"He's the kind of boy who should be studying." "Yes, but six kilometers to get to school and six kilometers back seems like a lot to me." "He's young, he has good strong legs!" "Just when we' re about to have another baby..." "He could have started helping me around the house." "He'll help you when he's older." "Let Providence provide now." "I grew up without ever seeing the inside of a school." "That's not a good reason and you know it." "If God has given intelligence to your son, it's a sign He wants more from your son than He does of others." "You're his father and it's your duty to do God's bidding." "Just what we needed was this worry too." "THE TREE OF WOODEN CLOGS" "Interpreted by the people of the Bergamo countryside" "A peasant's son going to school." "What will people say?" "A farmstead in Lombardy at the end of the 19th century." "Four or five peasant families lived here  The house, land, and livestock belonged to the landowner A part of the harvest was given to him." "Let him see too." "Don't make noise, the foal is frightened." "Be careful not get any husks into the maize." "Cross yourself nicely!" "Make the Sign of the Cross now." "Under the covers and ask your guardian angel to stay close." "So, are you happy you'll be going to school?" "Hold the sack tight." "No, hold it at the top and open it wide." "The bailiff is here!" "The maize should be weighed today." "Take care of it." "You can bring the figures to me later." "Rosa, please tell my wife to come up here." "Come on, hurry up with those rocks." "Move up, let's go now, get a move on." "Can't you move over here and unload?" "Be careful you don't make holes in those sacks." "Giopa is here!" "May the Lord always give us work and good health and never let us want for anything." "Here, take this." "For our dear departed ones and the souls in Purgatory, may they ascend to Heaven." "No children, don't laugh." "Poor souls like that who have nothing are closer to God." "Here girls, take this." "Tell your mother I need it before Saturday." "Get inside, girls!" "Blessed Mother!" "Teresina, wait, let me get on." "Alright, but we'll take turns." "You first, then me." "Alright, start counting." "... fifty!" "Now it's your turn." "You're a lot heavier than me," "I'm only going to count to forty." "Alright, be careful, go slowly!" "The wash is all on the ground, what did you do?" "I couldn't keep going." "The lady at the hotel said to bring them before Saturday." "How?" "Can't you see I have two full baskets?" "Teresina, look at the pretty stones I found." "Girls, pick up the baby and go see if Grandpa Anselmo needs anything." "Tell Pierino to help Grandpa wash the milk pails." "I wanted to know if I could say hello to you." "I'd like to be able to wish you a good evening." "If that's all you want, then there's no harm in it." "Won't you say anything back to me?" "I'll wish you a good evening too." "I want to take a bath in the basin too." "Is that water warm enough?" "It's fine, it's good and warm" "Here you go, sit down in there." "First, we wash your shoulders, then your neck and ears." "Now close your eyes..." "we'll soap you up good" "Minek, sleep now." "Say the Our Father and Hail Mary tomorrow morning, so God will light your mind." "Why do you need the chicken droppings?" "For the springtime, when I plant the tomatoes." "Mama, they' re fighting!" "What is it?" "They fight like cats and dogs everyday." "Aren't you Andrea Runk's son?" "The man who died recently?" "I knew your father well, he was a good man." "He left a widow with six children." "The poor woman has to take in wash to feed them." "The machine is out of grain." " How old are you now?" " I'm fifteen." "I need a strong boy, you can work here if you like." "I'd like to work here very much." "Let's see what your mother says." "For me, you can start tomorrow." "Here's the stable." " What should we do?" " Let's go in." "The suitors are here!" "Be quiet for a moment." "Children, come outside." "Listen, the pipers are playing." "Mama, the pipers!" "They must be at the landlord's house." "It's freezing tonight." "Listen Tonino, listen to how nicely they play." "It's already Christmas time." "Grandpa, the moon!" "" Haze around the moon, snow is coming soon "." "Not if the cold doesn't let up." " What does that mean?" " The earth needs the snow." "Who's there?" "It's snowing." "Papa, where are you going at this hour?" "It's snowing, I have to put the chicken manure in the garden." "It's for this spring when I plant the tomatoes." "Chicken manure is stronger than cow manure, if I put down just a little, the ground won't freeze." "Do you have do this at night?" "I don't want anyone to see me." "If this works, I'll bring ripe tomatoes to the market two or three weeks before anyone else." "You and your thoughts had better be careful, you'll catch your death!" "Be quiet, Garibaldi." "It's snowing." "" Bones to the dogs, meat to the butcher"" "" The blackbird pecks at the soil "" "" Women are silent while the men toil "" "" When snails are on the rose, a lad to his lady does propose"" "" There's blood to make a pudding too"" "" And a kick in the pants for all of you! "" "Listen to you, Batisti!" "How does he invent all these stories?" "He has a new one every night." "Let's say the rosary before the children all fall asleep." "It's still early." "You'll be tired later." "Batisti, tell us the one about the ditch!" "He can tell that story another night." "He'll need heavier clothes, it's starting to get cold." "He'll have to make do with what he has for now." "We'll have to think about paying the midwife soon." "We can make do with the women here, after all, it's not the first time." "Don't talk that way, it can be dangerous." "The tub needs washing." "Where should I put these?" "The butcher is coming to slaughter the pig." "It's going to be wet today." "" A pig in the snow is like wine down below"." "Only if the grapes were good." "Is that water hot enough yet?" "The hotter the better, keep the fire good and hot." "The bailiff is here." "Hasn't the landlord come yet?" "No, he'll be arriving later." " How can we weigh it then?" " I'm here to weigh it!" "How did you raise this animal?" "Come in the house" " and have a glass of wine." " Perhaps later." "Are you trying to kill this animal before its time?" "Everyone pull this way." "Push it with the stick now!" "There, in the middle." "Get your fingers out of the way." "What do you think?" "It's a good animal." "Good day, Father Carlo." "I saw your son going to school." "How is that going?" "It's fine for now, I can't complain." "You'll see, you'll be pleased with that boy someday." "If God blesses me that way..." "Where is Widow Runk?" "She's at the stream washing, should I go and get her?" "No, it's not important, I'll go find her." " That's a fine big animal!" " I can't complain." " There will be plenty of meat" " I know how it was raised!" "I cared for it better than any Christian." "Then take care to love God, or you'll reach the same end!" "What have I done wrong?" "I've never killed anyone!" "That's not enough." "How should we do the weighing?" "Take care of it yourselves." "Don't you want some to eat?" "We'll see..." "Go home with the others, I'll hold the umbrella." "I'm sorry I look this way, Father, what can I do for you?" "Don't worry and keep working." "I've come here because I have something important to tell you." "As I didn't see you in church last Sunday..." "You're right." "Sometimes I don't know where to turn... or how to keep going with six children to raise." "I'm not here to scold you, in fact I'll tell you now that You're right to stay home and care for your children." "This is a duty that comes even before Mass" "Even the Lord understands certain things." "It's about your children that I want to speak with you." "I spoke to the Mother Superior at the orphanage yesterday." "There's no room right now, but I told her about you and they'll take the little ones to help you breathe a bit." "The others are growing up..." "What do you think about it?" "When my eldest son comes home from work tonight." "I'll speak to him about it" "I don't know what to tell you" "It's the only thing we can do for the moment" "Children, move back or you'll get burned!" "It's cold tonight, there are so many stars out!" "Come, I've made some hot water for you" "Don't waste the coals, we won't have enough for the bedwarmers" "Eat your soup before it gets cold" "Bring the soup here, we'll eat by the fire" "Grandpa, make the sparks fly!" "Sparks are devils who've escaped from Hell" "Why do the devils escape from Hell?" "To go out looking for souls!" "Are there souls in the fireplace?" "No, there are no souls in the fireplace, they go out the chimney and above the roof to look for souls to harm" "But devils are afraid of good people" "When the devil finds a good man or a good child, he runs away!" "With the sign of the Cross too" "Do you say your prayers?" "I do!" "Then you don't have to be afraid" "Move the fire, you'll see them run far away" "Go away devils in this house!" "Go away, there are good children here!" "Father Carlo came today, he came here just for us and told me there is a possibility to send" "Annetta and Bettina away" "I told him we'd talk about it at home tonight" "Do we really need to send them away?" "If we really don't have enough to live on..." "Teresina will be twelve this spring, she can start to work at the spinning mill" "Pierino can help in the house and the stables" "I'd rather work day and night, but we'll keep my brothers and sisters at home with us" "What are you doing, Grandpa?" "I'm planting seeds" "What kind of seeds?" "Tomatoes!" "Now what are you doing?" "Hiding them where it's warm under the straw." "Even if it' scold, they'll sprout" "Come here by the grain sacks" "Antonio, you go there, you go over there and I'll go here" "Look in the hayloft" "I'll look in the hayloft!" "Hide, don't let them see you." "Come under" "Go look under the straw in the stable" "Mama, Grandpa said to come to the stable" "He said to hurry" "What's wrong with her?" "She's been like this all day" "She isn't eating and she can't get up" "God, not foot and mouth..." "The only thing to do is call the veterinarian" "Pierino, Mama said to go get the veterinarian!" "They' re playing hide and seek" "Pierino..." "They' re playing hide and seek" "Annetta, go tell Mama the veterinarian is here" "Anselmo, what's happened to this poor beast?" "It looks bad this time" "Was it nice to ride?" "Get some fresh water and bring it to the stable" "You go into the house!" "Is this your animal or is it the landlord's?" "It's ours by the grace of God" "You're not in His grace this time" "Blessed Mother, what happened to her?" "Listen to me, the truth is that I wouldn't let her live until noon" "Butcher her while You're in time and can make a few coins" "Go back to the house!" "Not this too... you can see what condition we' re in." "We don't have enough to live" "Listen to me and do as I say while You're still in time" "Don't say anything to the children!" "How much for your trouble, Doctor?" "You have enough troubles, some other time" "You start cooking the polenta, I'll be back shortly" "Let's put on the water for the polenta" "God, don't abandon me now that I'm all alone" "I do what I can, You can see that, but without Your grace, I'll never be able to go on" "Oh Lord, who died on the cross for our sins," "don't look at our merits, but at Your goodness and make this water pass beneath the cross of Calvary wash away all the ills of body and soul" "Jesus, forgive all our sins, even those we commit without knowing we commit them and for the love of Your five wounds, for the pain of the Virgin Mary and all the saints and souls, give me this blessing, Lord" "You can't refuse me!" "Here, sit and eat some polenta while it's still hot" "Hello, You're home?" "Come here, come and get yourself warm" "His feet are wet" "Let's take off your clogs and socks and get you warm" "Be careful, or you'll get chilblains" "Here, eat" "What did your teacher say?" "He talked about water!" "He said there's lots of little animals in water" "Fish!" "No, not fish" "Other tiny little animals and in a drop of water there are lots, even drinking water" "Yes, tiny little animals that you can't see" "If you can't see them, how do you know they' re in there?" "With a machine that has a thing that looks in the water" "Doctor's instruments!" "There are still things to learn!" "Holy Mary, you scared me!" "Why?" "What are you doing here?" "I wanted to see you" "We see each other every night at the farmhouse" "It's one thing to see you at the farmhouse with everyone else and another to see you here alone" "It's still very cold at night" "No, even the water in the ditches isn't freezing now" "Fifteen days from now we'll be in Our Lady's month... and I wanted to ask you for a kiss" "Those are things that happen when the time comes" "Good evening" "Lift those sacks over there, your feet are on them you lazy good for nothing!" "The pail of milk spilt all over, you idiot!" "Then you do this work if others aren't able to!" "Ingrate!" "Don't come near me or I'll beat you!" "Blessed Mother, they' re fighting!" "Get them apart!" "Finard, aren't you ashamed?" "You'd hit your own father!" "I curse you!" "No Finard, God hears and never forgives a father's curse" "Mama, the cow is standing!" "Go tell Grandpa to come right away!" "Thank you, Lord" "Friki is here, ladies!" "Beautiful first quality cloth!" "Good prices, come and see the best cloth on the market!" "Will you swindle us like last time, Friki?" "Friki has never swindled anyone!" "I respect women as much as I respect monkeys!" "Come ladies, I'll make your husbands proud of you" "I've got the finest, first quality cloth, all colors of ribbons, buttons and threads" "Come and look and this will make you happy..." "This is just right for you!" "The color is too light" "Then take the darker one, look at that pretty skirt!" "Did you hear that?" "It said hello!" "First quality cloth to make a blouse or skirt for the Feast of Our Lady" "All bargains, you couldn't steal them for less!" "This is the best from Paris, first quality from abroad!" "Listen to Friki, I've been to Africa and I know about monkeys" "They reason better than men do" "He'll get us confused with the monkey stuff and cheat us..." "How much for this one?" "Clever lady, that's the best!" "Give us a bargain, she's getting married" "Ask any bride around here if I haven't made them happy!" "Quiet now, Friki is a rascal!" "One day a group of foolish boys had the idea to throw stones at French soldiers passing by" "Their commander, General Lutrec, decided to burn the village to punish them" "In desperation, the people ran to the church to pray just as children do when in danger, they call their mother" "So the Madonna, our heavenly Mother, Mother of us all, performed a miracle" "The Madonna and Child painted on this wall began to cry" "A messenger was sent to tell General Lutrec" "He didn't believe the man and thought it was trick, so he came here" "When he saw the Madonna crying, he fell to his knees and put his helmet and sword at her feet in devotion" "350 years have passed since, but that sword and that helmet are still there to remind us of all the dangers waiting in the world" "We gather here each year to remember that great miracle, and to remember all the other miracles that happen everyday in every corner on earth in the lives of men and of all creation" "Dear people, we wouldn't be here without miracles" "Miracles are the strength that man doesn't have, they are the strength of God's love" "This love is as necessary to us as the air we breathe, as the land which feeds us, and the water and light which give us life" "The only way we can deserve God's love is by loving our neighbor" "May Christ be praised" "Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like a volunteer" "I want to demonstrate to you what this animal can really do!" "Not your hat, take off your jacket" "I want to show the people the miracle this fat performs, this fat that truly heals all ills" "Give me your hand." "Do you feel pain here, here and here?" "Like this, it has to be spread like this... from the bottom to the top" "Do you see the water coming out?" "You have arthritis, yes you do, sir, tell them!" "Mama, Papa is..." "He's going straight upstairs" "My God, you can't even climb the stairs, what have you done?" "Nothing... they got me drunk" "It was my friends!" "What can I do?" "Look at the condition you came home in!" "What condition... so I'm drunk, stop it now" "Ah, so that's how you go to Vespers, you liar!" "You said you'd go to church and You're here dancing!" "You laugh, You're on the verge of Hell!" "You won't laugh anymore when You're burning in the flames" "Liars, you have no fear of God!" "Social order is always behind the new needs of life" "Only with common possession of knowledge and progress can we finally speak of the conquest of civility" "When justice and respect for every citizen's rights becomes an everyday institution a law of life practiced by all, when there are no longer the privileged few, while others lack, can we say we've built a democratic society" "Unfortunately, social progress moves slowly, blocked by those who fear it, but mostly, it's not helped with enough courage or sacrifice by those who call for it as a human right" "So most people stay passively in the background and wait for things to ripen in their favor, while a small band of innovators..." "All great progress has come from an illuminated minority..." "Have you had breakfast?" "Goodbye" "I have to have a son who pees the bed every morning!" "A boy of fifteen!" "Pisspants!" "It's not my fault, it's an illness" "They'll teach you when You're a soldier" "When you marry, you'll still be wearing a diaper!" "Run quickly" "Batisti, come home, the baby's being born!" "It's another boy" "You'll be happy about that!" "Let's go now and leave them alone for awhile" "While she's lying in, she should eat white bread" "That would be best" "I'll take care of it" "Ladies, I don't know how to thank you" "For what?" "I f we don't help each other..." "You took too big a risk by not calling the midwife" "Babies come into the world alone, they don't need anyone" "Do you feel well at least?" "Thank God, yes" "Well... another mouth to feed" "No, you shouldn't be afraid" "Do you remember what your poor mother used to say?" "" When an angel comes to earth," "God gives him his own bundle"" "He's not home yet, did something happen to our Minek?" "Down boy, leave me alone, go on Dido" "What happened to you?" "Minek, are you home?" "Yes, he's home" "Why are you so late?" "He must have gotten lost" "Children don't think that when they come in late..." "Let's put you by the fire, the ashes are still good and hot" "Here, warm those feet, they' re frozen" "Come on, let me see" "How did you break your clog?" "Minek, come and see, your new brother is here" "He came home with his feet wet" "Don't tell her your clog is broken, be quiet" "Come close" "Can you see him?" "Are you happy you have a little brother?" "Here, have some white bread, you should have a treat too" "Batisti's wife had a boy" "They named him Giuseppe" "Behave, be good children," "I have to go out for a moment." "Behave yourselves" "Grandpa, tell us a nursery rhyme" "" Here's a rhyme from Zambel With no bones or any shell "" "" Up the stairs she will creep At the children for to peep"" ""She sees all those who do not sleep At the foot of the bed she waits, I'm told"" ""Snuggle under before You're cold! "" "Quiet now, you'll wake the baby" "Let's say the rosary now to thank the Blessed Mother" "While you say the rosary, I'll finish my work" "Hurry now and don't let anyone see," "This is something that only your Grandpa does" "The ground is stained on top." "It h as a skin in winter" "Why does it have a skin?" "To keep out the cold and not let the warm underneath escape" "Is the earth warm underneath?" "Of course, so the seeds won't die." "Get the planting peg" "Peppino" "is going to work" "When you grow plants with the roots close together, it's better to leave a bit of their own soil" "Why are they all by the wall?" "The wall keeps the heat from the stable inside, and from the sun outside and tomatoes need heat" "If we don't have frost, this year we'll sell our tomatoes at the market two weeks before everyone else" "What will the others say?" "They'll stand there with their mouths open and their noses in the air" "Now let's plant another row here" "Go home and close the windows while I gather the wash" "Get them into the stable, a storm is coming" "This doesn't look like an "E" to me" "I've been ready for a while." "What are they doing up there?" "They're women, let them do what they have to do" "Mama, the groom is here" "Will you come have a drink?" "No, he's taking Communion" "Won't you come and have a drink with us?" "No thanks, it's too hard to get off the cart!" "Teresina, go tell the women we're waiting for them" "We're not in a hurry" "Brena said to tell you they're waiting" "Go down and tell them to go on ahead, the bride arrives last, they have to wait in church" "I had to walk to the church on my wedding day, my father needed the cart to bring the grain home" "He made the bride, the priest and the witnesses wait!" "I should have stayed home and not gone at all!" "They said the groom has to leave first" "The groom goes first and then the bride comes with her father when everyone is already in church" "Then we'd better bring you there" "Who should I take?" "The bride and her mother" "The groom mustn't see the bride until they're at the altar, it's bad luck" "That's nonsense" "Where's the bride's witness?" "He's all dressed up, he looks like the groom" "It seems like yesterday that we were married, right wife?" "What a braggart, you have three children now" "Let's see if he can do as well" "She looks so pretty!" "Be well, all the best to you" "I want to congratulate the happy couple as well and say a few words to them and all of you this morning" "There is nothing to wonder or talk about if this couple has married so early in the morning and not as normally done in the light of day" "They have nothing to hide." "The reason is another." "They are now leaving on a long and dangerous journey to Milan where they will visit their aunt, Reverend Mother Sister Maria," "Mother Superior of Saint Catherine's" "I want you two to be on your guard and know who you 're with." "People today have strange ideas" "Pray to God and the Madonna to place a hand on your heads" "Most of all, try to always love one another" "No money in the world can buy the love between two people" "God says not to search for worldly riches, but for the wealth of Heaven and remember that Heaven begins with the love that we are able to show here on earth" "Are the ladies comfortable?" "Thank you for everything" "We'll have a glass to celebrate!" "Where are they going?" "To Milan" "On the boat, they'll be there in an hour and a half" "Good luck!" "I'll help the ladies" "Come with me, I know where to go" "Where do we get the boat, please?" "You'll see the steps to the dock down a bit further" "It should have already been here now" "It's down there." "I know," "I've been here once already" "Let's hurry then" "There's no rush" "It's arriving" "Let the chain down" "It's calm this morning" "Let's hope the weather doesn't change" "Excuse us ladies, we have to let down the gangway first" "Excuse us, the goods get loaded first" "It's moving fast" "Would you like some, Father?" "Thank you very much" "Here, and don't get crumbs all over!" "Would you like some wine, Father?" "We'll feed the crumbs to the fish" "Are you a fisherman?" "Only they share their food with fish" "It's worth the trouble, if you share some bread, you always bring home a bigger catch" "I think there are more fish holding fishing poles than there are in the water" "Mama, look!" "There's smoke over there" "It looks like a fire" "It must be a bonfire of dried things" "With all that smoke, it could be a barn roof burning" "Let's hope it's not soldiers fighting demonstrators again" "There was a clash between them the other day and they burned down a farmstead" "Poor people" "There's no more religion or respect for others!" "You can't go through, it's blocked!" "The soldiers have blocked the way here, use the other street" "There was a demonstration" "The bells of Saint Carl!" "I'm the niece of Sister Maria" "Come in, I'll call Sister Maria" "It was a bad day today, times are hard" "I'm your aunt, Sister Maria" "Is this your husband?" "I'm so pleased." "Come, you 're surely tired and certainly hungry after your trip" "How is my dear sister, I want so much to see her" "It's been years since I've seen her" "When were you married?" "Very early this morning" "How good of you to come and visit me so soon!" "We'll celebrate tonight with the other sisters and with all the children we have in our house" "Bless us Lord, and the food you have given us." "Amen." "They're all angels from heaven" "The world is beautiful with them here inside" "Here, we've done our best" "We've never had newlyweds stay before" "We're delighted at your blessed union" "Marriage is a Holy Sacrament" "May you always deserve God's blessing who united you" "All those houses!" "His name is Giovanni Battista" "He's a year old and in perfect health" "Isn't that right, Giovanni Battista?" "He only needs real parents to make him happy" "A real mother and father" "He can already be a help to his family because he has an inheritance" "He has good clothing and a bit of money which is passed to our institution twice a year" "For a family of poor people this could sometimes be a true gift of Providence" "We must help each other in this world" "He can be useful to you and you can be very helpful to him" "He's just learning to take his first steps" "Try to open your arms and he'll come to you" "This is the book that came with the baby." "Listen..." "" Of the foundlings vulgarly called ' bread eaters' "" "" as well as those still nursing foundlings, "" "" the Pious Institution gives to these aforementioned, "" "" and the charitable people who care for abandoned children, "" "" the following allotment"" "" Upon consignment of the child"" "" they will be given this book and twelve cents"" "" as well as undergarments and clothing "" "" and a sum of money according to the child's age"" "" The Institution will continue the prescribed donations"" "" up to and including the child reaching the age of fifteen "" "" Beyond which time, the child may be kept"" "" but no longer at the Institution ' s expense"" "He's such a pretty baby!" "He may even be a gentleman ' s son" "From now on, he's only a peasant's son" "The first thing is to love him and he'll be happy all the same" "Come Bettina, let's go see our tomatoes" "Look how beautiful they are" "There, gather those there" "When we go to the market they'll look at our tomatoes" "They'll say, " What beautiful tomatoes they have! "" "Look how nice and big that one is, and that one too!" "And this one too?" "Yes, look how nice it is" "What about this one?" "That one is ready too" "We'll go to the piazza tomorrow morning" "Do you remember how tiny they were when we planted them?" "And now look at these big tomatoes" "What are you doing?" "Cutting some grass for the rabbits" "And with that grass, did you cut any other plants?" "Who cut that tree over there?" "I don't know anything" "Someone must have cut it" "Are they tomatoes?" "They're not cherries!" "It's not tomato season yet" "My garden is ahead of time" "Where did you grow tomatoes?" "Under my bed!" "Do you see how they're looking at our tomatoes?" "What tomatoes!" "They're already ripe!" "I've never seen tomatoes at this time of year" "Is it local produce?" " Yes, it's our very own" " He comes every year with his basket and I wait for him." "Let's go inside and weigh them." "Old Anselmo is always the first one to bring in tomatoes" "What's happened?" "Something bad?" "The landlord is evicting Batisti" "He has to leave his rooms by tomorrow morning" "He has to leave with his wife and children" "Is that possible?" "They said Batisti cut down a tree by the stream to make a pair of clogs for his son Minek" "That means taking bread from those people!" "It's a harsh punishment" "And to think they still have a newborn baby" "The bailiff is here!" "He's here to take the landlords livestock" "Those poor people, they have nothing now" "Come, let's say a rosary for those poor people" "Go inside, it's not nice to stare."