Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-06-06
MY SICILIAN FRIEND.

MY SlClLIAN FRIEND.
have not seen my old Italian
friend for very long time. 1 made
his acquaintance more than twenty
Years ago IN n town some 240 miles
trOm here. He had charge of the
grounds OF n school in which 1 was a
teacher. lie was always up with the
lark, and like the bird whose voice Is
eariy rising, was singing among the
flowers II 1 am condemned to be
aroused from slumber at break OF day
during the summer prefer to have the
operation performed by a meadow lark
CT a songster imported from the south
OF Italy. There Is, IN truth. something
very charming about being awakened
10y soft, sweet music. / listened to his
aud found T. at it was not produced By
any bird whose song l had ever heard.
/ looked out of my window and saw
the creature from whom the sweet
strains OF music proceeded. 1t was an
Italian about 20 years of age. He was
transplanting some flowers from hot
bed while they were yet moist with
dew. lie was the picture II health and
beauty. His eyes and hair were glossy
black, his form erect and his move
ments graceful. He was not typical
Italian His features more nearly re-
sembled those represented by Greek
statue. AS a statue he would have
been an appropriate ornament for a
park or flower garden.
1 soon went down and spoke to him.
He found it difficult TO converse in
English, although he understood nearly
all the words addressed to him. On
asking his name he picked up a piece
of planed board, like that which formed
the border of the tend on which he was
at work, and in a plain and delicate
hand wrote with his pencil Raffaele
Nicola, Palermo, Sicily, Italy. 1 took
the card to my room TO preserve Is a
beautiful specimen of penmanship.
Many profess to be able to tell the
character of strangers by their hand
writing. This writing would indicate
decision, promptness, care and exact
ness. 1t also Indicated culture, taste
and refinement. He was certainly
possessed of all these. His voice showed
the effects Of training and his manners
were those of a gentleman His hands
did not look like those of working
man, though obviously he had much
experience in the cultivation of trees.
shrubs and smaller plants. Evidently
he was not bandit from the Slcilian
mountains who had fled the country to
escape punishment
During all that summer 1 assidu-
ously cultivated his acquaintance. As
he made rapid progress in learning
English, he was soon able to tell me
about his history, his connections and
az
that he came to New York to engage
in the fruit business, a wealthy friend
In Palermo, Nicolai Pietro, having
offered to supply him with stock with
which to make a start He found,
however, that too many of his country
men were already engaged in iobsing
In tropical fruits there. Some of them
advised him to go to St. Louis, where
there would be less competition He
went there, but found that the city
was generally supplied with fruit that
came from Central America by the
way OF New Orleans. He soon ran
short OF money, and accordingly re-
solved to engage in any kind of work
he could find to do. Learning that a
gardener was wanted at the place
where / found him, he applied for the
place and obtained it. he did much
work for very little pay, but rs soon as
be became n general favorlte he seemed
Sontented and happy.
One day he told me of his wife, whom
he had left behind with the intention
of sending for her when he got estab-
lished in business. He showed me her
picture, and on my complimenting It he
said she was the beauty OF the neigh
borhood where they lived. She had
many suitors, and among them was
the rich orange shipper who had as
sisted him to come to this country.
Every month he sent her half his
wages. / was of assistance to him in
sending the remIttances. 1 also as
sisted him in directing letters to her,
He Informed me that the postal regu'
lations of his country required that q
letter addressed to n married woman
should give not only her name and
residence, but those of her husband and
his occupation. He translated to me
all the letters he received from hi:
wife, They were at first frequent and
long. After some months they were
shorter and there was Il longer lnterya
between them. suspected the reason
but fortunately for his peace or mine
he did not. His trust was as deyout q:
his love was ardent After some
months he informed me of his intention
of going back to Palermo aud bringing
his adored TO this country. His re
mote plan was to continue his occupa
tion of gardener till he could saw;
means to engage In fruit raising II
Missouri or southern Illinois. Thai
fall 1 returned to Chicago and had nj
means of learning whether he carried
out his Intention of going from New
York to Palermo on steamer engaged
In the fruit trade or not. L hardl,
expected that / should ever see him
again, but / had such pleasant recollec
tions OF him that 1 entertained very
favorable opinion of his countrymen.
selected Alexander Ribolla for my
barber, and cultivated the acquaint
ance OF Mr.. Cornienth, who was EN-
ployed In the office of the county clerk,
i bought the fruit ate Of italian street
vendors.
During the fall of 1880 frequently
noticed when 1 was walking on Dear
born or Clark street IN the evening tna'
an emaciated, sorrowful looking, darl
complexioned man was a little way
behind me, and apparently following
me for a purpose. In places compare
lively dark he would quicken his pacs
ss If to oseytake me. but as soon as hs