nd partly because it had been good
weather for fishing; when it is bad he cannot bring more than thirty,
forty or fifty.

Peppino told me that our mule was the offspring of an ass and a mare.
These, he says, are better than those born of a horse and a she-ass.
Mules can be male or female, and Guido Santo was a male but, except for
the fact that the males are stronger than the females, the sex of a
creature that is incapable of reproducing itself is not a very
interesting subject. Our mule was still young, and had not yet learnt
the use of corners, nor how to pass things in the road. Carmelo often
had to get down and continue his education. After one of these lessons
he lighted his pipe with a sulphur match which tainted the morning air
and offended Ricuzzu; but almost immediately we came to a forge and the
blacksmith was striking a piece of iron on his anvil.

"Ricuzzu bello," said Brancaccia, "listen to the pretty music."

And Ricuzzu listened and laughed; the pleasant acid flavour of the note
as it followed us corrected the sulphur, and he put up his face for a
kiss. Brancaccia knew how to smooth away his troubles and how to deserve
his thanks.

We passed a boy singing, and I said how pleasant it was to hear a real
Sicilian melody sung by a modern Theocritus about the delights of his own
country. But Peppino soon put a stop to that. The boy was one of a
theatrical company that had arrived in the town from Piedmont where the
song was popular; he did not know all the words, but it contained these:

Mamma mia, dammi cento lire
Che in America voglio andar.
Mother darling, give me a hundred lire
For I want to be off to the States.

"Are they acting here?" I asked.

"They are reciting _Il Diavolo Verde_. You don't will go and see this
evening?"

"If Brancaccia is not too tired, let us finish up Ricuzzu's festa by a
visit to the theatre."

The baby was wide awake all the time, observing everything, and much
interested. I said:

"I believe Ricuzzu understands that we are keeping his onomastico."

"Of course, yes," replied Peppino; "Ricuzzu very intelligent."

"I believe he even understands that it is not S. Enrico's day, and
appreciates the idea of keeping his festa when it is convenient for
everyone."

"Of course, yes; the idea is the thing. Always it is the idea. Did you
know the idea of the girl who went to confess?"

"What is that?"

"Not now. Please expect. I am too much b