Note: Translator Pauline Bancroft Flach died in 1966, less than 70 years ago. Therefore, this work is protected by copyright, restricting your legal rights to reproduce it. However, you are welcome to view it on screen, as you do now. Read more about copyright.
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108 THE MIRACLES OF AJVTICHRIST
For now they knew that it was an earthquake
which they foretold, and that all Diamante would
be wrecked.
In the alleys, where the very houses seemed afraid
of earthquakes, and huddled together to support one
another, people moved their miserable old furniture
out on the street into the rain, and spread tents of
bed-quilts over them. And they even carried out
their little children in their cradles, and piled up
boxes over them.
In spite of the rain, there was such a crowd on the
Corso that it was almost impossible to pass through.
For every one was trying to go out through Porta
Etnea to see the bells swinging and swinging, and to
convince themselves that no one was touching the
rope, — that it was firmly tied. And all who came
out there fell on their knees in the road, where the
water ran in streams, and the mud was bottomless.
The doors to San Pasquale’s church were shut,
as always, but outside the old gray-brother, Fra
Felice, went about with a brass plate, among those
who prayed, and received their gifts.
In their turn the frightened people went forward
to the image of San Pasquale beneath the stone
canopy, and kissed his hand. An old woman came
carefully carrying something under a green umbrella.
It was a glass with water and oil, in which floated
a little wick burning with a faint flame. She placed
it in front of the image and knelt before it.
Though many thought that they ought to try to
tie up the bells, no one dared to propose it. For no
one dared to silence God’s voice.
Nor did any one dare to say that it might be a
device of old Fra Felice to collect money. Fra
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