The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1880-02-07

Bepro, with Rita alf-fainting in his
arms, rushed back to the ladder, but it
had already been drawn up. He scream
ed aloud; nobody answered hlm. He
shook his fists and stamped on the floor
n impotent rage-all in vain. They
were locked up-buried alive. With
difficulty Bcppo succeeded in finding an
empty space on the floor. He took Rita
IN his arms, and pressed closely against
each other both children cried themselves
to sleep.
When they awoke the broad daylight
strcamed III through the hatchWay. In
the narrow and close space, forming the
part Of the steerage, dozeE or more
ragged children OF all ages, from ten to
sixteen, were crowded together, lying on
the bare floor with no other bedding than
their miserable rags. One by one the
poor wretches awoke, crying bitterly.
| The ship had heaved her anchor during
the night and had already gained the
open sea.
"What docs this mean2 What is going
to become of us1' asked Beppo OF his
neighhor, a little chap of scarcely ten
years OF age, who cried as if his heart
would break
"We are sold" cried the little one,
sobbins. "Sold to wild people over the
seas, who will roast US and eat u.s.
The whole passage, which lasted near
! ly two months, was an uninterrupted Sc
ries OF suffering for the children Not
one soul on board cared tor them in any
way Their food was brought to them
Al,
part of sea-buscuit soaked in water.
Most of the children faded to skeletons
before they reached New YoIk. Two Of
them died, and the corpses were thrown
overheard without further ceremony.
But Of all these hardshlps and suffer
ings Beppo felt but little. His attention
was too intensely absorbed by the care
he had to bestow on poor Rita, who was
sick nearly all the time. The lad nursed
her with touching, untlrlng devotion,
and when at length he heard that New
York was in sight his heart leaped up
with iov He forgot all the uncertainty
Of their future doom in the Joy Of the
one feeling that Rita would feel well
again.
Tie next day after the ship had come
to anchor on the North River two un-
commonly mean and brutal looking Ital-
ians came on board and were received hy
! the Captain with unusual honors After
indulglng in a copious libatlon in the
Captain S cabin, the three worthless pro-
eeeded on deck and ordered the children
! to be brought out. The little ones flock
ed out, shlvering in the chilly atmosphere
OF November morning. Every one OF
them was minutely scrutinlzed by both
visitors. Half OF the party remained
on board; the rest, FIVE IN number,
among them Rita and Beppo, were
packed into the boat ard brought on
shore On landing the padroni sep
arated. the one taking, with three chill
dren, an easterly direction and the other
driving Beppo and Rita before him like
| q pair of cattle in the direction of BaA-
ter street.
| While walking the Italian explained
to Beppo that his name was Matteo, and
that they were going to live together.
And where is xio Antonlo?" asked
the lad in despair.
"What do know about your Zio An
tonio?" rejoined the padrone gruffly.
You have no business to know anybody
but me-
They walked on in silence, With
each step through the busy roarina
stYe.ts the moor ch,ld,en became more
friohtened and bewilderea by the bust
linr which surrounded them. \ feellno
at utter despair and helnlessness seized
Beppo as he became conscious Of the
impossihility II finding Zio Antonio
amid the waves ot this human ocean.
'Hcre We arc, said Matteo, stopping