Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Book II - VII. After the Miracle
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
228 . the miracles of antichrist
" A gentle miracle-worker has come to us," said
another. " He stands poor, and humble, in the bare
old church, and his crown is of sheet-iron and his
diamonds of glass. ’ Bestow no offerings upon me,
ye poor ones,’ he says, 1 build no temples to me, ye
wretched ones. Your happiness shall be my aim.
If riches shines from your humble homes, I sparkle
with precious gems ; if distress flees from the land,
my feet will be clothed in gold shoes covered with
pearls."
According as one new rhyme after the other was
recited, it was accepted or rejected. The blind
proceeded with great rigidity.
The following day they went forth and began to
sing the railroad into the hearts of all the Etna
people.
After the miracle about Fra Felice’s testament,
the people began to give gifts to the railroad.
Donna Micaela had soon collected about one
hundred lire. Then she and Donna Elisa went one day
to Messina to look at the steam tramway which runs
between Messina and Pharo. They had no higher
thoughts. They would be satisfied with a steam
tramway.
" Why need a railroad be so expensive ? " said
Donna Elisa. " Why, it’s just like a common road,
with two iron rails on it. But it is the engineers
and fine gentlemen, that make the road so
expensive. Never mind about engineers, Micaela. Let
our clever road-builders, Giovanni and Carmelo,
build your railroad."
They inspected carefully the steam tramway to
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
