The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-23
Ny SlCILlAN FRIEND.

have not seen my old Italian friend
fci very long time ! made his acquaint
ence more than twenty years ago IN a
town some 200 miles from here He had
charge Of tho grounds Of a school In which
vas teacher lie vas always up with
tbe lark and like the bird whose vice is
early rising was singing among the
flowers II am condemned TO be aroused
from slumber at break OF day during the
summer { prefer 10 have the operation
performed 10y meadow lark OF a sougster
imported from the south OF Italy There
l. % Truth something very charming
about being awakened 10y soft sweet
music listened 10 his and found that IL
was not produced by any bird whose song
bad ever heard looked out OF my
window AMI saw the creature from whom
tie sweet strains OF music proceeded IL
was an Italian about % years OF age He
wa-tfqn@plauting some towers from n hot
bed while they were yet moist with dew
Ie was The picture OF health and beauty
tie eyes aud han were glossy black. his
form erect and his movements graceful
BE vas not Il typical Italian His features
more nearly resembled those represented
o, 8 Grctk statue As statue he would
have Dccn an appropriate ornament for n
pais Ut flower garden.
soon went down and spoke to him lie
found II difficult to converse In English.
although he understood nearly all the
words addressed to him. On asking his
name be picked up piece OF planed
board like that which formed the border
OF Tue bend on winch he was at work. and
in % plain and delicate hand wrote with
bi- pencil. Ratiaele Nicola Palermo. Sicily.
naly took the caro- e my room to pre-.
serve az "A beautiful specimen Of pcnman
sup Many profess to be abie to tell The
character OF strangers 10y their hand
writing THIS writing would Indicate de
cslon. promptness care and exactncss
% also Indicated culture taste and refine
ment lie was certainly possessed Of all
these His voice showed the effects Of
training and his manners were those Of
gentleman flls hands did not look like
tuose Of d working man though obviously
be- had much experience IN the cultivation
OF trees shrubs and smaller plants EVE
IDENTIFY he was not bandit from the Sicil
ian mountains who had fled the country
10 escape punishment
During all that summer assiduously
cultivated ms acquaintance As he made
rapid progress In learning English. he was
soon able 10 tell me about his history his
connections and his hopes and prospects
De stated that ne came TO New York 10
engage IN the fruit business. a wealthy
friend I'M Palermo Nicolai Pictro having
offered to supply him with stock with
winch TO make start lie found. how
ever that too many Of his cOuntryWen
were already engaged I'm jobbmg m troP
Yea. fruits there Some Of them advised
nm 10 20 to st Louis where there would
be less competition Ie went there but
found that the city was generally sup.
piled with fruit that came from Central
America by the way Of New Orleans Tie
soon run short of money and accordingly
resolved to engage in any Kind OF work
he could find TO do Learning that gar
dener was wanted at the place where !
found hm he applied for the place and
obaued Il he did much work for very
little gas but rs he became general
iayour, he seemed contented and happy
Ono il, 10 told me Of his wife whom
he hai .eii behind with the intention of
seudlu- tor her when the got established
DID, business tie showed me her picture
and ou my comphmentlng it he said she
was the beauty OF the neighborhood whore
they hved She had many suttors. and
among them was the rich orange shipper
who bad assisted him TO come TO this
country Every month ho sent her half
his wages | was OF assistance 10 him In
sending the rcmittances | also assisted
h.m n directing letters TO her lie In
formed me that the postal regulations OF
his country required that letter al
dressed 10 married woman should give
Dol only her name and residence. but
those Of her husband and his occupation
he translated to me all the letters he re-
ceieed from his wife They were at first
frequent and long After some months
they we're shorter and there was
longer interval between them sus
pecttd the reason. but fortunately for his
peace OF mind he did not. His trust was
as desout a. his love was ardent. After
some months he Informed me OF his inten
ton of going back to Palermo and bring
iIg his adored 10 this country His re
mote pan was TO continue his occupation
OF gardener ill he could save means TO
engage In fruit raising in Missouri or
southern Illinois That fall | returned to
Chicago and had no means or learning
whether be carried out his intention OF
going from New York 10 Palermo on a
steamer engaged In the fruit trade or not.
hardly expected that | should ever see
hin agLn but had such pleasant recol.
iectlons OF him that | entertained very
favorable opinions OF his countrymen
selected Alexander Ribolla for my barber.
and cultivated the acquaintance OF MIR
tormeuie who was employed In the Office
OF the county clerk bought the fruit |
ale - Italian street vendors
L.