As I
have said, the two boys came from the same town in southern
Italy. They had known each other almost from infancy, and
something of a fraternal feeling had grown up between them. In
Phil's case, since he was the stronger, it was accompanied by the
feeling that he should be a protector to the younger boy, who, on
his side, looked up to Phil as stronger and wiser than himself.
Though only a boy of twelve, what had happened led Phil to think
seriously of his position and prospects. He did not know for how
long his services had been sold to the padrone by his father, but
he felt sure that the letter of the contract would be little
regarded as long as his services were found profitable.
What hope, then, had he of better treatment in the future? There
seemed no prospect except of continued oppression and long days
of hardship, unless--and here the suggestion of Mr. Pomeroy
occurred to him--unless he ran away. He had known of boys doing
this before. Some had been brought back, and, of course, were
punished severely for their temerity, but others had escaped, and
had never returned. What had become of them Phil did not know,
but he rightly concluded that they could not be any worse off
than in the service of the padrone.
Pages:
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98