The Miracles of Antichrist

rely to travel with Donna Elisa had been like driving behind gazelles and birds of para

etano went up to the square to listen to him. For Father Gondo never preached in a

Gondo where he stood on the curb-stone. He wondered if it could be true that the monk wore a horse-hair shirt under

aid, but one shiver after another ran through hi

Gaetano heard a[40] gentle roaring. He had never before heard any like it. He looked about him to discover what it was. And it was all the people talking. "Blessed, blessed, blessed!" they all said at once. Most of them only whispere

n, but it was as if a storm had passed by through the

urmuring filled him with emotion; it seemed almost to suffocate him. He climbed up on the iron railing, raised himself

leased. She drew Gaetano down and would no

ed together what he possessed in a bundle, set his hat on his head and took his shoes

as anything compared to being like Father Gondo, and[41] being blessed by the people. G

and be a hermit on Etna; he must dwell in one of the big caves, and live on roots and fruits. He would never see a human being; he would never cut his hair; and

ng saint after saint down from the shelf and hearing her tell about what they had done. Several times he had taken a knife and a piece of wood and had tried to carv

ed to go through the shop out to the street, but on the last step he stopped.

ce his foster mother had her candle lighted. If she was not asleep she would hear him

4

in order to get him food and clothes. He was much touched that she loved him so much

ht of that he

so stupid as to grieve because he went. It would be such a joy for her when he should

onsoling Donna Elisa. It was hard that she did

like Father Gondo. And there would be flags, and the houses would be decorated with cloths and wreaths. He would stop in front of Donna Elisa's shop, and Donna Elisa would not recognize him and would be ready to fall on her knees before him. But so sh

eep more violently. He[43] was only afraid that Donna Elisa would hear how

. Would he ever give her great

also Luca and Pacifica, who would be

more flags than in the streets, and Gaetano would speak from the steps of t

y should all fall on their knees and

nte again. He would live under the gr

their sick, and those in trouble

amante went by he wou

sell Fra Gaetano's

ta, would bow before Fra Gaetano and n

lisa would

oked at him. And Gaetano sat on the stairs[44] with his shoes under his arm, his hat on his head and hi

sitting her

, I wanted t

wered as boldly as if it had been t

run away?" repea

off on Etna an

e you sitti

nna Elisa; I must

She pressed her hands over her heart, as if she

stay, Donna Eli

well go. Look at him, Pacifica, look at the in

in a way which astonished Donna Elisa. So had all the men of her race done. It was her fa

and in one place a river flowed over the road. Mother asked in one house if we might pass the night there. No, they showed us out. Mother and children stood in the road and cried. Then mother tucked up her dress and went down into the stream that roared over the road. She had my little sister on her arm and my big sister by the hand and a big bundle on her head. I went after as near as I could. I saw mother lose her footing. The bundle she carried on her head fell into the stream, and m

, Gaetano," she said, "but it hurts me s

no. He was in such a good mood that he

that you may be sent to a semin

ou do not understand. I tell you that I will not g

thought of?"

nd I was going to rush out; but just then I felt your hand on my neck, and you drew me in, and I kicked, and I struck you because I was not allowed to go. But, Donna Elisa, you had a candle with you, and then I saw that it was not you, but my mother. Then I did not dare to struggle any more, and I was very frightened, for mother is dead. But mother took the bundle I was carrying and began to take out what was in it. Mother laughed and looked s

d at Donna El

mother mea

4

isa only

his head bac

at I could serve God by carving beautiful images o