Crispi’s Boyish Love.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 978, 28 November 1890, Page 5

Crispi’s Boyish Love.

Crispi’s youth contained one episode too romantic and touching to be passed over. It was in 1837, in his second year at the university of Palermo, that he met a young girl called Rosina. She was the daughter of a widow, and had three sisters and a brother. She was beautiful and he fell in love with her, although he was scarce eighteen and Rosina but sixteen. Naturally his father would not hear of his marrying. Hence ho made bim come borne and leave Palermo and Rosina. But Francesco pined, and neither ate nor slept. They sent him into the country to their villa at Sciacea for change of air. In vain. That year the cholera came info Sicily and devastated beyond other towns, Palermo, where Rosina dwelt. Francesco heard the terrible tales of suffering and resolved to save his beloved or die with her. He, therefore, set out upon a farmer’s horse, and made his way to Palermo, and to Rosina’s house; nor did he arrive too soon, for the mother was already dead, so were the eldest and youngest sister, and only one sister remained alive beside Rosina and the brother, who was dying. Francesco Bold his horse to the postmaster, and with the money obtained he succoured the two desolate girls. Meantime Francesco's people did not know what had become of him, and mourned him as dead. But one day, 10, and behold 1 who should come trotting along the road, drawing the post-waggon, but the farmer’s horse, which had disappeared at the same time with Franoesco. This clue the family, therefore, followed up, until in Palermo, with Rosina, Francesco was found. There was nothing to be done but to accept the situation, and the married infants received the blessing of the good Tommaso. This child-wife, Rosina, only lived two years.