thousund other boys are going like yourself, to shut
themselves up in a room for three hours of study. Think of the army
of boys who, at nearly this precise hour, are going to school in
all countries. Behold them with your imagination, going, going,
through the lanes of quiet villages; through the streets of the
noisy towns, along the shores of rivers and lakes; here beneath a
burning sun; there amid fogs, in boats, in countries which are cut
with canals; on horseback on the farreaching plains; In sledges
over the snow; through valleys and over hills; across forests and
torrents, over the solitary paths of mountains; alone, in couples,
in groups, in long files, all with their books under their arms,
clad in a thousand ways, speaking a thousand tongues, from the most
remote schools in Russia, almost lost in the ice, to the
furthermost schools of Arabia, shaded by palm-trees, millions and
millions, all going to learn the same things, in a hundred varied
forms. Imagine this vast, vast throng of boys of a hundred races,
this immense 第movement of which you form a part, and remember, if
this movement were to cease, 一
humanity would fall back into barbarism; this movement is the
progress, the hope, 十the glory of the world. 月
冰锁住的俄罗斯以至椰子树深深的阿拉伯，不是有几千万数都数不清楚的小孩，都夹了书学着同样的事情，同样地在学校里上学吗？你想象想象这无限数小孩所成的集体！又想象想象这样大的集体在那里做怎样大运动！你再试想：如果这运动一终止，人类就会退回野蛮的状态了。这运动才是世界的进步，才是希望，才是光荣。要奋发啊！你就是这大军队的兵士，你的书本是武器，你的一级是一分队，全世界是战场，胜利就是人类的文明。安利柯啊！不要做卑怯的兵士啊！
——父亲
少年爱国者（每月例话）
二十九日做卑怯的兵士吗？决不做！可是，先生如果每日把像今日那种有趣的故事讲给我们听，我还要更加欢喜这学校呢。先生说，以后每月要讲一次像今天这样的高尚的少年故事给我们听。并且叫我们用笔记下来。下面就是今天讲的《少年爱国者》：一只法兰西轮船从西班牙的巴塞罗那开到意大利的热那亚来。船里乘客有法兰西人、意大利人、西班牙人还有瑞士人。其中有个十一岁的少年，服装褴褛，避开了人们，像野兽似的用白眼看着人家。他的用这种眼色看人也不是没有原因的。原来在两年前他被在乡间种田的父母卖给了戏法班子，戏法班子里的人打他，蹴他，叫他受饿，强迫他学会把戏，带他到法兰西、西班牙到处跑，一味虐待他，连食物都不充分供给他。戏法班子到了巴塞罗那的时候，他受不起虐待与饥饿，终于逃了出来，到意大利领事馆去求保护。领事可怜他，叫他乘上这只船，还给他一封到热那亚的出纳宫那里的介绍书，要送他回到残忍的父母那里去。少年遍体是伤，非常衰弱，因为住的是二等舱，人家都很奇怪，对他看。和他讲话，他也不回答，好像憎恶一切的人。他的心已变到这步田地了。有三个乘客从各方面探问他，他才开了口。他用夹杂法兰西语和西班
Courage, then, little soldier of the immense army! Your books are
your arms, your class is your squadron, the field of battle is the
whole earth, and the victory is human civilization. Be not a
cowardly soldier, my Enrico.
YOUR FATHER
The Little Patriot of Padua The Monthly Story
Saturday, 29th.
I will not be a “ cowardly soldier,” no; but I should be much
more willing to go to school if the master would tell us a story
every day, like the one he told us this morning.
“Every month,” said he, “I shall tell you one; I shall give it to
you in writing, and it will always be the tale of a fine and noble
deed performed by a boy. This one is called The Little Patriot of
Padua. Here it is.
“A French steamer set out from Barcelona, a city in Spain, for
Genoa; there were on board Frenchmen, Italians, Spaniards, and
Swiss. Among the rest was a lad of eleven, poorly clad,and alone,
who always held himself aloof, like a wild animal, and stared at
all with gloomy eyes. He had good reasons for looking at every one
with forbidding eyes. Two years previous to this time his parents,
peasants in the neighborhood of Padua, had sold him to a company of
mountebanks, who, after they had taught him how to perform tricks,
by dint of blows and kicks and starving, had carried him all over
France and Spain, beating him continually and never giving him
enough to eat.
“On his arrival in Barcelona, being no longer able to endure ill
treatment and hunger, and being reduced to a pitiable condition, he
had fled from his slave-master and had betaken himself for
protection to the Italian consul, who, moved with compassion, had
placed him on board of this steamer, and had given him a letter to
the guardsman of Genoa, who was to send the boy back to his
parents—to the parents who had sold him like a beast. The poor lad
was weak and ragged. He had been put in the second-class cabin.
Every one stared at him; some questioned him, but he made no reply,
and seemed to hate and despise every one, to such an extent had
privation and suffering borne him down and saddened him.
Nevertheless, three travellers, persisting 第in their questions,
succeeded in making him unloose his tongue; and in a few rough
一
words, a mixture of Venetian, French, and Spanish, he related his
story. These three 十travellers were not Italians, but they
understood him; and partly out of compassion, 月
牙语的意大利语，大略地讲了自己的经历。这三个乘客虽不是意大利人，却听懂了他的话，一半因了怜悯，一半因了吃酒以后的高兴，给他少许的金钱，一面仍继续着和他谈说。这时有大批妇人从舱里走出来，她们听了少年的话，也就故意要人看见似的拿出若干钱来掷在桌上，说：“这给了你，这也拿了去！”少年低声答谢，把钱收人袋里，苦郁的脸上到这时才现出喜欢的笑容。他回到自己的床位上，拉拢了床幕，卧着静静地沉思：有了这些钱，可以在船里买点好吃的东西，饱一饱两年来饥饿的肚子；到了热那亚，可以买件上衣换上；拿了钱回家，比空手回去也总可以多少好见于父母，多少可以得着像人的待遇。在他，这金钱竟是一注财产。他在床位上正沉思得高兴，这时那三个旅客围牢了二等舱的食桌在那里谈论着，他们一边饮酒，一边谈着旅行中所经过的地方情形。谈到意大利的时候，一个说意大利的旅馆不好，一个攻击火车。酒渐渐喝多了，他们的谈论也就渐渐地露骨了。一个说，如其到意大利，还是到北极去好，意大利住着的都是拐子土匪。后来又说意大利的官吏都是不识字的。“愚笨的国民！”一个说。“下等的国民！”另一个说。“强盗……”还有一个正在说出“强盗”的时候，忽然银币铜币就雹子一般落到他们的头上和肩上，同时在桌上地板上滚着，发出可怕的声音来。三个旅客愤怒了，举头看时，一把铜币又被飞掷到脸上来了。“拿回去！”少年从床幕里探出头来怒叫。“我不要那说我国坏话的人的东西。”
partly because they were excited with wine, they gave him a few
coins, jesting with him and urging him on to tell them other
things; and as several ladies entered the salon at the moment, they
gave him some more money for the purpose of making a show, and
cried: ‘Take this! Take this, too!’ as they made the money rattle
on the table.
“The boy pocketed it all, thanking them in a low voice, and with
his sad face, but with a look that was for the first time smiling
and affectionate. Then he climbed into his berth, drew the curtain,
and lay quiet, thinking over his affairs. With this money he would
be able to purchase some good food on board, after having suffered
for lack of bread for two years; he could buy a jacket as soon as
he landed in Genoa, after having gone about clad in rags for two
years; and he could also, by carrying it home, insure for himself
from his father and mother a kinder greeting than would fall to his
lot if he arrived with empty pockets.This money was a little
fortune for him; and he was taking comfort out of the thought
behind the curtain of his berth, while the three travellers chatted
away, as they set round the dining-table in the second-class
salon.
“They were drinking and discussing their travels and the
countries which they had seen; and from one topic to another they
began to discuss Italy. One of them began to complain of the inns,
another of the railways, and then, growing warmer, they all began
to speak evil of everything. One would have preferred a trip in
Lapland; another declared that he had found nothing but robbers and
brigands in Italy; the third said that Italian officials do not
know how to read.
“‘It’s an ignorant nation,’ continued the first.
“‘A filthy nation,’ added the second.
“‘Rob—’ exclaimed the third, meaning to say‘ robbers’; but he was
not allowed to finish the word: a tempest of small coin came down
upon their heads and shoulders, fell over the table and the floor
with a great clatter. All three sprang up in a rage, looked up, and
received another handful of coppers in their faces.
“‘Take back your money!’ said the lad, disdainfully, thrusting
his head between the curtains of his berth; ‘I do not accept alms
from those who insult my country!’”
％
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