The Washington herald., 1914-03-10
PIETRo The ROMAN.
By EMORY ). HAYNES.


cold north can never be his countr,
yet he has not flinched in our severes
weather. He tells me he had never see
snow, except upon the far off mountain.
IT'LL he came to America.
He knew when he left Italy that hard
ship and privation were before him. Blu
he had been captain of cavalry. H,
proudly showed his honorable discharge
after serving his time with honors
Should soldier consider hardship an,
1.-THE cold north. and inconsistencies?
There were the two little motherles.
Igirls. His wife had died while he wa.
soldering. And there was his sister
who 'mothered them. The old father
Thought the returned soldier might carr
enough American dollars to buy the
vineyard on the sunny slope of the
Apennines. There should then be their
home forever.
That was the plan which explained
this patient man, who came to work
on Yankee farms. He who had worn a
sword. He who had commanded a
troop in the latest Caesars country. He
became plowman and fused with onion
beds and flowers.
He who could not speak English used
his Bible to point out the words. and
did the same. English in one column.
Italian in the other. He burned the
night lamp to study my tongue.
burned my enthusiasm TO help him, as
often he rested on his'hoe. We found
we had many things in common. He
touched his cap at the mention of
Cavour. for Garibaldi he Strengthened
himself to full height and his face
glowed as he saluted. He was Walden
sian, descended from that superb martyr
brotherhood who. in the caves of the
Cottian Alps, kept the open Bible and
handed it down to us.
Pietro was Christian. Strong. brave,
true. The noblest Roman OF them
all. Along the country highways rude
people classed him among the Wapps."
| have seen his soldier eyes flash-this
former captain of Roman cavalry. Then
he would smile in pity on his insulters
and move on in silent sclf-respect.
How few of those who accosted him
along the country road would 90 to
far foreign land for two little chill
dren's and a white.haired sire's sake.
How few would endure such loneliness.
And the foreign cold. He would. at
times. draw his coat about him-in a
snowy morning, in sharp frigid gray
noonday-and answer a salutation with |
a smile. pointing to the sky. Then he |
would answer, with pathos. italia
ltalial Dear Italia But all the while
he was game.
A singer was our guest last summer
and sat at the piano. She had re-
Gently returned from Italy and sung
Santa Lucia" the sweet music that the
boatmen and women sing us. in the bay
at Naples as they row out to the steam
er. 1t was evening. Pietro was curled
up on the steps OF the vcranda near
the open windows. But this song
brought him to his feet. and his foot
steps retreated down the walk. went
out and called to him. He was ALWAYS
all obedience and turned. There was
remor in his voice.
Come into the house, captain"
aid, "and | will introduce you to the
singer" In his rough though ALWAYS
kept clothes he entered. this
Roman soldier. He was not i'll at ease.
The lady sang Santa Lucia" again. He
TODD trembling with emotion. Do we
orget the quick, emotional nature of
hese Italians? They are the most cx-
uisitely sensitive people in the world.
Mas! the sweet singer is gone forever.
Do you remember. Pietro, the sweet
singer" | said recently when
idding him good-by He pointed up
Yard and bowed. "Do not fail. Pietro."
'urely he will not fail, a WaIdensian
nd Roman. he will Pot fail.
When he went back he could speak Il
cry fairly IN English. He conversed Q
RELY that last day and wanted to be |.
ept in mind. In his room, laid out "
here 1t could not fail to be discovered .
romptly after he had gone, lay the
Bible which We had used
first so much in his learning the a
nguage. 1t was left for me. What :,
the difference in the appeal of this b
ook to the Italian or the American? -
ertainly none whatever Do we for 81
It that when so often we contemptous- 3
regard the man from a far country st
Pietro Taglieferri, of the province of ~
erugia, no doubt it is hoping too much "a
lat you will see these gentle honors a
hich here are recorded about you. -
He'd you servant, did l? You were II
! my plane of morals, you held nv o.
18th. You work from motives that ! m
I'D to be the highest inspiration of III
'e For home for f,,La- for Ill