The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-03-17

oe1lIs SulS 4NoooI Soou IL lSIIN
there"
"Ah, Pedro is my uncle I' the Italian
fairly screamed. 81 am Seppi. Have
you not heard of Seppi? And did the
signor see the church at Carema2 And
the picture? All, there is no picture like
that in Italy in the world r'
"What does he say?" came the
chorus again.
To their surprise it was the old fish
erman, Mccain, who answered them
interpreting tor John and Seppl, who
were too eager to hear him, as they
discussed the marvellous beauty of the
poor little village and of Seppi'S house
which was on the edge OF the road to
Ivria.
The Italian. caught the little gill who
was with him by the shoulder.
"Anita The signor has walked by
our house He has, perhaps, broken a
bunch OF grapes from the old vine and
rested on the big stone where youl
blessed mother used to sit in the even.
ing She may be there now looking
down the road for Seppi and her baby
girl !"
The tears stood in his beady black
eyes. The child, vino was as stoliC
and square as if cut out of log
quietly put up one fat hand and wipeo
them away.
"Some time, my father" she said.
"Why did you leave Carema Seppi?'
''Slgnor, | came with a great padrone
from Aosta, He SAID: If you will come
with Anita and play and dance in
America for two years, you shall come
home rich-rich.' l wanted to be
rich,' said Seppi, gravely shaking hi:
head.
The bell tangled merrily, in COO
contrast to the miserable face below.
"And then?"
''Sandro, that was his name, took US
to the far West, and parted me from
Anita. was driven and starved, ou
that did not matter. Look here !'
He pulled down her gown from the
child's back and showed it scared anc
black. A cry of pity came from every
woman there. Seppis big hands shooI
as he buttoned the little dress again, bu
the child stood passive.
81 ran away. l found my girl, anc
we are on our way home. We shall
see Maria and my boy and the ole
house again !"
Glow soon, Seppi7"
The poor grinder shrugged hi
shoulders.
at takes much time to make littl,
money-yes We have walked from
Chicago. We have saved every penny
We do not eat much, Anita and |
will take $40 to take us home, and W,
have saved this in two years."
He pulled from his breast a leathe
bag, and, throwing his coat on thu
grass, poured out on it little heap O
silver. The crowd pressed close. Johl
kneeled nd began to count 1t. H
was so eager that he could scarcely &c
his breath. He was a warm hearted
impetuous ooy, and he had forgotten
all his own trouble in Seppi's.
The girl watched him. She wante'
to explain matters to him. Pointing t
the money, she stammered in English
"Some time-Carema Patience, pa
tience -
"Yes, it does need PATIENCE" sal
John excitedly, springlng to MS fee
There are not sixteen dollars, and the
have cost two years work Gentlemen
} he held out his cap-tit will be S
little to you-those twenty-four dollar
that are needed-but it means hom
and wife and mother to these poo
souls
The cap passed from hand to hanC
The men laughed, some of the wome
cried, and the crisp notes and coin
dropped in fast. When it came bac
to Seppi it weighed heavily in his hand
The excitable Italian showed by HI
sudden gravity how deeply he wa
moved. He glanced around the circl
of kind faces and bowed low,
! at is much" he said at last. "W
will go to New York today and sail tc
l morrow. There will be money left IL
Maria. | thank you" Then he stoo
quiet, looking at the ground, the teal
making clean paths down his cheek
/ 1t did not need the ship or the voysg
He was already with Maria at home.
Anita seemed to wake as from
stupor. She. touched Johns elbow.
"Signor, we are going home l al
going to mother p she said timidly, an
5 then. like true Piedmontese, began
5 dance. She was homelY child, but