Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-07

the shop from the place where the
younger kids are slowed away at
night in hunks. Behind that is an.
other bedroom. and then in the rear,
openin' on a cluttered back yard. is the
combined kitchen and dining room.
It's all handy and convenient. Joe can
sit out front at his bench and chat
away with Mrs. Sabretto in the
kitchen. He's never late for meals.
and all he has to do to guess what
he's going to get is to take a sniff.
So the fried onions or the cabbage
soup never surprise him. And he
amt likely to miss any of the cute
sayings Of the kids, either. Generally
he has two or three sprawlin' around
at his feet while he's at work Might
bother some folks, but not an Italian.
They sure are strong for the young-
sters. and the more they have around.
and the dirtier they are. the fonder
they seem to be Of 'em. Anyway,
that's the way I've found Joe.
And this being Sunday when we
breezes In on him, Aunt Julia and me,
course he has nothing else to do but
indulge his weakness. As we rolls up
In 1.-The car Joe is discovered sitting
Just outside the shop door with the
newest baby in his lap, q two-year.
old. balanced on one knee, and. q
couple more children draped around
him somehow. The oldest can't be
over six. and they all seem to be cut
from one ipattern-with black curly
hair, bright brown eyes and stout,
chubby legs. Joe Is smoking his pipe,
he has arrayed himself in a pink and
green shirt with wallpaper pattern,
and he seems calm and contented.
Course, the minute he spots me he
shows double row of white teeth
and starts to give me the friendly
hail, but I blocks him off the best I
can.
us this Joe Sabretto, the shoe.
maker7" says I.
Sure ting" says he. still GRIMM.
"Then .listen." says I. Here 10 q
kind, good lady who has come to help
you in your troubles
Wottell?" says Joe, starin' from one
to the other of us.
"What does he say" asks ,auntfe.
"That was Dago for Much Obliged
I guess" says I. Nov expect Ia
better explain that"
NO" says Aunt Julia. II will talk
to him. My good man. how many chill.
dren have your"
''Me?" says Joe. III you count leetle
Giuseppe. wat TAXA da sleep here. and
big Rosie. who goes with her sgran'.
mother. ! got seek. Da scarlet feve,
he get one. an tda pneumon' ono
more"
"Six living" says auntie. 'Alto.
gether too many for a young man OF
your years and in such circumstances.
Too many by far. You cannot pyo-
vide adequately for six. I'm sure. i
presume that most of the time they
go hungry"
"Yes, all time .hoongry." admits Joe,
stoopin' to pat one Of the youngsters
ON his Fat tummy. See? Eat lax
leetle peess."
mo wonder you ere obliged to live
in such wretched quarters as this,
them" says auntie. SHINING In at the
front door. II suppose they are Year
fully unhysienic ! must inspect them.
Como. my man. show me through"
Joe looks at me inauirin'. tor 1t amt
strictly polite to brush past that red
and yellow curtain unless you're in
vfted. tips him the wink. though.
and after unts nglin' himself from
three Of the lsids he proceeds to lead
tho way. Auntie takes one look at
the sleepin' hunks. sasps with horror.
and hurries ON. In the Kitchen We
flnds Mrs. 6abretto, who's rather q
stunnln' locker when she's dressed up.
busy around tho stove. where she aps
pears TO have all kinds Of stun coeaIs
In. She don't look any too pleased,
either. at havin' visitors towed In.
'Humph." says Aunt Julia. chokins
as she gets lungful of garlic psrs
fume. 'What vile-smellin& foodl
How you can avoid ptomaine poison-
ing can't o0nceiye. But what Is the
meaning Of all this7 DO you run q
boarding house. my good woman"
She's pointing to the back yard.
where the dining table. stretched to
its full length. IL set with eighteen or
twenty places. Mrs Sabretto don't
answer. She just gives her a Hash
from them brown eyes Of hers. So i
nudges Joe.
"A leetle party" explains Joe. MY
brother Giuseppe get turn loose from
da Army las mont an now he's get
engage with a MICA girl. Some frien'S
come tonight. We have beeg dinner.
Siny aOng after FiNa timeb