Forest leaves . approbation was universal; Gian Lorenzos father com-plained bitterly of his sons inaptitude for farm-work. The saints inheaven know I have worked hard enough all my life not to be afflictedwith a son who is mezzo-matto (half-crazy). But Gian Lorenzo is a good lad, Pippo; he doesnt drink or playcards in the cafe, his wife would plead; her motherly heart proud ofher handsome boy, though her practical peasant-mind deplored his un-lucky musical tendency, which she, in common with all the village, con-sidered a downright flaw in his intelligence. Oh, yes! good enough; so was San Giu
Forest leaves . approbation was universal; Gian Lorenzos father com-plained bitterly of his sons inaptitude for farm-work. The saints inheaven know I have worked hard enough all my life not to be afflictedwith a son who is mezzo-matto (half-crazy). But Gian Lorenzo is a good lad, Pippo; he doesnt drink or playcards in the cafe, his wife would plead; her motherly heart proud ofher handsome boy, though her practical peasant-mind deplored his un-lucky musical tendency, which she, in common with all the village, con-sidered a downright flaw in his intelligence. Oh, yes! good enough; so was San Giuseppe good, but he had tobe a carpenter all the same, grumbled exasperated Sor Filippo. Eh, be! what would you? One must have patience, sympathizedthe neighbors—with that becoming resignation with which we regardour friends misfortunes. As you say, it is surely a trial from Heaven FOREST LEAVES 26 that ones boy should take more kindly to writing black notes on asheet of paper than to the proper duties of Star of the East, the Horizon Adorning, Guide WhereOur Infant Redeemer is I^aid. Only one person in the whole of \al-di-( nllina believed in GianLorenzo utterly and absolutelv, and defended him warmly against 26 FOREST LEAVES every one. Needless to say it was a woman. A man might defend hisfriend bravely through sneers of contempt, but it is the harder partto stand by a man through ridicule; and here the mother-instinct, dor-mant in every true woman, rises up lion-like to defend the man sheloves. Those who sneered at Gian Lorenzo before Annunziata Lanziscarcely recognized the usually timid girl, with the soft dark eyes andgentle voice, in this stately young goddess, who confronted them withflashing eyes and blazing cheeks, all her young beauty enchanted bygenerous indignation, which inspired her to a demonstrativeness soforeign to her nature. II Maestrino will never make a farmer, buthe is not such a fool as you might think, said the gossips, after an un-successful til
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