The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-02-04
BEPPO:

BEPPO:
They called him Beppo and her-Rita.
And seldom, indeed, did it happen that
the one was mentioned without the other,
Tor ii ever there we're bosom friends in
the world Beppo and Rita were such.
Who were their parents? WAC can
says They themselves were least able to
give satisfactory answer to this ques-
ton. All they could remember was that
they had found themselves one day, side
by side, basking in the sun and scram-
bling among the rocks and pebbles of
the shore at Naples; and since that day
that shore had become their home, and
they had always remained there together
Thrice day Zlo Antonio Uncle Anto-
nia) took them to his hut and gave them
macaroni. When night came, if Rita
felt chilly, they knocked at Antonio's
door and huddled together among his
nets and fishing tackle. But mostly they
remained lying on the sand, looking at
the bright stars overhead, chattering and
laughing until the great sea lulled the
children to sleep with It's deep, soft and
gentle murmur.
Beppo was somewhat older than Rita,
and she looked up to him as her natura!
and powerful protector. He was proud
ly conscious of this, and would have
sprung into lions jaws to shield her
from harm.
So they grew up, like all that is alive
in nature grows up in that blessed cline
children of the rich, burning soil on
which they lay, of the blue sea which,
like mother, sang them to sleep.
Beppo was about fourteen and Rita
perhaps two years younger, when Zio
Antonio announced to them that in fu-
ture they had no more macaronis to ex-
pect from him, for he was going away,
far, far away-to land called America.
Things look bad in Naples, he said {:
"Molta 9ente poca danaro" (many peo-
pie and little money!, and so he preferred
work in forei ign lands to starvation at
home.
The poor children cried bitterly in
taking leave of the old man. He was the
only human being who had ever cared
tor them and now they were all alone In
the world. 1t was not for his macaroni
alone that they cried; as long as there was
fisherman on the shore they had no fear
OF hunger; but the macaroni is, alter all,
fAOs CScIy tkluS III lllt-CVcQ 1Or N ca
politan lazzaroni.
After Zio Antonio had left them Beppo
grew daily more restless and thoughtful.
He could sit tor hours in the sand, his
dark sparkling eyes fixed with longing
look on the blue space of open sea be-
tween Capri and Tschia, aud when Rita
crept up to him and nesting on his lap
asked what he thought about he an
swered: Zio Antonio and that foreign
land he is gone to- ,ss
One day as they were thus sitting to-
gether man dressed like sailor ap-
preached them, and tapping Beppo on
the shoulder, said:
"Cheer up my lad have good news
for you, from Zio Antonio. l have seen
the old man on the other side, he IS do.
ing very we'll and is fast becoming rich.
Would you like to go to hint The saip,
the Captain of which is friend of mine,
starts tomorrow. He will give you q
free passage for Antonia's sake"
Beppo sprang up in delight.
GOT course we will go!" he exclaimed.
"Won't we Ritaa"
''As you will. Beppo," she answered
simply. .......
And the pair started hand In hand
preceded by the sailor. The same night
they were brought on board the ship,
where the Captain, burly, eoarse-loo K
ing red haired fellow met him.
''hallo, Domenicol' he cried. "Do
you bring some mores We are pretty
tull already"
''But two MORE" answered the man.
squeeze hem up blt" .,
no kosr1 -
had brought the children drew aside and
held whispered conference. Some mon
on used from hand to hand, and then
the sailor jumped into his boat and row.
ed back to the shore.
s'What are you staring att" cried the
Captain to the children, who stood on
deck side by side, bewildered, amazed
by all they had seen and heard.
SEQ down and sleep!''
Saying which he seized them roughly
by the shoulders and pushed them down
q steep ladder into an utterly dark and
narrow hole. Cropping their way through
tie >darkHess the children stumbled al
each step they made on PROSTATE human
forms. Cries and groans arose and chill
ed their hearts with nameless terror
Beppo. with Rita half fainting in his
arms, rushed back to the ladder, but il
4 had already been drawn up. He scream
ed aloud; nobody answered HIM. HI
shook his fists and stamped on the fool
m impotent rage-all in vain. They
were locked up-buried alive. Witt
ID, difficulty Bcppo succeeded in finding ar
Sempty space on the floor. He took Rit.
in his arms, and pressed closely agains
NT each other both children cried themselve.
to sleep.
When they awoke the broad daylight
streamed In through the hatchway. Ir
the narrow and close space, forming thu
part of the Storage, dozer or more
ragged children OF all ages, from ten t.
sixteen, were crowded together, lying on
the bare floor with no other bedding thar
their miserable rags. One by one thu
poor wretches awoke, crying bitterly
The ship had heaved her anchor during
the night and had already gained tho
open sea.
s.What docs this means What is goine
toibecome of us2'' asked Beppo Of hi.
ne;phbor. q little chap of scarcely for