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

rlnth OF narrow streets to one OF the bu-
slest and noisiest corners OF that noisy
neighborhood. There the worthy pad
rome possessed thriving peanut stand
which he intended to intrust TO Beppo,
himself desiring to embrace a new and
more lucrative career.
From that day a weary miserable life
began for the poor children. 1t was not
the wretchcd food and cruel treatment
on the part Of Matteo which panied them
most; it was first Of all the dreadful
house, the abominable underground hole
in which they lived he feeling Of de.
pendence, almost Of slavery, which was
hard to bear for these children Of nature.
Many a sleeplcss night did they spend,
sitting on their heap Of rags and talking
in a whisper about Santa Lucia and the
nights on the coast, and Zio Antonia
Sometimes Rita accompanied Beppo to
his peanut stand. But mostly she re-
maincd at home or was sent out by Mat
teo to sell evening papers, the names of
which he had taught her. One bitter
cold night as Beppo returned home a lit
tie earlier than usual, he heard on APP
preaching the door of their room, the an
gry voice OF Matteo swearing and scold-
ing, while Rita cried and moaneG III an
agony of pam. Bcppo rushed into the
room and saw Mattco holding the girl
10y the hair with one hand, while with
the other he lashcd her naked back with
whip. Beside himself with rage Bep-
po sprang to Matteos throat and clung
to it with such a firm grasp that the man
was obliged to release poor Rita. OF
course he turned all his fury against the
boy. He whipped him til the blood
sprang out of the scars, then opening the
door, threw the senscless body of the lad
out into the inner yard Of the house
Rita ran out after him, and Matteo lock
ed both out, saying:
"FreeZe there all night, you cursn'
The cold air revived Beppo very soon.
On recovering his senses his first ques-
ton was concerning Rita. She was knce-
ing at his side crying bitterly.
.'Way has the rascal been whipping
YOU againl' lie asked.
..He wanted to teach me how to draw
a handkerchief out Of his pocket SO that
he should not ieel ii; | could not, and
then he beat me- answered the girl,
sobbing.
Beppo said nothing, but ne clenched
his fists and his eyes flashe Ike those
of a wild beast. Rita yv3.s~ shircrirg
with cold, The bcy got up and raped
at Matteo's window. An oath and an
order to keep quiet was all the answer
he could get. With every hour the
night became colder An icy wind came
sweeping over the city and, descending
into the deep court yard in Baxter street,
kept whirllng and whirling around, chill
/ ing the poor Italian children to theil
hearts. Beppo took of his coat and waist
coat to keep Rita as warm as possible
and feeling his limbs stltfening in the
! frost leaned against the door, and drew
/ the girl to his bosom. Thus they lay, as
| they had often lain wrapped in close
embrace on the sand OF their native
coast. Sleep, the great friend of child
hood, for whom there are no rich and nc
poor, who with equal love and mercy
extends his soothing hand over the pal
ace and the hut, closed their eyellds with
a gentle touch and sent his sunniest
dreams to soothe and to cheer.
A smile Of happiness hovered about
their pale faces; they saw once more be
! fore them the bay Of Naples glittcring
in rays OF their native sun they felt the
warm breeze caressing their checks
The smile on their lips grew brighter
and happier.
"Beppo! whispered the girl.
lie heard her i1 his sleep, and drew
her Still closer 20 him.
And then all was still. The smiling
friend OF childhood had fled, and in his
place 4 graver angel looked down upon
the poor sleeping waits and took them
| in his arms. The sunshine grew bright
| er III their dreams, the breeze warmer
and balmlcr, their smile more radiant.
/ Thus they lay through all the long, cold
night And when the morning came al
last and all that giant house aWoke L
its days misery and crime, the two lite
less forms were found lying in close EN-,
brace with7the same bLisstul SMILE illumi.
ing their faces.
What became Of Matteo. Nothing Of
course. He easily proved that he had
always been "respcctablc" man, that
he knew nothing about what had become
Of the children on that night, and that
! by ..honest work" he had collected few
paltry dollars, of which he would readi
ly give share to any friends who woulc
help him out of that scrape. 1t is hard
/ ly necessary to add that he found sucl
friends easily
A DENTAL journal says the reason SC
many men fail as orators is because they
have lost some of their teeth Bcsh
Look at hen; hasn't and never had {
tooth IN her head, and did the denta
editor never hear hen mount the fence