Evening journal., 1888-08-10


NEW YoRK, Aug. Eight years ago
on a cold November day Anna Maria Pres
sia landed at Castle Garden She led by
tic hand her only child, Italo. who was s
years old. Anna ut that time was a
comedy Italian woman Of 32 years. a red
silk handkerchief was tied around her
head, and IN her cars were hoops Of gold.
Anna had her littlc savings safely hidden
away Ia tho boao,n Of her dress, which
amounted 10 about $50 The mother and
SON ld@ncd around at the scene Of hustle
and activity at Castle Garden with
surprise. They had been unaccus
toned TO such sights in Somno
lent Naples, where ltalo's father
was buried, and from which city Mrs Pres
sia had come as much to drown her grief rs
for any prospect Of gain, although the
stories Of the golden III Dorado across the
seas had also had their effect upon her
susceptible nature Up Broadway these
two aliens came. All Of her effects were
carried upon Mrs Prcssias head She
steadicd her bundle with one hand Gnd
claspcd her boys band with the other.
1nd as they went along there were those
natives who alluded TO the lonely pair as
''some more Of those greasy laac1roai
eatera.' But lit,lc lalo and lis mother
we're unaware of these uul,ird rcmaihs
and the boys attention va5 wholly tal,ca
up with the wonderful big buildings od
eithor side, which seemed to his chalie
fancy TO reach the sky The roar of the
elevated trains and the rush and hurry oi
the thr1ug which iosticd them uel
Anna grasp the hand OF Ter hoy with
tighter grip for ienr aho should lase hil
and be entirely begcft OF Kin.
Surprise grief and anxiety Gltcrnairh
buiIotcd the heart of this Lrcn1cd woula
as She ga1cd upon all tho evidences of s.
new civilization. Her black eyes glis
tened at the remembrance of her deau
husband, and while she was fcrvently
Wishing herself back in sunny Naples. 81
big Wall street broker ran up against
her, and hcr bundle ilew into the street
whore a passing truck ran over IL ana
crushed the crucifx " hch had stood az
the head of her husbands coffin Hercrr
Of grief was drowned in { hc laugh Of tho
bystandors, who knew not that an idol
had been shat erred
What a weary walk that was from
Castle Garden 60 III Thompson street. na
one ever knew, because Anna regarded il
simply as ono Of the adjunets OF her ncw
and hungry Go bc cognizaut of anything
.mt NJ" mort acutc physical impressions
Tie apartment ,'-Sie.. tho wanderers Sc
cured was q back rooln on the second iloCl
of q ricl,ety Old tenement house at 2
Thompson street. The stairs leading tt
the room wore time worn and dilapidated
and The walls were blackencl and d.scol
ored with age and use. ThGewcs onli
one window in the room. and this locke,
out upon au oasis Of brick and mortar ii
the rear Anna bought q bed and d STOW,
at u second hand store, and she and Ital,
began life in Now York deprived aimos
entirely of sunlightin their mcager homo
But ltalo soea made acquaintance witt
boys Of his own nationality, and before
week had gone by he had procured an out
III as a b00tback. His mother also mad
a few friends and ono of these advise,
her 70 invest her little savings in frui
stand 40 the corner of Blocker un
Thompson streets This advice she took
and by degrees she adapted herself to he
new situation. Anna was moderated
successful I'm her business venture, chicn
because she was Industrious She was Il
tho habit Of rising at o'clock in tn
uAlAA WAiiAlltl ANNAl ~ W tiaillllt =
ton market each day to renew her stool,
and often she was seen at her stand q
late as ~ ocloc, at night. with cheer
full smile upon her face aud the invitation
upon her lips;
"Take-a banani Tree for G'?"
x*4
For four years prosperity smiled upo
| the wanderers in q strange land Anna
| by frugality and simple living, was abb
/ to lay away in he vaults Of a Chamber
street Italian bank $500. Tho dingy roo
took on tho dignity of new carpet an
tho bed was decorated with o mos
/ gorgeous spread. For two years longC
this serenity and prosperity continue,
and the lines In Annals face bcOGm
softcned. and tho thought of her dca
husband came to her tingcd only with III
tendcrest Of sad regrets. But one day
little cloud arose. Italo had become
stout lad Of IA now, ana he began stayin
ont late at night: and at these times n
footsteps were lacking in steadiness an
his breath was freightcd with the odOr
hops and malt. He also developed
hitherto unsuspected viciousness Of tcn
per, so that his mother stood in dread
hinS Then there cnsuod quarrel, az
the next morning ltalo was missing.
For two moro long, weary, heart broa'
ing years Anna stood behind her stan
and waited for some tidinrs Of her bo
Every night end morning she lmclt b
fore the cruciiix and prayed to the Nirg
that he might be restored TO Ter. Al
during all this time, in summers su
shine and in winters chill, there VA
never an hour but what She said 70 he
self:
why I spealS-a cross to-a Italo?"
And wisttully did she look of the fac
Of p0ssers by the stand with her soul
her eyes, and when the DAYS work W
done she strolled through the neighbour
streets. peering into unfamiliar faces wi
the hopes of greeting the familiar line
mcntss But tho result was always hoT
less, and she went homo with grief a.
; anxiety Juggling at her heart strings.
Grief had channeled deep lines in Il
face and was whitening tho hair abo
her temples when one day last May t
wanderer returned. Il was at noon, n
ltalO appeared before his mother attir
in sailors clothing and bronzed like
coffee image by wind and sun. He h
:. grown so much that Anna did not recC
q nize him at first, but when he spoke
). face lit Up like a meadow after q show
The stand was locked up for the day, a
i, they went home with their arms arou
: each other Then ensued week Of I
: alleged bliss for the lonely mother. D.
ing his absence the bank account h
Q grown TO $500.
"All fora you-a, Italo ALA fora yol
r It seemed. however, that the hand
, | fate was bent on squeezing all the ioy Z