Plot Summary

Life on a farm in Italy at the end of the 19th century. Many poor country families live there, and the owner pays them by their productivity. One of the families has a very clever child, and they decide to send him to school instead of making him help them, although this represents a great sacrifice. The boy must get up very early and walk several miles to get to the school. One day the boy's shoes break while returning home, but they do not have money to buy another pair. What can they do?