Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-03-15

HltSs IA isidhuo VI
Capri and Ischia, a fishing boat, contain
ng two occupants, was pursuing its
course, the small sails just filled, and no
more, by the light breeze that swept
landward from the Mediterranean. So
clear was the sky that plainly revealed
was the promontory bearing Castella-
mare, Vico and many clustering vii
lagos nesting in the vineyards and
orange groves. Shoreward was, indeed,
a view of the Phlcgraean fields, clothed
in the delicate atmosphere of spring"
One of the occupants of the boat was an
old man, and the other a boy.
"You shall see how VIC take this fruit
of the sea-" said the old man, "for it is
a calling you must follow when | am
gone"
"Gone! do not understand"
"Little idiot! There are storms and
shipwrecks. A fisherman's time must
come. Even last night they say lives
were lost in the storm. Why not my
boat as well asuothers?"
"Was not an altar raised here and did
not a priest bless it,"
"Yes. boy" said the old man who, like
all Neapolitan fisherman, was extremely
superstitious. "but there are black spir-
it's which infest the coast, and which
may not always be exercised"
"Then you have your amulet?' With
veneration for that indispensable
charm.
True" remarked the other, glancing
at the "cavallo marino" which he wore.
This amulet was shaped like the sea-
horse with the fish tail: the s%ea-horsc
that is so numerous on the coast of
Baiae. sand vet, Pietro, who was
drowned, wore n beautiful amulet of a
'sirene' seated on two winged horses.
He was lost"
"When may | havea beautiful amulet?
| saw one whore the %'sirene' was so
lovely. Her face was like that of a
Madonna. There a a bell in the
mouth of each horse and another at the
bottom. Such a lovely 'sirene!'"
"A 'sirene' is not a Madonna" replied
the old man. 81 know of a boat that
bore a carved head Of the Siren Par
thenope who should protect one from
evil. She is the patron saint of the fish
erman. What became of the boat? II
was lost or the coast; it was shattered
on the rocks. The head of the siren was
floating seward when it was found
"What is the best amulet to wear
when ] become a fisherman" anxiously
asked the boy.
"The rue with the serpent is good as
any; the half moon, too. is for luck"
Slowly the boat moved to it's destina-
tion. Followers of the sea are generally
superstitious, for much passes before
their eyesa and senses which seem beyond
comprehension so far as natural cause
and effect are concerned. But the Nea-
politan fisherman has an implicit and
Unborn belief in all manner of super
natural agencies. The evil eye, or
"~jettatura," is to him a fearful realiza-
tion and when turned upon him, volun-
tary or otherwise, dire misfortune
must follow. And so the amulet is n
magnet for those ~glances, and by use
of it calamity is averted. Now the boat
was motionless; the old man furled the
sail, followed by the interested glances
of the boy who presently asked, as the
other was getting out his implements
for taking the fruit of the sea-"
what must / do to become a prosper
GUS fisherman, father?"
Rise early in the morning and avoid
all feuds and family troubles"
what are family troubles?"
81 know of two fishermen who had
difficulty about a small matter. The
boat of one had been blessed and was