Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-20
way IafrEO Was SID.
HIS DEVOTION TO HIS MOTHER COST
HIM HIS SWEETHEART.
In . Restaurant In the French Quarter
Mime. Phillippi Tells the Story of
Matteo's Life.

and seated about a table. Dinner wa
over, and we were trying to enjoy as poo
: cup of coffee as Frenchman ever made
The dinner had been bad, execrably baG
but we were young, and indigestion ha
no terrors for US. The room in which W
dined was tiny, four small tables filling i
completely. Our party occupied one, an oil,
man and his older mother were at another
one was empty, and at the fourth sat mos
interesting old man. He was evidently al
Italian, for when he spoke he addressed
, the waiter in language that was NO
French, and Madge says that if the habi
tues of the place don't speak French, it i.
because they are Italians.
This old man, then, came from the land
of the olive, and as he sat there eating
silently he formed picture never to be
forgotten. The light from the gas in the
street came in through rent in the shade
and fell full upon his rugged face, accent.
uating every line and furrow painted there
by time and care, for care he must have
known to bring such lines of sorrow and
grief upon his face. He was old and fee
Bile, too, for his hand shook. as though
with palsy as he carried the food to his
mouth. His long white hair fell in a
tangled mass upon his shoulders and his
shaggy white brows came out in strong
contrast TO his parched skin. 1t was the
old mans eyes, however, that attracted
and fascinated me, such large pathetic
eyes, with world of hidden pain and sor-
row in their depths.
"Oh, MaGge," l cried, "who is that old
man You have been here before, and
you must know all about him."
| "Well, | do know something of him, but if
you want to really hear his story / will
send for Nine. Phillippi; she tells the tale
as no one else can"
| In response to Madge's summons Nine.
Phillippi appeared. She was a queer lit
tie woman enough, and we all smiled
amusedly as she came running in, taking
OIL her apron as she came along.
$50 you want the story of Matteo?' she
said when Madge had told her of my de
sire. swell, have known him forty years
now; we were young together at home in
Florence. / am Florentine," she added,
proudly. "When | married l came to this
! country with my husband, and We start to
keep restaurant With much success. By
and by Matteo-that's his name-one day
come in and ask for dinner. 1t was good
to see one from home again, and we make
him welcome. He was much poor and
work very hard, for his old mother was
across the ocean, and he had promised to
send for her. After three years he came
in one day smiling, and tell me his mother
was coming. | was glad, for we do not
often see such good sons as that. Well,
she come, and she bring with her
what you think? One young GIRL the
most beautiful young thing you could see
in day. She had bright red cheeks, and
the eyes were like-what you call it?
Like-yes, that is it; and the teeth were
all the same as pearls, only much whittier,
and when she smiled you thought of the
angels in heaven.
$50 Matteo, who was but foolish boy
with all his goodness of heart, fell in love
with Maria, his cousin. Oh, it was one
pretty sight to see them together-he so
strong and handsome and she so beautiful,
Sometimes | nearly cry at their happiness;
it was so grand and good In the spring
they would marry, SO they said, and the
good mother was glad for their Joy. They
would be poor, yes; but with much love
StOoL PONCitN 10 after all.
Zone day Matteo came to me alone.
His mother have fall and broke her two
legs. But Matteo would never let her go
to the hospital. No, it he had saved
money for TO marry Maria, it must 60
now for his mother, who was so old and
in pain. All that year the mother was in
bed, and Matteo he work so hard to make
much money, but he could not. Every
thing went wrong, and he was heart
sick with care and trouble, but he
was very brave, and smile and say it
would be all right by and by. But
by and by seemed very for off to him with
all his courage, and he do not laugh when
he look at Maria as he once did do Maria |
was different, too; she frown when Matteo |
look at her and turn her back on him very
much. Poor Matteo, / was so sorry for t
him, for | saw what was to come. One day |
Maria tell him if he want to have her he |
must marry right off now, she was tired of |!
the long waiting; the mother, Maria say,
could go to the hospital; she was old, they |
were young. But Matteo he frown and say, |
No, and swear and tell Maria she was /
wicked girl to talk that way to him. So |
they said good-by TO each other, and Maria |
gave Matteo back the little gold betrothal |
ring which he gave her. Matteo he was
very full of sorrow, but he never say one
word to his mother, for she was very sick.
But he was very thin, and all the brown
60 out of his face and make him pale and
white.
ain the spring he come to me with tears
in his eyes. Maria was going to marry
rich man what had big fruit store. He
was sad, but he never said one word
against her for all the pain she make him.
Oh, mol He say he give everything to
his mother. When he tell her that Maria
was going to be married he say that he
was glad for her sake. But he wasn't.
Oh, no! He was fall of much grief So
Maria married the rich man, and go away.
and we never see her for great long
time.
"The next winter Matteo's mother she
died, and Matteo was alone, but he never
say word; he work very hard and save
money, but he never laugh, or even smile;
he just was quiet, and say very little. He
was very good to my children, and
when Tessa marry he give her the
dowry and was godfather to
the little boy when he came. And that is
nearly all of the story. Two year ago we
hear that Maria was dead, and then Matteo
was more silent than before but he came
here just as before, and is a most good
friend to US all. And that is Matteo's
story-not SO much after all, you see, but
sad enough, too"
Sofia. was the old mans life, and a.
Madame Phillippi said, it was sad enough
truly; no wonder he was silent and
gloomy.
swell, Annie, now that your curiosity is
satisfied, suppose we adjourn, for the nov.
elist has promised usa new story tonight"
And 50 We left our table, but it was
many long day before l forgot poor
Matteo.