Page:Under the shadow of Etna; Sicilian stories from the Italian of Giovanni Verga (IA undershadowofetn00vergrich).pdf/161

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THE STORY OF THE ST. JOSEPH'S ASS.
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ing grimaces while the proprietor of the colt made it turn round before them.

"Huh!" grunted compare Neli, "with a skin like that, it looks like Saint Joseph's ass. Animals of that color are always vigliacche,[1] and when you tide them about, people laugh in your face. Am I going to be made a laughing stock for a Saint Joseph's ass?"

It was the padrone's turn to tum his back on him in a passion, screaming that some people didn't know a good animal when they saw one, and if they had n't any money to buy with, they'd better not come to the fair, and waste good Christian's time—on a saint's day, too.

Compare Neli let him fume away, and he went off with his brother, who pulled the sleeve of his jacket, and whispered in his ear, that if he was going to throw away his money on that good-for-nothing animal he would deserve to be kicked.

While the padrone pretended to be shel-

  1. Cowardly, ridiculous, vile.