Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-01-16

who was sick nearly all the time. The
lad nursed her with touching, untir-
ing devotion, and when at length he
heard that New York was in sight his
heart leaped up with Joy. He forgot
all the uncertainty of their future doom
in the Joy of the one feeling that Rita
would feel well again.
The next day after the ship had come
to anchor on the North River two un-
commonly mean and brutal Hooking
Italians came on board and were re-
ceived by the Captain with unusual
honors. After indulging in a copious
libation in the Captains cabin, the
three worthless proceeded on deck and
ordered the children TO be brought out.
The little ones focked out, shivering in
the chilly atmosphere of e,November
morning. Every one of them was mi
nutely scrutinized 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 and brought on shore. On land.
ing the padroni separated, the one
taking, with three children, an easterly
direction and the other driving Beppo
anu Islbd DClOlO ulLu llhG u DulI VI Cdb-
tie in the direction of Baxter street.
While walking the Italian explained
to Beppo that his name was Matteo,
and that they were going to live to-
gether.
"And where is Zio AntonioP" asked
the lad in despair.
What do know about your Zio
AntonioP" rejoined the padrone gruAly.
You have no business to know any
body but me-"
They walked on in silence. With
each step through the busy, roaring
streets the poor children became more
frightened and bewildered by the hustle
which surrounded them. A feeling of
utter despair and helplessness seized
Beppo as he became conscious of the
impossibility of finding Zio Antonio
amid the waves of this human ocean.
Here we are," said Matteo, stop
ping in the doorway of one of the high
est and most dingy tenement-houses in
Baxter street. " Follow me-"
He stepped into the dark hall. The
children followed, trembling with an
undefnable horror The walls of the
hall were damp and clammy, the air
foul with stenches and emanations of
all kind. The poor lazzaroni, used to
the balmy, invigorating breezes of the
Mediterranean, felt nearly choked in
this atmosphere. At the end of the
long corridor they descended a few
steps into what seemed to be an entirely
dark cellar. Matteo opened door in
a narrow, badly lighted basement-room
in which, besides a rough bedstead in
a corner, they could distinguish but q
great heap of nondescript rags, pea
nuts, eggshells and rubbish of every
kind. In the middle of the room there
stood small decapitated iron stove,
which had evidently not yet been used
during that season, for the air in the
room was damp and cold.
"There is your bed," said Matteo,
pointing to a heap of rags in the corner
"There is always enough of that rub
bish about for you to lay on. Now,
come along, l will show you yodr
business"
"But Rita cannot walkr' exclaimed
Beppo, Indignantly. "She has been
sick all the way. Give her something
to eat before going"
"Time enough for that" reioined
Matteo grinning. "Well, the girl
may remain at home for this once"
Matteo led the boy through laby-
rinth of narrow streets to one of the
busiest and noisiest corners of that
noisy neighborhood. There the worthy
padrone 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 wretched food and cruel
treatment on the part of Matteo which
panied them the most; it was the first
of all the dreadful house, the abom-
Unable underground hole in which they
lived, the feeling of dependence, al
most of slavery, which was hard to
bear for these children of nature. Many
q sleepless 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 Antonio.
Sometimes Rita accompanied Beppo
to his peanut-stand. But mostly she
remained at home or was sent out by
Matteo to sell evening papers, the
names of which he had taught her.
One bitter cold night as Beppo returned
home a little earlier than usual he
heard, on approaching the door of their
room, the angry voice of Matteo swear
ing and scolding, while Rita cried and
moaned in an agony of pain. Beppo
rushed into the room and saw Matteo
holding the girl by the hair with one
hand while with the other he lashed
her naked back with a whip. Beside
himself with rage Beppo sprang to
Matteo's throat and clung to it with
such a firm grip that the man was
obliged to release poor Rita. Of course
he turned all his fury against the boy.
He whipped him until the blood sprang
out of the scars, then opening the door
threw the senseless body of the lad out
into the inner yard of the house. Rita
ran out after him and Matteo locked
both out, saying:
Freeze there all night, you cursr'
The cold air revived Beppo very
soon. On recovering his senses his
first question was after Rita. She was
kneeling by his side crying bitterly.
"Why has the rascal whipped you
againp" he asked.
'He wanted to teach me how to
draw handkerchief out of his pocket
so that he should not feel it; and / could
not, and then he beat me-" answered
the girl, sobbing.
Beppo said nothing, but he clenched
his fists and his eyes flashed like those
OF wild beast. Rita was shivering
with cold. The boy 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, de-
scending into the deep courtyard in
Baxter street, kept whirling and whirl-
ing around, chilling the poor Italian
children to their hearts. Beppo took
off hia coat and waistcnat IN kaan R;ta