Everyone had something to do  : my sister Maria went to the loom  ; my father filled the spools  ; Teresa and Gloria went to their sewing  ; my mother took out her spinning  ; Caroline and I, after tidying up the kitchen, had to help with the sewing, taking out basting, sewing on buttons, and so forth  ; to keep drowsiness away, my brother played the concertina, and we joined in singing all kinds of songs.
Mia sorella Maria andava al telaio; mio Padre le riempiva i rocchetti; Teresa e Gloria andavano a cucire e mia madre filava; Carolina e io, dopo aver messo in ordine la cucina, eravamo occupate a togliere imbastiture, a attaccare bottoni, ecc.; mio fratello, per tenerci svegli, suonava la fisarmonica, al cui suono noi cantavamo varie cose.