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

The whole passage, which lasted near
" two months, was an uninterrupted Sc
RES of suffering for the children. Not
one soul on board cared for them in any
way. Their food was brought to them
in trough, and consisted for the most
part of a -buscuit soaked in water.
Most of the children faded to skeletons
before they reached New York. Two of
them died, and the corpses, were thrown
overheard without further ceremony.
But of all these hardships 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, untiring 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 I'M
commonly mean and brutal looking 1tal-
ians came on board and were received by
the Captain with unusual honors. After
indulging in copious libation in the
Captains cabin, the three worthless pro-
ceeded on deck and ordered the children
to be brought out. The little ones flock
ed out, shivering in the chilly atmosphere
Of November morning. Every one of
them was infinitely 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 and brought on
shore. On landing the padroni sep
arated, the one taking, with three chill
d1cn, an easterly direction and the other
driving Beppo and Rita before him like
pair of cattle in the direction of Bax-
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 Zio Antenio?' asked
the lad in despair.
"What do know about your Zio An
tonio2" rejoined the padrone gruff1y.
"You have no business to know ANYBODY
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 bust
| ling 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.
"He1e we are," said Matteo, stopping
in the doorway of one of the CHEST and
most dingy tenement-houses in Baxter
| street. 'Follow me.''
He stepped into the dark hall. The
| children followed, trembling with an un-
de6nable 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 Meditcrra-
mean, felt nearly choked IN this atmos-
phere. At the end of the long corridor
they descended few tops 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 cornor, they could
distinguish but great heap of monde
script rags, peanuts, eggshells and rub
blsh 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 ais
In the room was damp and cold.
There is your bed, said Matteo, point
ing to heap of rags in the corner.
| ''There is always enough OF that rubbish
about for you to lay on. Now, come
along, will show you your business
"But Rita cannot waikiki exclaimed
Beppo, Indignantly. "she has been sick
| q ho
before geing.'
"Time enough for that,' rejoined Mat
teo .grinning. We'll, the girl may re-
main at home for this once.''
Matteo led the way through laby-
rinth of narrow streets to one OF the blu.
siest and noisiest corners of that noisy
neighborhood. There the worthy pad
rome possessed thriving peanut stand
which be intended to intrust to Beppo,
himself desiring to embrace new and
more lucrative career.
From that day weary miserable life
began for the poor children. It was not
the wretched 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, the feeling of de-
pendence, almost of elavery, which was
hard to bear for these children of nature
Many sleepless night did they spend
sitting on their heap of rags and talking
in whisper about Santa Lucia and the
nights on the coast, and Zio Antonio.
| Sometimes Rita accompanied Beppo t.
his peanut stand. But mostly she re-
NAMED at home or was sent out by Mat
teo to sell evening papers, the names o.
which he had taught her One bite.
cold night as Beppo returned home lit
tie earlier than usual, he heard on ap
preaching the door of their room, the an
CRY voice OF Matteo swearing and scold
ing, while Rita cried and moaned IN ar
agony of pain. Beppo rushed into thu
room and saw Matteo holding the cir
by the hair with one hand, while with
the other he dashed her naked back with
a whip. Beside himself with rage Bep
pc sprang to Matteo's throat and cluns
to it with such firm grasp that the mar
was obliged to release poor Rita. O.
course he turned all his fury against tn,
boy. He whipped him till the BLOOD
sprang out of the scars, then opening the
| door threw fho sansolaoo hOHp of %Lo To-