Question

why was the auther surprised to see nicola and jacopo working as shoeshine boys?

Answer 1

The author thought that the two pretty faced and decent demeanored  boys just collected wild fruit to make a living.Once,he saw them that they did a variety of jobs, he was thrilled and surprised.This was as the boys were small and very naive,yet their willingness to work and earn without straying from the path of good surprised, moved and touched our author deeply.

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