Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-09-04
MY SlCILIAN FRIEND.


charge of the grounds of a school in which
l was teacher, He was always up with
the lark, and like the bird whose vice is
early rising, was singing among the
mowers. II am condemned to be aroused
from slumber at break of day during the
summer | prefer to have the operation
performed by a meadow lark or a songster
imported from the south of Italv. There
Is, in truth, something very charming
about being awakened by soft, sweet
music. l listened to his and found that it
was not produced by any bird whose song
l had ever heard. | looked out of nv
window and saw the creature from whom
the sweet strains of music proceeded 1t
was an Italian about 26 years of age. He
was transplanting some flowers from hot
bed while they were yet moist with dew.
lie was the picture of health and beauty.
His eyes and hair were glossy black, his
form erect and his movements graceful.
lie was not typical Italian. His features
more nearly resembled those represented
by Greek statue AS statue he would
have been an appropriate ornament for
park or flower garden.
! 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 planned
board. Ike that which formed the border
of the bend on which he was at work, and
in plain and delicate hand wrote with
his pencil Raffaele Ni"ola P2lermo, Sicily,
Italy. took the card to nay room to pre-
serve as beautiful specimen of penman-
ship Many profess to be able to tell the
character of strangers by their hand
writing. This writing would indicate de-
cision, promptness, care and exactness.
1t also indicated culture, taste and refine
ment. 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 a working man, though obviously
he had much experience in the cultivation
of trees, shrubs and smaller plants. Evi
IDENTIFY he was not bandit from the Sicl-
ian mountains who had fled the country
to escape punishment.
During all that summer | assiduouslv
cultivated his acquaintance. AS he made
rapid progress in learning English, he was
soon able to tell me about his history, his
connections and his hopes and prospects.
He stated 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, how
ever, that too many of his countrymen
were already engaged in jobbing in trop-
ical 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 sup
piled with fruit that came from Central
America by the way of New Orleans. He
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 him, he applied for the place and
obtained it. He did much work for very
little pay, but as he became a general
favOrite he seemed contented 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 established
in business. He showed NE her picture
and on my complimenting it he said she
was the beauty of the neighborhood where
they lived. She had many suitors, and
among them was the rich orange shipper
who had assisted him to come to this
country. Every month he sent her half
his wages. | was of assistance to him in
sending the remittances. l also assisted
him in directing letters to her. He in
formed me that the postal regulations Of
his country required that letter ad-
dressed to a 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 re-
ceived from his wife. They were at first
frequent and long. After some months
they were shorter and there was q
longer interval between them. l sus-
pected the reason, but fortunately for his
peace of mind he did not. His trust was
as devout as his love was ardent After
some months he informed me of his inten-
ton of going back to Palermo and bring
ing his adored to this country. His re-
mote plan was to continue l 5 occupation
of gardener till he could save means to
engage in fruit raising in Missouri or
southern Illinois That fall returned to
Chicago and had no means OF learning
whether he carried out his intention of
going from New York to Palermo on a
steamer engaged in the fruit trade or not
hardly expected that | should ever see
him again. but l had such pleasant recol-
lections of him that l entertained very
favorable opinions of his countrymen-
selected Alexander Ribolla for my barber,
and cultivated the acquaintance of Mr.
Corniente, who was employed in the Office
of the county clerk. bought the fruit
ate of Italian street vendors
During the fall of 1880 frequently no.
ticed when was walking on Dearborn or
Clark street in the evening that an enact
ated sorrowful looking. dark complex
toned man was a little way behind me,
and apparently following me for pur-
pose In places comparatively dark he
would quicken his pace as If to overtake
me but as soon as he approached street
lamp his steps became short and SLOW
One night resolved to find out who this
mysterious person was and to ascertain
what he wanted of me. was going south
on Dearborn street. in the direction OF the
-ostoffice. when noticed him following
me as | had many times before de
1orrad behind at the Monroe street cross
inc and did not quicken his pace till he
came to the next alley. | was quarter
Of block in advance of him, at place
where the sidewalk was well lighted
There | suddenly turned. as if | had for
GOTTEN something, and walked quickly
SocL | confronted the stranger before
.. 20 refrace his steps.