Page:De Amicis - Heart, translation Hapgood, 1922.djvu/199

Rh of his sons had died, and who had sent a maid-servant for the other, on coming yesterday and seeing the class, the comrades of his little dead boy, retired into a corner and burst into sobs, with both hands before his face. The principal took him by the arm and led him to his office.

There are fathers and mothers who know all their sons' companions by name. There are girls from the neighboring schoolhouse, and scholars in the gymnasium, who come to wait for their brothers. There is one old gentleman who was a colonel formerly, and who, when a boy drops a copy-book or a pen, picks it up for him. There are also to be seen well-dressed ladies, who discuss school matters with others who have kerchiefs on their heads, and baskets on their arms, and who say:—

“Oh! the problem has been a difficult one this time.” —“That grammar lesson will never come to an end!”

And when there is a sick boy in the class, they all know it; when he is better, they all rejoice. This morning there were eight or ten ladies, gentlemen and workingmen standing around Crossi's mother, the vegetable-vendor, making inquiries about a poor baby in my brother's class, who lives in her court, and who is in danger of his life. The school seems to make them all equals and friends.

Wednesday, 8th.

I saw a touching scene yesterday afternoon. For several days, every time that the vegetable-vendor has