American Dream---Tony Trivisonno’s American Dream.docVIP

American Dream---Tony Trivisonno’s American Dream Frederick C. Crawford Introduction The American Dream means different things to different people. But for many, particularly immigrants, it means the opportunity to make a better life for themselves. For them the dream is that talent and hard work can take you from log cabin to White House. Tony Trivisonno did not rise quite so high, yet he managed to make his own dream come true. He came from a rocky farm in Italy, somewhere south of Rome. How or when he got to America, I dont know. But one evening I found him standing in the driveway, behind my garage. He was about five-foot-seven or eight, and thin. I mow your lawn, he said. It was hard to comprehend his broken English. I asked him his name. Tony Trivisonno, he replied. I mow your lawn. I told Tony that I couldnt afford a gardener. I mow your lawn, he said again, then walked away. I went into my house unhappy. Yes, these Depression days were difficult, but how could I to turn away a person who had come to me for help? When I got home from work the next evening, the lawn had been mowed, the garden weeded, and the walks swept. I asked my wife what had happened. A man got the lawn mower out of the garage and worked on the yard, she answered. I assumed you had hired him. I told her of my experience the night before. We thought it strange that he had not asked for pay. The next two days were busy, and I forgot about Tony. We were trying to rebuild our business and bring some of our workers back to the plants. But on Friday, returning home a little early, I saw Tony again, behind the garage. I complimented him on the work he had done. I mow your lawn, he said. I managed to work out some kind of small weekly pay, and each day Tony cleaned up the yard and took care of any little tasks. My wife said he was very helpful whenever there were any heavy objects to lift or things to fix. Summer passed into fall, and winds blew cold. Mr. Craw, snow pretty soon, Tony