Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-04-23
THE BALM OF VESUyIUS.

"What is the meaning of that crowd,
il you pleasep" asked a young Ameri-
can of fruit seller in the streets of Ma
pies, of whom he had just bought some
grapes
alt is an improvisatore, Signor," re-
piled the man. e~
~ must hear him." said the foreign
er, delighted.
Now, this American had read of the
improvisatore often. He is peculiarly
Italian institutional man who, gener.
ally at twilight, pauses in crowded
place, casts down his hat at his feet and
improvises a story in prose or verse.
He is much more romantic than the or
gan grinder, and gets many more small
coin.
The American felt quite delighted at
the opportunity afforded him, and took
place very near the porch on which
the man had elevated himself He posed
himself, this improvisatore, most grace
fully beside his hat lay his knapsack.
He was handsome, as we all expect
poets to be and seldom find them. His
eyes rolled about him, and caught glints
Of light, and sparkled and grew soft as
The eyes of the most estimable English
speaking person never could. His hair
was black and ripping, and his olive
cheek smooth as a girls. The American
waited eagerly, and with romance in his
heart, for the beginning. This is what
he heard:
"Signors and Signoras, and Signori-
mas also," said the Italian, with that
musical accent which makes the speech
If some parts of Italy almost song to
oreign ears" Signors, Signoras and
Signorinas, am about to tell you a true
;tory-a tale of fact, not of Imagination.
Think you it will interest you less for
,hatP No; assuredly you will remem-
Der that fact is stranger than fiction.
Beside, my grandmother was the pref
lest woman in Naples. His grdndnOth-
rn hear some one cry, laughing. All,
Signor, you need not laugh; am speak
ng of my grandmother, Beatrichi Pan
,ini, at eighteen years of age. She was
he beauty of the town, the envy Of
he girls, the alteration of the youths Of
he place. Not a young fellow in Ma.
lies ut,admired her-but she had given
Ter heart to one alone, Luigi Vannicci
he bravest of all the young Neapolitans
md when he was rich enough they were
o be married. Meanwhile no other
however handsome or gallant, could gel
% much as smile from her. She was
Is constant and true as she was beauti
III. Halfway up the slope of Vesuvius
Ia hx
Eruption, she lived with her father. Hel
mother had persisted at her birth, anC
he father was very old. He had abou
lis dwelling little vineyard and a few
g trees, but his subsistence he derived
rom the sale of lotion which he him
elf had discovered, of which no one els,
new the secret he called it the balm
# Vesuvius., To procure its ingredi
nts it was necessary that the old maj
hould arise at night and climb thu
fountain and pluck certain weed tina
rev in the hollows of the earth befor
he sun had dried the dew upon it. A
ines, after the mountain had been 81
ent for long while, strange vine be
,an to grow in the crate. This he mus
ear from its bed, for the roots were pre-
ous. He dared not confide his secre
o any man, and, at his age, the task O
altering the ingredients for his lotto
lad grown laborouS. However, whe
made, this mixture was sovereign
emedy for all those wounds and bruise
he mountaineers and guides were so ap
o receive. 1t also cured rheumatisr
nd allayed the anguish of fever pains
Is he was honest and asked but a fai
rice for this precious balm, the tw
managed to live upon its sale, for Bea
rice was a careful housekeeper and di
ot waste money as most girls of her ag
viii do.
"They were happy in their httl
ome, this good old man and his beaut
I'll daughter; and, surely, 1t must hav
zen a demon who could have plotte
vii against Beatrice-a demon or a jea
us lover" The improvisatore pause
nd folded his arms.
- -. The American folded himself MOI
omfortably and prepared to be inte
sted. .NoU the romance was coming
few small coin ratified into the h;
wing at the story-teller's feet. 1t WI
That he was waiting for, and he wei
n: O. :.
"Piedro Tupelo was in love wit
}eatrice and hated Luigi Vannicci oi
brly.
II.ove is strange thing, Signora
1EHhe disappointed lover scarcely know
.Ehat it is he feels for the woman wi