The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-04
PORCELLO'S SABBATH.

WHAT THE DAY BROUGHT TO THE UNroRTU.
NATE ITALIAN PRISONER RESIGNED
AND HIS WIFE HOPEFUL.
francesca Porcello spent quiet Sabbath yester~
say. sitting in peaceful rumination before his open
cell door in the Tombs happier IN every way since
he had seen his wife and child. The authorities OF
the prison have begun to understand this strange.
reckless creature. Their ideas of his savagery have
been gradually dispclled, through the efforts Of
Interpreters and the eloquent Interpretation Of
that scene in the garden on saturday.
they have learned that they to deal with
a man of better instincts than they at first
believed. The Italians OF New York steadily in
teres:ing themselves in the case. They are raising
funds for Porccllo's defence that the stigma of
execution. which has yet been attached to their
community. may by all means be kept from it. The,
have inquired into the mans character from hia
neehbors and friends and strange to say have heard
all sides that he OF the best hearted aud
best natured men in that semi-civilized cluster OF
Italian peasants who have brought over to this
country the ignorance and superstition of their
own-few of them able to read or write fe OF them
careful OF the law, living uncompainingly in their
squaor hot Tempered and at times desperate but in
the main simple and generous-and who hive in the
ncighborhood of Baxter street.
81 NOTHING LIFE
When Porcello told of the efforts being made
on his behalf he simply raised his head. II care
nothing tor lire. said he, and fell back into his
quiet train Of thought. The peace of sunday after
had fallen over the jail. here and there upon
the galleries was solitary keeper. and the murderer.
with another prisoner at his side to watch HIM, was
letting pleasant memories run in the stiffness
through his brain.
..Do not talk of that evening" he said; IL pray
you not TO name it. For myself i ask no help:
want none. have been soldier and have faced the
cannon. What is life worth in my eyes; OF what
consequence is death? Not that" and he snapped
his nan against his teeth with an Italian gesture OF
contempt.
would be tried Tor this offence and have to Plead"
OF course. He had seen court martial. He knew
all that would happen. His only fear far tho
future was concerned, was for ms boy-that baby of
eight months who must grow up in this country
and carry this slur all his life The son Of hanged
mani D'o the thought was horrible
III kind friends" ne asked. consented to
send the boy and his mother home to Genoa. would
he like them TO go?''
"Much-alter little while For the present the
warden had promised to let the child every
day. lie would not like to lose sight OF hm-t the
end. His wife would be happier in his native
village, much happier. He would have taken her
home long ago ii ne had had the money. he hat
i'll luck he set foot in America but after
ali, what did IL matter. The past was past Nobody
had yet accused him OF cowardicc: nobody ever
should But II was hard on that eight months
baby-very hard
MOTHERS LOVE.
Meanwhile the wife chit were i'm their niser-
able room at No. - Baxter street. Its pcnury
less apparent than on saturday, for soft hearts had
been touched by the young mothers story. and
charitable hands had been carrying her The
swarming dodgers OF the tenement house were eager
rotate silk dresses had rusted through their
passages aud carriages had driven up their door
There meat IN the stew pot and milk n
the pan. Porcello's wife was busying herself with
these luxurios the baby rolling and over
on the bed. the former seemed smaller she
roamed with bare feet around the than when
she stood beside the fountain Of the Tombs. Nor
II till she was seated one looked full in her
that there in u that strangely chidlike
look, blended with regularity OF feature. which
served the Odd painters tor model OF the Madonna.
Wouid she go home, II her passage paid. and
there wait iii these troubles What
would he the good. They very poor at home.
mseraby Door. Her father dead aud her
mother lived by nccdcwork. she. herself. had
learned trade How could her people feed
two months. And then there the boys
future TO think of. IL would be long said this sim
pie wfc--it would he several years. perhaps, before
his iathor free; but there great prospect
before the child II she brought him mp IN America
had done before, and would send him TO school, ana
by aud by he would. In turn. be her support.
Tho child, she said, had been her consolation in
the prison Wards Island. Ont il was cruel to
have sent her there. The mothers
horribly dirty. They cared nothing for
their children. The babies had all to be-
left up stairs when the mothors went down
TO meals: but. for her own part. she would just
snatch up piece OF broad and hasten back to the
boy. She did not think much harm could happen
to her so long as the child safe. Her two other
children were dead. They lay at Greenwood Gene.
terry in one grave. and she used TO 20 there every
sunday with handful OF flowers. No, in any
she would be sorry To leave America. She was
tain that her husband would soon come back TO her.
aud when her visitor left radiant with happiness
am