The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-11-05
Miste1lanRnMs.
THE FlsNERMAN's TREASURE.

In small hamlet of the Terra di Lavoro
on the Gaeton Gulf within the kingdom of
Naples, lived an old fisherman named An
tonic Morino. He was called fisherman
because, in his younger days, he had pur-
sued that occupation for livelihood; and
because, at the present time, he owned
boats, and frequently joined the toilers
upon the Gulf in their piscatorial crossings.
At the age of five and twenty he had left
his native land for voyage to India, hay
ing promise of much better pay than he
could possibly make at fishing The ship
in which he sailed from Naples never re-
turned, and Antonio Morino was given up
for lost, and almost forgotten. At the ex-
piration of fifteen years, however, he once
more made his appearance in the hamlet,
and was warmly welcomed by his old
friends. He told how his ship had been
cast away in the Indian Ocean, sid all
hands lost save himself
At the age offorty, Antonio settled down
in his old home and took wife; and in
time son was borne to him, whom lie call
ed Leonardo. He brought boats, and spent
a portion of his time in fishing; but he
evidently did this only for pastime; for he
never sold any of his fish, but gave to his
poorer neighbors what he did not consume
in his own family. He made no show of
money, and yet he always had it when it
was needed. His companions were curious
and sought to fathom his secret, but with
out avail. Morino seemed to have but one
grand aim of life and that was, to rear
his son to a station of honor and indepen-
dence.
Now the story of Antonio Morinos alb
sence from Italy was this: His ship had
been cast away upon the coast of Ceylon,
and such OF the crew as had not been
drowned, with the exception of himself
had been killed by the natives. Antonio
had saved his fishing apparatus, the pecu-
liarities of which interested the savages
and they spared him in order that he light
show them how to use it. From material
obtained from the wreck he made lines,
and hooks. and nets, and in time came to be
favorite in the village, and was allowed
much liberty. One day, while out in his
boat alone, engaged in fishing for the
chief, he found a deep, rockbound inlet,
which he had never. before seen, and where
he was sure the natives were not in the
habit of stopping. In this bay he fished
out several large oysters, the shells of which
he recognized to besuch as furnished moth
er-of pearl. He opened them, and found
pearls He kept the secret to himself and
when he had an opportunity he went out
and fished for these valuable oysters; and
in three years time, he had accumulated a
large store, many of which were of extra
ordinary size and beauty. By-and-by, An
tonic made his escape, by venturing to run
his boat far out to sea, and safely reached
the Port of Negombo, where he found a
Dutch ship bound for Calcutta, in which he
took passage, paying the price in small
pearl. Arrived in Calcutta, he soon found
ship bound for the Mediterranean but
before she sailed he was waited upon by
a Bengalese merchant, who asked him il
he had any pearls to sell. The Dutch cap
tain, it seems, had suspected the fact, and
told the merchant. Tho Bengalese proved
himself an honorable man, and our adyen-
turer offered the bulk of his pearls, and re-
ceived sum in gold equal to about two
of this sum would have made him crazy, il
his conversation with the Dutchman had
not given him to understand some thing
near the value of the property he held.
With his wealth, Antonio Morino had
made his way back to his home. From
Leghorn, where he landed, he had brought
his gold down the coast in his own boat,
and concealed it in his cellar, having dug
hole in which tc place it. And this gold
the adventurer was now keeping for his
son. He had no idea of investments, or in
terest; his only concern being to keep a
knowledge ofhis possession from those who
would surely rob him if they knew the Sc
cret.
At the age of twelve years, Leonardo,
grown to be a bright and handsome boy,
was sent to Capua, to school; and while
he was absent his mother died. At the
age of eighteen he went to Lyons, and
thence to Paris, where he made himself ac-
quainted with mercantile matters. On the
very day that he was one-and-twenty he
came home, bringing with him beauti-
fal girl whom he wished to make his wife.
She was native of Marseilles-an orphan
and her name was Cora. Old Antonio