n like themselves; and who knows whether there may not also
be among them one who will render great services to his country,
and make his name glorious. Then part from them with affection;
leave a portion of your soul here, in this great family into which
you entered as a baby, and from which you emerge a young lad, and
which your father and mother loved so dearly, because you were so
much beloved by it.

School is a mother, my Enrico. It took you from my arms when you
could hardly speak, and now it returns you to me, strong, good,
studious; blessings on it, and may you never forget it more, my
son. Oh, it is impossible that you should forget it! You will
become a man, you will make the tour of the world, you will see
immense cities and wonderful monuments, and you will remember many
among them; but that modest white edifice, with those closed
shutters and that little garden, where the first flower of your
intelligence budded, you will perceive until the last day of your
life, as I shall always behold the house in which I heard your
voice for the first time.

THY MOTHER.

THE EXAMINATIONS.

Tuesday, 4th.

Here are the examinations at last! Nothing else is to be heard under
discussion, in the streets in the vicinity of the school, from boys,
fathers, mothers, and even tutors; examinations, points, themes,
averages, dismissals, promotions: all utter the same words. Yesterday
morning there was composition; this morning there is arithmetic. It was
touching to see all the parents, as they conducted their sons to school,
giving them their last advice in the street, and many mothers
accompanied their sons to their seats, to see whether the inkstand was
filled, and to try their pens, and they still continued to hover round
the entrance, and to say:

"Courage! Attention! I entreat you."

Our assistant-master was Coatti, the one with the black beard, who
mimics the voice of a lion, and never punishes any one. There were boys
who were white with fear. When the master broke the seal of the letter
from the town-hall, and drew out the problem, not a breath was audible.
He announced the problem loudly, staring now at one, now at another,
with terrible eyes; but we understood that had he been able to announce
the answer also, so that we might all get promoted, he would have been
delighted.

After an hour of work many began to grow