usin whose name was James. He was perhaps the most
simple-minded, gentle creature I have ever known. Being with him was
like listening to--well, it was like listening to certain kinds of music.
He lived by himself in the country, with an old woman to do for him, and
was over sixty before we came to know him; then we were all very fond of
him and often wondered what the dear, good old gentleman could have been
like in his early days. It has just occurred to me that you, sir, are
like what cousin James must have been at your age."

He was overwhelmed; his eyes filled with tears; he said he should
remember for all his life the flattering words he had just heard; they
constituted the most pleasing and genteel compliment he had ever
received; he shook hands with me and remained silent as a sign that his
emotion was too deep for more words.

CHAPTER IV--THE WINE-SHIP

Peppino usually took half an hour off and came about noon to wherever I
was sketching to fetch me to lunch. One morning as we walked along
nearly every man we met smiled and said to him--

"Buona festa, Peppino," and he smiled and returned their salutes with the
same words. He accounted for it by saying it was his onomastico--the day
of the saint whose name he bears.

"What?" said I, "is it S. Peppino and you never told me? I wish you many
happy returns of the day. But it cannot be everybody's onomastico as
well, and you say 'Buona festa, Peppino' to all who speak to you."

He replied that it was the 19th of March, the festa of S. Giuseppe, and
assured me that he had said "Buona festa, Peppino" to no one who was not
a namesake; so that about two-thirds of the men at Castellinaria must
have been baptized Giuseppe.

"Then that explains it," said I. "I was beginning to think that you
might have become engaged to be married and they were congratulating
you."

That did not do at all.

"I got no time to be married," said he, "too much busy. Besides,
marriage very bad thing. Look here, I shall tell you, listen to me.
Marriage is good for the woman, is bad for the man: every marriage makes
to be one woman more in the world, one man less. Did you understand?
And they are not happy together. We have a bad example in this town."

"Surely you don't mean to tell me that here in Castellinaria, where
everything moves so smoothly and so peacefully, you have an unhappy
married couple?"

He replied solemnly, slowly and decidedly, "Not one--all."