CHAPTER 17: BASILIO MY SONS!!!!! Don’t be afraid mother’Crispin stayed at the convento. Ah! The senior sacristan took Crispin away and told me that I could not leave until 10 o’clock, but it was already late and so I ran away. At the convento?Is he alive? Crispin is alive!You left him at the convento!But why are you wounded my son? Have you had a fall? My God!!My God!!

Why did Crispin stay?My good Crispin!To accuse my good Cristin it’s because we’re poor! I don’t want anything. Only a little water. Haven’t you had any supper yet?You want rice and fish? I know that you don’t like dried fish.I had prepare something else but your father came. Father came?

Forgive me mother. But aren’t we three better off- you, cispin and I?You’re crying I haven’t said anything. He came and asked a lot about you and wanted to see you, and he was very hungry.He said that iy you continued to be so good he would come back to stay with us. Aren’t you going to eat? Then let’s go to sleep, for it’s now very late.

It was a dream dream! Tell me mother that it was a dream! Only a dream! What’s the matter? Why are you crying? I dream that we had gone to clean the rice-stalks.I don’t remember anymore mother, I don’t remember the rest. What did you dream?Tell me what you dreamed.I can’t sleep. Mother I thought of a plan tonight. What is your plan? I don’t want to be sacristan any longer What?

Chapter 18: Souls in Torment The padre is ill.He doesn’t move about his usual slownessand elegance of manner. Attention!! The devil’s to pay! It’s going to rain fines and all on account of those two brothers!

Where can I put these vedgetables? There! Anywhere there! May I speak with the padre? He is sick. And Crispin? Do you know if he is in the sacristy?And I want to see him. Yes, he stayed, but afterwards, he ran away after stealing a lot of things. It’s plain that you are a faithful wife, the sons are like the father.

Don’t cry here!Don;’t you know that the padre is sick?Get out in the street and cry!

Chapter 19: A Schoolmaster’s difiiculties This is the place. From here your father’s body was thrown into the water. Did you say that my father helped the poor children? You have no occasion to thank me.Your father protected me.Secure me a house and furnish whatever is necessary for running the school. How many pupils you have now?

More that 200 on the roll but only about 25 in actual attendance. How does that happen? To tell you the reasons would make a long and tiresome story. Don’t attribute my question to idle curiosity. And why have you who see the evil, not thought of remedying it? A poor teacher struggles not only against prejudices but also against a certain influences.