After Long Years and Other Stories

brary, and seated themselves to enjo

o full of love and longing that if I could help Antonio get back to his mother I feel that I should be repaying him, in a m

nkful I am that you are so minded," said he. "I feel just

What could better suit your purpose than to do it now. Our treasures of gold and silver, pearls, diamonds and other valuables we c

r cleverness, and resolved to

disposing of his property, real and personal, and with his wife, the

f home and parents made the voyage seem a short one to him; and soon the city of Salerno could be seen in the distance. When the ste

aw there such an expression of love and tenderness, that they immediately knew their son. Oh, the great joy of this meeting, and the embracing and hand-shaking! Words failed them; for they were so overcome with emotion that they could not speak; but they drew him in triumph into the house. Antonio removed his cloa

th many financial losses, so he had made out a deed to them, which he handed to them, saying: "As I have been benefited through you and your son, whom you

ich; but neither are we poor, and in the return of our long-lost Antonio we feel richly repaid

t me from bestowing it upon your son, Antonio. He has been so well tested th

yer, the poor sailor and the old fisherman, and buy their freedom for them. There is a society here in Salerno which devotes its time and attention to the needs of the outcast, the lost and the captive; and a

his money, I will give as a ransom for the th

"I thank you sincerely, and I am sure that