Page:De Amicis - Heart, translation Hapgood, 1922.djvu/91

 stamps, which poor Garoffi had brought, the collection about which he was always talking, upon which he had founded so many hopes, and which had cost him so much trouble. It was his treasure, poor boy! it was the half of his very blood, which he had given in exchange for his pardon.

(Monthly Story.)

He was in the fourth elementary class. He was a graceful Florentine lad of twelve, with black hair and a pale face, the eldest son of an employee on the railway, who, having a large family and but small pay, lived in straitened circumstances. His father loved him and was kind and indulgent to him—indulgent in everything except in what concerned school: on this point he required a great deal, and was severe, because his son was obliged to attain such a rank as would enable him to obtain a place and help his family; and in order to accomplish anything quickly, it was necessary that he should work a great deal in a very short time. So although the lad studied, his father was always exhorting him to study more.

His father was advanced in years, and too much toil had aged him before his time. Nevertheless, in order to provide for the necessities of his family, in addition to the toil which his occupation imposed upon him, he obtained special work here and there as a copyist, and passed a good part of the night at his writing-table. Lately, he had undertaken, in behalf of a house which published journals and books in parts, to write upon the parcels the names and