The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-23
A ROMANCE.
The Story Told Ely The Shabby Old italian
Organ Grinder.


the story of an Italian organ grinder,
living ina rickety tenement on Crosby
street is this:
Fourteen years-yes, it s just four
teen Years since | landed from the
bark Pallone with Giulia, my wife,
and two children: poor III pocket, but
poorer still in heart. | was utility
singer i'll Milan, and had been for ten
years. My wife was in the chorus
ballet we called it there. I've sung |
with all the great singers. Mario |
knew quite we'll. He was brutal.
self-indulgent fellow, afraid only OF
Crisis temper She boxed him. shut
him up. treated him like child, but
loved him with jealousy that knew
no equal. Would to God | had never
sung song We were so happy, and
so proud of our daughter. Little
Beatrice was the pet of the theatre.
From child she was in and about the
house. Everybody loved her. Well,
she grew to be a beautiful girl. No
doll. She was almost a woman when
a child. Her hair was thick and
long and black. Her eyes shone like
stars. At fourteen she was study
for an artist. She sang sWeetly ana
we had high hopes for her future.
The dirt-grimed face Of the man
grew dark and sigh rose from his
heart. but found no utterance but
curse from his lips. For a moment
if seemed as if he would faint. Then
his ewes flashed from under his heavy
brows. He resumed his story:
! .Beatrice was more mine than her
mothers. At first / enjoyed the par
tiality she showed for me; but seeing
the mothers heart yearned Tor the
| love which was gives to me. endeaY-
ored. without showing it. to turn the
little one s affections in that direction,
All me Well, just then there joined
orr comDanv from the cathedral choir
q sllperb-voiced man. He did what l
couldn't do. He estranged Beatrice
from me. Curse him he stole not
only her heart, but herself; for one
sad day they disappeared together.
Stunned we were at first, and wife
took to her bed. The director knew
the child. and said he would soon over
take her abductor, because he was
under contract for three years, and
the authorities would help us find him.
DAYS lengthened into weeks; weeks
into months. Then my selfish eyes
detected what they shouldlong before
have seen. My Giulia was sinking
wasting fast away. What to do! |
had some little savings-her' and
mine. Nonews, absolutely none, had
come about the lost. She might have
come home any day. Even the scoun-
drel should be welcome did he bring
rs home our child.
The old fellow broke down. I'm
rather soft myself on the child ques-
ton, and | don't mind adding that II
: the little spare cash | had with
me then could have hurried the lost
girls homeward stage, this warm
hearted Milanese would have had it
all. He braced up a little, but know
ing there was no apology needed for
his tears, waited until he could master
his voice. Then he blew his nose
, vigorously and went on:
[ The director took great interest
in our grief, and in some way became
convinced that Beatrice had been IN
duced to 90 to America which IS uni
versally regarded as the home Tor
: artists and the Mecca of the poor. 1t
7 required great urging to persuade my
: wife to break up her home-the home
! of her Young love, her husband and
? her children-but she yielded. We
| sold everything purchased our tickets
| and started. followed by the good
: wishes of one and all. The horrows
of our voyage can never be forgotten
: The impositions of the New orb
: dear GIRL was buoyed up by a vain
=, hope. That was soon destroyed tol
4 America isa large place. and Beatrice
\ was not found. Giulia died III Bel
!. leyue. Thank God. | buried her il
Calvarv-and then with Beppo and
o Peter | started life again.
e But what did you do-what bust
V nese did YOU follow before your wife
t death!'
t. tOh. sir, she died in less than ter
s days after our landing. The Italian
|. Consul showed us the folly of attempt
/, ing to find our child. There was no on
}. in the Italian colony answering he
description: no one who had ever heart
of him. Then the dear wife just sanl
). down and drifted away with sWee
h smile on her lip. but with chilled
hand on her heart. | had no none.
|. left. This
.. Just then three monkeys. who ha
If been quiet all this time began to figh
II and the smallest, which was bein
Is whipped in the scrlmmage, jumpe'
/ clear across the room. landing on tn
n old mans head. The other followed
Q and for minute or two the littl
q: place was filled with chatter. to whicl
d the cultural tones OF the rouse
N Italian supplied not inharmoniou
base. A small whip and a larg
+. banana. judiciously alternated i
le treatment. soon restored peace IN tn
t. the family and the narrator proceed
a ed:
n. LAS l was saying, my money wa
h gone. and l had two little boys to tax
care of. l loved them. but dldn
ID know how to care for them. One wa
70 10, and the other I. 4 cigar make
Is took them both. She said
%. ..Sha2 DO women make cigars!