The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-05-26

JOnn, eAclleuly, SpllnSlnB W Ills leel
"There are not sixteen dollars,
and they have cost two years work.
Gentlemcn"-he held out his cap,
it will be so little to you-these
twenty-four dollars that are needed
but it means home and wife and
mother to these poor souls
The cap passed from hand TO hand.
The men laughed, some of the wom-
en- cried, and the chi ? notes and
coins dropped in fast. When it came
back to Seppi, it weighed heavily
in his hands.
The excitable italian showed, by
his sudden gravety, how deeply he
was moved. He glanced around the
circle of kind faces, and bowed low.
at is much, he said at last. We
will go to New York to-day, and
sail tomorrow. There will be money
left for Marie. l thank you"
Then he stood quiet, looking at
the ground, the tears making clean
paths down his cheeks. 1t did not
need the ship or the voyage, He was
already with Marie at home.
Anita seemed to wake as from a
stupor. She touched Johns elbow
"Signor, we are going homel l am
going home to motherw she said tim
idly, and then, like true Piedmon-
tese, began to dance. She WAS a
homely child, but it was the hap
piness in her that danced, and that
was beautiful to see. Seppi, in Il
sudden frenzy of joy, ground the or
gan, beat the kettle, rang the bell.
John stood laughing with the
others, but he was more touched
than they. Poor and idle as he was
he had been able to do something
yet in his life.
Some of the ladies had disappear
ed, and came back now with Il valisC
packed with pretty little gowns foi
Anita, bright colorcd ribbon ant
toys. There was even present for
Maris and the bambino at home.
The child flushed and sparkling
bowed to them all, MS she bade then
farewell. But she ran up to John
and falling on her knee she kissed
his hand.
81 will pray for you signor," sh
said.
As Seppi and the child disappear
ed the boarders at Prout's sauntere'
up to the house to supper. Mr.. Nc
Cam walked with Israel.
"That's a good fellow" he said
"And he speaks Italian well. We
McCann and Shippen'-have one q
the largest houses in New York w
want secretary who is master q
French, Italian and German. II
write for this lads references, and
they are satisfactory, he shall hav
the place at once.
They'll be all right" said Istae
But he was dismayed. The senio
partner in McCann and Shippen
And he had taken him for mechan
ic out on his holiday
That pretty little artist, Bess
Henry, had watched the whole seen
: from her hammock, herself unseer
I She, o,looked after John as h
walked home across the marshes.
. "How good he isl" she though
her eyes growing soft and tender.
There is nobody like him! But h
Has lOlSOtuVh
| John; crossing the marshes, hum
: NEE u tune to himself. How fin
werethose gray tints in the sky, and
the soft browns and crimsons in tn
< swamps--could anything be NOR
0 Delicate! The minnows and crab
shooting through the cofiee-colore
< water of the creeks, the blue drago
flies-how happy they all We're! II
| wished he could have shaken hand
with every one of those men an
. women who had made Seppi an
s the child so glad for lifel The worl'
e was so good and so full of generou
1 and friendly souls 1t was enoug
to be alive!-Rebecca Hardin
= Davis, in Congregationalist
e A Warning