Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-10
NO. Ill.
Gales and Sketfhss.
la RlBBIATl.


shadow over the little city on that strip of
coast. The sea lay motioness. But at
Marine, which nestes in its little harbor
under the high SOrrentine rocks, already
the fishermen and their wives were bestir-
ring themselves, and dragging into land
the nets which had been set out for fish
over night. Several were getting their
boats in order for the day. shaking out the
sails and bringing rudders and rigging
from the places where they had been put
for safety until morning. No one was
idle; for even the aged, for whom there
were no more voyages, joined the crowd
which was pulling away at the nets, and
here and there stood young mother spin
ming, while the children aud grandchil-
dren had their duties like the rest
"Look, Rachea, there is our Father, the
curate," said an old woman to Tiny thing
OF ten years who stood near and ran her
spindle. He is just getting into the boat
Antonino is going to take him over to
Capri, Maria Santissima How tired the
poor man looks. Aud she waved her
hand to the little. jovial priest, who now
stood in the boat and had taken off his
black cloak and carefully stretched it over
the wooden seat Meanwhile the others
on the shore stopped their work to see
| their Father. who was smiling and bow
| ing right and left, start off.
why must he go to Capri Grandma ?''
asked the child Have The people there
no Father, that they must borrow ours ?"
BE not so simple" the old woman said.
They have enough, and fine churches
too, and even hermit, we having none.
But there is also "a great Signora who
used to live here in Sorrento, and has
been so i'll that the Father has had to go
often when it was not thought she could
live another night. Now the dear lady
has grown stronger, so that she is we'll
enough to take bath in the sea every
day. When she went from here, over to
Capri, she gave pile OF ducats to the
| church and the poor people, and has sent
| tor our priest to be her Father Confessor.
| 1t is wonderful TO see how much she thinks
| Of him. And we can consider ourselves
| fortunate that we have him for Father,
who has gifts like an Archbishop. and
| whom great people ask after. The Ma
donna be with him n'-and with that she
waved her hand again to the little boat,
which was about to start.
"Will we have good weather, my son ?"
| asked the priest, and looked thoughttuliy
across the sea toward Naples.
The sun is not no yet answered the
boy. "When it rises the clouds will clear
away"
Let US hurry then-so that we arrive
before the heat of the day ~
| Antonino was just grasping the long
oars in order TO send off the boat, when
suddenly he stopped and look up toward
the steep road, which leads down from
the little city of Sorrento to Marine. On
the heights there was visible the slender
form OF young maiden, who hurried
along the stony road and waved a hand
kerchief as signal. She carried little
| bundle under her arm, and her dress was
simple enough. Still she had an almost
| imperial, though somewhat impulsive,
way OF tossing her head, and the black
tress, which she had thrown around her
| forehead, rested there like dadem
| "What are we waiting for ?' asked the
Father.
| "Some one is coming down here to the
boat who wishes also to go to Capri. If
you will permit, Father-'t will not take
much longer for she is young thing OF
not more than eighteen"
At this Mt the girl came out from
behind the wall which ran along the road.
and the Father cried: "Laurela What
have you to do at Capri ?n
| Antonino shrugged his shoulders. The
girl came on with hasty steps and stood
before them.
Good morning, la Ribbata" I" cried
one or two of the young boatmen. They
would have said more, perhaps, il the
presence OF the curate had not made them
respectful; tor the quietly defiant way in
which the maiden received their greetings
appeared TO rouse their pride.
Good morning, Laurela," cried the
Father also. What is it? Will you 60
with us to Capri ?"
| 'lf | may, Father!"
"1ou must ask Antonino, who is cap
tain Every one is lord of his own pos
sessions, and God is Lord over ALL"
| There is half carlin," said Laurella.
without noticing The young boatman, III
| may 90 for that
| You had better keep 1t yourself" ="
muttered the boy, and pushed aside bas.
ket OF oranges, so that there would be
room. He was going to sell them in
Capri, for on that rocky island they do
not grow abundantly enough for all who
seek them.
81 will not 90 back without paying"
said the girl, her black eye lashes quiver-
ing.
Come, come child,' said her Father.
He is a .usty young fellow and will not
get rich from your little pocket. There,
come aboard" he reached out his
hand 10 her--"and sit down here by me.
See, he has thrown his ia ket down there
so that you can have a nice seat For me
he has not been so thoughtful; but. with
Young people Ills always so. They'll do
more for one little woman than for ten
worthy old men like me. No, no-you
need not excuse yourself. Tonino. IL Is
the law OF tod that like should cleave to
| like 50 ras Ia4fs5i 80
Laurella had stepped into tho boat in
the meantime, and had taken her seat,
after she had, without saying word,
pushed away the jacket. The young
sailor let it lie aud multered something
between his teeth. Then he set To work
vigorously and the little boat shot out into
the bay. ....