CHAPTER SEVEN.
GOOD-BYE TO CORSICA.
Meantime things were going from bad to worse in the Bonaparte home.
Careless "Papa Charles" made but little money, and saved none; all the economy and planning of thrifty "Mamma Letitia" did not keep things from falling behind, and even the help of Uncle Lucien the canon was not sufficient.
Charles Bonaparte had gained but little by his submission to the French.
The people in power flattered him, and gave him office and titles, but these brought in no money; and yet, because of his position, he was forced to entertain and be hospitable to the French officers in Corsica.
Now, this all took money; and there was but little money in the Bonaparte house to take.

So, at last, after much discussion between the father and mother,--the father urging and the mother objecting,--the Bonapartes decided to sell a field to raise money; and you can scarcely understand how bitter a thing this is to a Corsican.

To part with a piece of land is, to him, like cutting off an arm.

It hurts.
Napoleon heard all of these discussions, and was sadly aware of the poverty of his home.

He worried over it; he wished he could know how to help his mother in her struggles; and he looked forward, more earnestly than ever, to the day when he should be a man, or should at least be able to do something toward helping out in his home.
At last things took a turn.