The humour of Italy; . rnalist! Amid the infinitely varied ranks of youth there are manywho, through innate depravity, and a fatally precocioushankering after political life, carry their reckless temerity sofar as to read all the Parliamentary reports, from the firstline to the last! Let us say it once for all. When a boy gives himself upwithout restraint, and without shame, to the reading of theParliamentary debates, it is all up with him! Good-bye tocandour; good-bye to innocence, and the simple languageof the age of infancy. 92 ITALIAN HUMOUR. One day Cecco receives a maternal reprimand, be
The humour of Italy; . rnalist! Amid the infinitely varied ranks of youth there are manywho, through innate depravity, and a fatally precocioushankering after political life, carry their reckless temerity sofar as to read all the Parliamentary reports, from the firstline to the last! Let us say it once for all. When a boy gives himself upwithout restraint, and without shame, to the reading of theParliamentary debates, it is all up with him! Good-bye tocandour; good-bye to innocence, and the simple languageof the age of infancy. 92 ITALIAN HUMOUR. One day Cecco receives a maternal reprimand, because,with his customary negligence, he has omitted to wash hishands. I repudiate the malignant insinuation, replies theculprit, immediately hiding the two inconvenient docu-ments in the pockets of his knickerbockers. Another day Gigino refuses to go to school unless hismother will give him the money to buy a cardboard Punch. Yes, dear, says his mother; go away to school, and Iwill buy you the Punch when you come No,no, no ; Iwant it nowAnd if I dontit, I will makeCabinet questi The poor mother, at thisspeech, finds her understanding failing her, and remainsopen-mouthed. Then enters Raffaello, the elder brother,who says to the younger— Instead of thinking about Punches, you would dobetter to study your grammar. Remember how vester-day the master, after having three times called you adonkey, passed on to the order of the day, pure andsimple. Gigino was about to reply with an impertinence, but,unwilling to fail in respect towards his elder brother, hecontented himself with making faces at him. Mamma (who has meanwhile recovered) : Is that the OUR CHILDREN. 93 way you treat your brother ? He is older than you, andyou ought to respect him. Gigino (raising his voice): I have all possible esteemand respect for the honourable member who has justpreceded me—(the Debates again!); but, on the otherhand, as far as I am concerned, he will always be a liar anda spy. . Beppino is
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Keywords: ., bookauthorwerneral, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookyear1892
