■- "-^-^d* 0^ :^ •a> ♦ ■i^ .^ .0 "'-^^o^ ^V ... <^^ ^^ 'O . A « C .^^ •^ Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2010 witii funding from The Library of Congress littp://www.archive.org/details/twosiciliessketcOOslee u THE COUNT'S LEAP. (See page 101.) FOT^ THILL RECREATIONS. THE TWO SICILIES; Slutflrts airir S OF THEIR SCEIs^ERY, CUSTOMS, HISTORY, PAINTERS, ETC. ; BT M. a. SLEEPER, AUTUOB OF "The Mediterranean Islands," etc. "WITH IIiIiUSTBATIOK"S. BOSTON: GOULD AND LINCOLN, 59 WASHINGTON STREET. NEW YORK: SHELDON AND COMPANY. CINCINNATI: GEO. S. BLANCHARD AND GO. 186 7. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1856, by GOULD AND LINCOLN, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. Stereotyped and Printed by J. E. Farwell and COMPANr, 37 Congress St., Boston. 5 tA ,*;>-' ^0 J^MIES QXJinS"Oir 33XX, IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED TSE AUTHOB. PREFACE. -*o>©<<>o- HE present volume is the second of a series which will describe some of those kingdoms, provinces, and countries least known to young American , readers, and will present pacts in such a manner as to interest and amuse, while -they instruct the mind and improve the heart. Upon its pages the author delineates the scenery of the kingdom of The Two Sicilies, with the character, customs, costumes, and occupations of its people, offers a portion of its history, and gives familiar sketches of some of its writers and painters. Although now merged — permanently as it is to be hoped — in the new kingdom of Italy, and therefore no longer exciting the imagination with the promise of an independent future, its past career fur- nishes materials for a narrative as romantic as it is varied. The information is conveyed in the form of easy conversa- tions between a traveller uncle, who lives at Fonthill, his pleasant country-seat, and a group of lively nephews anO nieces. The narrator is supposed to be a school-girl of (7) Vlll P K E F A C E . sixteen, who intersperses her report of these conversations with descriptions of the family recreations, the walks, drives, visits, guests, and plays; and also with the spicy stories told at various periods for the entertainment of the home- circle, either by its own members or by the visitors at the house. These stories, as they appear in this volume, and as they are prepared or planned for the succeeding orles, al- though they form a subordinate feature, take a wide range, and will, it is believed, be found both instructive and enter- taining. As at present arranged, the series will embrace the Medi- terranean Islands, The Two Sicilies, Holland and Belgium, Normandy, Brittany and La Vendee, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Germany, Poland, the old republics of Northern Italy, Hungary, and the islands scattered through the various oceans. Each volume will contain about three hundred pages, and will be complete in itself, although the principal charac- ters in the leading story which connects them will appear in all. The entire series will be embellished with illustrative engravings, and some of the volumes now in progress will contain valuable representations of foreign architecture, scenery, costumes, etc. M. G. S. October 6, 1866. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. BACK AQAIN AT FOSTHILL — SPECKXEDWING AND HER FAMILT — MEETING BE- TWEEN POLL PAKKOT AND HEK OLD SHIPMATE — KATE'S TRIP TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS — WHOM SHE FOUND THERE — HER UNHAPPINESS — CHANGE OP PROSPECTS — NIGHT OF DREAMS — RIDE TO FONTHILL — ACCIDENT TO THE ENGINE — TELLING STORIES — THE LITTLE TURKEYS AND THE CROSS GOOSE — BESSIE'S MISTAKE — THE STORY OF SPY, THE BROOM — MR. CLIFTON'S OPINION OF TOOLS— BESSIE'S STORY — THE LUNCHEON-BASKET — ARRIVAL OF THE NEW ENGINE — RECEPTION AT FONTHILL — DEPARTURE OF MR. AND MRS. CLIFTON FOR THE WEST, . . . . . . .15 CHAPTER II. THE TOUNG PEOPLE COMMENCE THEIR STUDIES — KATE PROPOSES TO WRITE ANOTHER BOOK — EXTENT AND POSITION OF THE TWO SICILIES — THE ISLAND OF SICILY — SICILIAN HOUSES — SICILIAN DISHES — SICILIAN DANCES — SICILIAlf MUSIC — CHILDREN'S GAMES IN SICILY — SICILIAN MONKS — AP- PEARANCE AND MANNERS OF THE SICILIANS — SICILIAN CLIMATE AND DRESS — SICILIAIT SCHOOLS — MESSINA — A STOLEN MARRIAGE — THE SECRET LOVERS, ........... 36 CHAPTER III. KATE AND THORNIE DIFFER IN OPINION RESPECTING THE POVERTY OF POETS — HOUSE OF THE EARL OP STIRLING — HOLLAND HOUSE — POPE'S VILLA AT TWICKENHAM — THE PRETENTIOUS MR. BENTHAM — LADY ANNE BARNARD'S (9) CONTENTS. HOUSE — EOGEKS'S HOUSE IN ST. JAMES'S PLACE — MOOEE'S COTTAGE NEAR DEVIZES — MISS BAILLIE'S HOUSE AT HAMPSTEAD — THOEOTE YIELDS FOR THE TIME — PALERMO — STEEETS OF PALEEMO'-THB TUiraY FISHEBY — THE 1NVASI0]!T OF SICILY BY HAjyilLKAE — GELO'S LUCKY STRATAGEM — DEFEAT OF THE CARTHAGINIANS — THE INVASION OF SICILY BY HANNIBAL — ASSAULT OF HIMEEA — TERRIBLE REVENGE OF HANNIBAL — THE EXILES OF GELA — THE BEAUTIFUL APPEAL OF TELINUS — ITS SUCCESS —POSITION OF SYRACUSE — ALPHEUS, THE RIVER-GOD, AND HIS BRIDE AEETHUSA, CHAPTER IV. AS EVENING ON THE VERANDA — PRINCE CREST — CREST'S NAUGHTINESS — SENT TO MADA3I STORK — THE -WONDERFUL WALL — CREST IN A PASSION — DESCRIPTION OF STORKLAND — CREST AT NIGHT — CREST'S BATH — CREST'S BREAKFAST — CREST'S REFLECTIONS — WHAT THE WALL WAS MADE OF — CREST RETURNS HOME — THE CONTINENTAL PORTION OF THE TWO SICILIES — LAST DAYS IN ROME — FONDl — THE PIRATE AND THE COUNTESS — INN ON THE BAY OF GAETA — NURSERY RHYME— ROAD TO NAPLES — DESCRIP- TION OF NAPLES — THE LAZZARONI— SOCIETY OF NAPLES — VIEW OF NA- PLES AND ITS SURROUNDINGS — MT. VESUVIUS — HERCULANEUM — POJIPEII —PUCK AND SNOWBALL, ........ CHAPTEK V. CHAPTER VI. THE CHERRY PARTY — KATE'S VERSES — FABLES ABOUT SICILY — THE STORM AT SEA — THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR — KINDNESS OF THE SICILIANS — THE - COLES' RETURN TO CHALCI3 — PROPOSAL TO COLONIZE SICILY — CONSUl- 54 74 THE HOLE IN THE TABLE-CLOTH- WOLF AND LIDA — THE BLACK KNIGHT — WOLF IN TROUBLE — THE RUNAWAY HORSE — THE LEAP FROM THE CLIFF — SORRENTO — TASSO THE POET — TASSO AT COURT — TASSO'S RETURN TO HIS SISTER- TASSO'S MISFORTUNES —CALABRIA — COSTUME OF THE CALA- BEIANS — CALABRIAN MUSIC — OCCUPATIONS OF THE PEASANT GIRLS HERDSMEN OF APULIA— SHEPHERDS' FESTIVAL — COSTUME OF THE AB- BUZZO — BESSIE AND THE SWING, ...... 96 CONTENTS. XI TATIOir OF THE ORACLE — EEPLT OF XDE ORACLE — PREPARATIONS FOB 'departure — THE TEMPLE SERVICE — THE DEPARTURE OF THE EMI- GRANTS — ARRIVAL IN SICILY — ALTAR ON MT. TAURUS — DIONTSIUS I. — DIONYSirS SEEKS A WIFE — THE DOUBLE MARRIAGE OF DIONTSIUS — GAMES . OP THE BOYS — CONQUEST OF REGGIO SICILY CONQUERED BY THE EOMANS — ARCHIMEDES — EUREKA — THE GOLD CROWTsT — EFFORTS OF ARCHIMEDES FOB THE DEFENCE OF SYRACUSE — THE MURDER OF ARCHI- MEDES—AFTER-FORTUNE OF SICILY — SOUTHERN ITALY" — -WICKED TRICK OF A GREEK COLONY — SYB^VRIS — SY"BARITES — SMINDYRIDES AND HIS WOOING — THE STOLEN BRIDE — DISAPPOINTMENT OF EUPHEMIUS — RE- VENGE OF EUPHEMIUS — CONQUEST OF SICILY BY THE SARACENS — THE LITTLE CHEISTIAlf AND THE GENEROUS SARACEN, .... Ill OHAPTEE VII. A EAINT EVENING— STORY OF THE FAIRY GIFT — TANCRED DE HAUTE VILLE — THE PARENTS OP OLDEN TIME — ROBERT GUISCAED — INVASION OF CAIA" BBIA — EOBEET'S raid — THE STONE STATUE — THE COUNT WHO WAS TURNED TO STONE — THE CHEST OF GOLD — THE DEAD SOLDIER RESTORED TO LIFE — ROBERT'S BROTHERS — THE SARACEN TEAITOK — INTASION OF SICILT — BOGEE'S COUETSHIP AND MAEEIAQB, .... 140 CHAPTER VIII. CLOVEE AND ERINDLE — CRAP BLOOM — STRAWBEREYING — MAKING BIECH BASKETS — THE STRAWBERRY PASTURE — SPOT'S NAUGHTY TRICKS — SPOT SHUT UP — TEA ON THE VERANDA — FERDINAND UNITES THE TWO SICILIES TO SPAIN — WHO WEBB THE PEOPLE — RULE OF THE VICEEOYS — THE WOOING AND WEDDING OF AlfNA D'ACQUAVIVA — D'AQUINO DESIRES A ~ WIFE — HIS BARGAIN WITH THE VICEROY — ANNA A PRISONER — HEB EESCXJE — DONA tOEZIA'S ROLL DOWN THE GRAND STAIRWAY — ANNA IN THE CONVENT — ANNA'S LOVER- ANNA'S MARRLiGE — BEIGAIfDS — THE BOY WqO EEFUSED TO BETRAY HIS FATHER — PRINCE MAEZIO — THE PEINCE'S FLIGHT — CARLO JOIN'S HIS FATHER — CARLO'S LIFE EN THE MOUN- TAINS — CARLO CAPTURED —CARLO BEATEN— CARLO IN PRISON— CARLO DESTINED TO THE TORTURE — CARLO RESCUED — CARLO ESCAPES TO THE MOUN^TAINS — CARLO'S DEATH — PRINCE MAEZIO BECOMES AK ABBOT — QTSCSIPVION ON THE PBINCE'S TOMB, ...... 162 Xll CONTENTS. OHAPTEE IX. WAITHTG OIT THE VEEAITDA — MAGGIE'S STOEY — THE OCEAN BATH — THE MEEMAID — THE MAEEIAGE — THE LITTLE EOSSI — EOMANO'S ANGEE — EOSSl'S MOTHEE DISAPPEARS — EOSSI ON THE SEASHOEE — EOSSI JUMPS INTO THE SEA — PUEF THE FEATHEE — THE BEOKEN FLO'^VEE-POT — MAS- ANIELLO — THE SMUGGLED FLOUE — THE FESTIVAL — THE FIGHT IN THE MAEKET-PLACE — THE MOB — MASANIELLO'S MUEDEE — MASANIELLO'S FU- NEEAL — EXCURSION TO BENEVENTUM^— MES. MEECEE'S STOEY — THE MEET- 'iNG OP THE WITCHES — THE LITTLE ANDEEA — ANDEEA'S NUESE EOBEETA — EOBEETA LEAVES ANDEEA IN THE GEOVE — THE WITCHES PROPOSE TO TEY THEIEAETS UPON ANDEEA — ANDEEA'S LITTLE PEAYEE — FLIGHT OP THE WITCHES — SUSIE DAYTON, ....... 188 CHAPTlfR X. THOENIE'S ARGUMENT — MILTON'S COTTAGE AT CHALFONT -— BURNS'S HOUSE AT DUMFRIES — EHYLLON — SOUTHEY'S HOUSE — CHAELES OP ANJOU — WAR OF THE SICILIAN VESPEES — FESTIVAL AT PALEEMO — MASSACRE OF THE FRENCH— CHARLES'S WRATH — THE FEMALE SENTINELS — PETER OF ARAGON — THE SUCCESSFUL STRATAGEM — PEEDEEIC OF AEAGON — BOC- CACCIO — CHICHIBIO AND THE CEANE — GIOTTO AND THE PIG — GIOTTO AND THE LAWYER- THE PAINTER SIMONE, ...... 203 CHAPTER XI. SPECKLEDWING'S HOLIDAY SUIT — BESSIE'S PLAYS WITH SPECKLEDWING — MELANCHOLY DEATH OF SPECKLEDWING— ANTONIO THE SMITH— ANTONIO FALLS IN LOVE WITH VIOLETTA — ANTONIO BECOMES A PAINTER — AN- TONIO MAEEIES VIOLETTA — LOEENZO THE ENGEAVEE— THE FUNNY AR- REST— THE WAX MODEL — THE PAINTEE D 'AMATEICE AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE — D' AMATEICE'S WIFE IN DANGEE — THE FEIGHTFUL LEAP — POL- IDORO AND HIS FRIENDS — TONNO THE PUPIL — MUEDEE OF POLIDOEO — TONNO'S PUNISHMENT — THE NEAPOLITAN MAIDEN — THE FATAL BLOW — SALVATOE EOSA — BEATEN BY THE MONKS — SALVATOE AND THE PEINCE — SALVATOE A POET — THE LITTLE GIOEDINO — THE PAINTED SHIRT — AT- TACK OF EIONERO — GIORDINO'S PETITION —REPULSE OF THE ENE3IY — GIORDINO'S HONORS— GIOEDINO ADOPTED BY THE DUKE — GIOEDINO'S SUCCESS, 220 CONTENTS. Xlll CHAPTER XII. THB AMBITIOUS MOUSE— MISS MOUSE GETS INTO FIXE COMPANT — MISS MOUSE'S TKIALS — MISS MOUSE FALLS ILL — MISS MOUSE KETUKNS TO HEK ORIGINAL' ESTATE — CHARLES III. — THE SHOWER OF GOLD — CHARLES AND THE IN- QUISITION — QUEEN AMALIA — FERDINAND — ROYAL IGNORANCE — THE ROYAL SUTLER — THE ROYAL MIM'" — QUEEN CAROLINE'S CRUELTY — THE YOUTHFUL MARTYRS — EMANUELE AlXU HIS FATHER — EMANUELE'S MUR- DER— TOWZER AND THE WOODCHUCK, . . . . . . 243 CHAPTER XIII. KATE'S CURIOSITIES —THE BOG — KATE'S CHASE — KATE IN THE BOG — PRINCE TRIES TO PULL KATE OUT — PRINCE AND UNCLE PAUL — .BEN RUNS TO THE BOG — KATE'S RESCUE — KATE'S ILLNESS — THE CUNNING TRICK — THE CHEATING PRIESTS — CRUELTY OF FERDINAND AND CAROLINE — THE ROYAL CONSPIRACY — THE FRIENDLY WARNING — THE DISCO VERY — THE WICKED AEEBST — THE BABY PRINCE— THE INN-KEEPER'S SON — FRENCH RULE IN ITALY —-DEATH OP CAROLINE — DEATH OF FERDINAND, ,. . . 256 CHAPTER XIV. KATE'S ARGUMENT WITH THORNIE — MILTON'S HOUSE AT FOREST HILL — AE- BOTSFOED— NEWSTEAD ABBEY — SHELLEY'S HOUSE— JOSEPH GARIBALDI — RUNNING AWAY — SENTENCED TO DEATH — THE LUCKY DIVE — SAIL ON A DINNER-TABLE — THE LITTLE MINOTTI — RIDE IN A HANDKERCHIEF — DEATH OF MADAM GARIBALDI — G^VRIBALDl'S SUCCESS — VICTOR EMANUEL — THE TELEGRAM — THE LITTLE COUSINS — THE BIRTH-DAY FEAST — VISIT TO THE CHURCH — THE EARTHQUAKE — THE CHILDREN BURIED — RINGING THE BELL— SORROW OF THE PARENTS — DISCOVERY AND RESCUE OF :SHE CHILDREN- WHO WILL TELL A STORY ? — THR GRAY PARROT AND THE LOST PATH — BAY OF GAETA — LOST IN THE FOREST — THE GRAY PARROT- ES- CAPE FROM THE MARSH — CIANO'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS — FRANCESCO'S TRICK — THE duke's RAGE — ME. AND MRS. CLIFTON'S RETURN, . . . 273 Cist of Illustrations. PAGE FKOXTisriECK — The Count's Leap. I. Initial Letter " N " — Country Girl Climbing a Fence, . . . .15 II. The Unlucky Tumble, 18 III. Initial Letter " T " — Uncle Paul, Kate, and ilaargie iu the Library, . 36 IV. Stirling Castle, 55 y. Holland House, . . . . . .' .^6 VI. Pope's Villa at Twickenham, ......... 67 VII. Lady Anne Barnard's House, . . . . . . . . . .68 VIII. Rogers's House in St. James's Place, ....... 69 IX. Moore's Cottage near Devizes, ........ .60 X. Miss Baillie's House at Hampstead, 61 XI. Madam Stork in Cap and Spectacles, 81 XII. Initial Letter " T " — The Poet Tasso writing in Prison, . . . 103 XIII. Doris Crossing to Syracuse, 126 ' XIV. Initial Letter "T" — TancredDeHauteville, 140 XV. Crap Bloom's Wicker Baskets, ......... 163 XVI. Crap Bloom's Wicker Bird-cages, . . ■ . ... . . • 163 XVII. Milton's Cottage at Chalfont, . . ' 203 XVIII. Bums's House at Dumfries, 204 XIX. Rhyllon, Mrs. Hemans's Home in Wales, 203 XX. Southey's House, . 206 XXI. Crane, 213 XXII. Village of Rionero, 238 XXIII. Miss Mouse in her Court Dress, • • .244 XXIV. Milton's House at Forest Hill, 273 XXV. Shelley's House, 274 XXVI. Abbotsford, the Home of Walter Scott, . 275 XXVII. Newstead Abbey, the Hpme of Lord Byron, . . . * . .276 XXVIII. Travelling by Rail, 300 • The Two Sicilies. iS-j-*-*— CHAPTER I. BACK AGAIN AT FONTHILL — SPECKXED'WING AND HEK FAMILY — MEETINa BETWEEN POLL PAEEOX AND HER OLD SHIPMATE — KATE'S TEIP TO THE AVHITE MOUN^ TAINS — WHOM SHE FOUND THERE — HEE DNHAPPINESS — CHANGE OF PEOSPECTS — NIGHT OF DEEAMS — EIDE TO FONTHILL — ACCIDENT TO THE ENGINE — TELLING STOEIES — THE LITTLE TUEKEYS AND THE CEOSS GOOSE — BESSIE'S MISTAKE — THE STOEY OF SPY, THE BEOOM — ME. CLIFTON'S OPINION OF TOOLS — BESSIE'S STOEY — THE LUNCHEON-BASKET — AEEIVAL OF THE NEW ENGINE — RECEPTION AT FONTHILL — DEPABTUEE OP ME. AND MRS. CLIFTON FOE THE WEST. more travelling for three months ; so Uncle Paul says, and I am glad of it. To be sure, I like to see new people and new things, but just now no place appears to me as pleasant as dear, delightful Fonthill. Speckledwing has a whole brood of chickens ; positively nine, for I counted them this morning. Three of them are white, two are black, and the rest are spotted. Speck, is as proud as proud can be of them, and I do not wonder, for they really, make a fine family. Mrs. Sharp has told me something pleasant 15 16 THE TWO SICILIES. about Poll parrot ; something which happeoed while I was away. The day that I left, her cage was hung in a tree, and she suddenly began to shout, "Long yarn! Long yarn! ha! ha! ha I How d' ye do ? Shake hands ! '^ offering her foot for the ceremony. " Don't be cross! Comical old fellow ! Want a cracker, shipmate ? What a lurch ! Wind blows great guns ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! '' Mrs. Sharp happened to be on the veranda at the time and was very much astonished. Some of the words she had never heard Poll say before ; and she looked round to see what was going on. Presently a handsome, merry-faced sailor bowed to her, and said, — '' Poll and I are old shipmates, madam ; and learning that she was here, I took the liberty to make her a call.'' " You're welcome, I'm sure," answered Mrs. Sharp. '' Won't you walk into the house, and see the family, Mr. " " Grafton, Captain Grafton," returned the stran- ger. " The sailors, my shipmates, used to call me Longyarn, because I told such long and wonderful stories in the hot weather when we were becalmed at sea : but my real name is Grafton." " They were glad enough to hear the stories, I'll be bound. Captain," said Mrs. Sharp. " If our young folks were here, — the ones that went away this very morning, — they'd want to hear some too. They're the greatest hands for stories, and Mr. Heywood — that's the gentleman that lives here — BACK AGAIN AT FONTHILL, Vl would keep 'em still three hours on a stretch, tell- ing 'em about his travels, and what he saw and beard." " I am sorry they have gone, madam," replied the sailor. " When I am off the sea I want a good time ; and I like young people, they are so free and easy. They don't look one over to see if there is a button too few or too many, or make fun if one's manners are not as fine as landsmen's ways." " I'm sorry, too," replied Mrs. Sharp. " I shall miss 'em more than I can tell. But come in. Cap- tain, I'm sure Mr. Heywood will give you a wel- come." So Captain Grafton came in ; and Uncle liked him so much that he invited him to dinner, and made him promise to visit Fonthill as soon as his next voyage is over. I hope I shall be here when he comes. Won't I coax him into telling his best stories ! I believe nothing else of any particular conse- quence happened while I was gone ; so now I will write about my journey. We — that is, my cousins, Claude and Gerald Lynwood and I — started at four o'clock on the morning of the first of July, from Fonthill for the White Mountains. We were as " gay as larks," as people say, though I don't really know how gay that is. At any rate, we were very merry ; and instead of looking at the scenery, as I suppose we ought to have done, we ate the nice luncheon which Mrs. Sharp, aunt's housekeeper, had put up for us, and bought hard, 2 18 THE TWO SICILIES. sour apples, and got out at the stopping places, and scrambled back in a fright for fear we should be too late ; but I think we did not talk or laugh loudly, for we were never permitted to do that in a railway car. At last we took out our pencils and paper and tried our hand at drawing comic pictures. None of them were worth keeping ex- cept Thornie's, which represented a Swiss market- girl, falling into one of her own panniers. We named it " The Unlucky Tumble. '^ We were very happy when we arrived at the ''Notch,'' for Claude and Gerald found their parents, and I found not only my father and mother, but my brother Thornie, and my sis- ters Maggie and Bessie. Everybody had a word to hear and to tell, but we children had much the best of it in the telling, for we kept up such a complete hubbub, that our elders were glad to be quiet and not add to the noise. - I was as gay as the rest until I went to my chamber, but just as I was undressing, mother came in and said that father and she were to go West in a few days, to be gone two or three months. Now, I had been up ever since four THE UNLUCKY TUMBLE. KATE'S UNJIAPPIIf^ESS. 19 o'clock in the morning- and was thoroughly tired out. 1 suppose people cannot bear ill news well when they are tired; at any rate, when I thought of being shut up in town with Miss Simpson, the governess, I fairly broke down and began to cry. To be sure. Miss Simpson is a nice person, and I ought to have loved her. Sometimes I thought I did, but I am afraid I didnH, for she was not what I call restful. She was so conscientious that she never could decide that we children ought to have a holiday until it was half over, and she crowded our lessons afterward because we had had one. Now, life seems very long to me as I lobk away to the warm summers and merry winters to come ; and I cannot help thinking that there will be plenty of time for French, and Italian, and music, and the other studies, without such a constant digging as she wanted to keep up. Then she worried ; that was still worse. Oh, dear, dear, how sure she was that if we stepped out of doors we should take cold, or get tanned, or be run over, or be naughty, or that something would happen ; and I really felt tempted a great many times to do a wicked thing that something might happen in- deed. Mother saw that I was crying, and she stroked my hair softly, and asked, " What is my darling sorry about?" And then I told her that I could not bear the thought of being shut up in the great, lonesome town-house with Miss Simpson. " Why, my love/' answered mother, " I did not 20 THE TWO SICILIES. think of such a thing. I could not enjoy my sight- seeing abroad if I were not sure that my young people were happy at home ; and your father has just written to your Uncle Paul to ask if he will keep you all while we are away/^ " What, all of'us I '' I exclaimed. '' Thornton, and Maggie, and Bessie, and I ! '^ '' All of you. He will be sure to say ' yes,' but it was polite to consult him and Aunt Mary before we actually fill the house.'' ''Oh, thank you, mother I And shall we go back to Boston before we go to Fonthill ? I do so want to carry something to Mrs. Sharp, and Ben, and Joseph." Mother thought we should not go to Boston, but promised to send some presents for the family, witli our clothes. So I was comforted, and washed away my tears ; but all night long I mixed up Fonthill, and Iowa, and my little book that I was keeping to surprise the family with on the morrow, in the oddest way imaginable. Sometimes the book was Uncle Paul, sometimes it was Aunt Mary, and then it would turn into a basket of eggs, or my favorite hen Speckledwing, or Prince Albert, the cock. Uncle Paul wrote a kind reply to father's re- quest, and Aunt Mary added a postscript, saying that she was " delighted to know that the house •would be cheerful all the autumn." As soon as uncle's letter reached us, we set out for Fonthill. It was very hot, and the moment a window was TELLING STORIES. 21 raised the dust came into the cars in clouds. At eleven o'clock in the forenoon, the machinery gave out, and we were, three hours in the blazing sun. There was no house near, and not a tree or fence for shade ; nothing, indeed, but a great, parched plain, bearing a little withered sweet fern. We, the children, got up and sat down, walked out of the car and in again, asked the time once in fifteen minutes, gaped, stretched, but did not go to sleep> We should have tired mother out, but that she luckily advised us to keep quiet and tell &tories. '' Don't go to tell great, grown-up stories,'^ said Bessie, ''and please don't go to tell moral stories, either. My fable-book is beautiful, all but the morals, and I don't like the morals at all/^ " We will make a rule that the stories shall not be grown-up stories, and that they shall be pretty, whether they have a moral or not,'' replied mother. '' May they all begin with ' Once upon a time' ? " asked Maggie, laughing. '' Yes, if you wish. Who will tell the first one ? " '' Mother must. Yes, mother, certainly," said we ; and so mother began about THE LITTLE TURKEYS A:ND THE CROSS GOOSE. ''I can 'stand that," said Bessie. '' Yes, I think you will understand every word," replied mother. " Once a family of turkeys lived on a beautiful farm by the Olive river. The papa 22 THE TWO SICILIES. and mamma turkeys lived there, and nine little turkeys beside. There had been no rain for many days, and the grasshoppers were so thick in the meadows that when one stepped into them, -hop, hop, went hundreds of nimble legs, and he was quite covered with them. When the little turkeys found out how abundant the grasshoppers were, they wanted some so much that their very mouths watered ; and they asked their mamma if they might go and catch some. " ' Let me see,' said mamma. ' The grass is all cut and dried, and put in the barn, so that you can't hurt that, and I don't know of any other mischief you can do. Yes, my dears, you may go, and I will join you when I have put things to rights at home.' '' The little ones set out, chatting, and laughing, and thinking what a good time they would have, when, just as they reached the hole in the wall through which they meant to get to the meadows, a goose ran toward them, stretching out her long neck, and hissing fearfully. - They didn't stop a moment to ask why she was so uncivil, much less did they venture through the hole while her beak was pointed toward it like a murderous cannon ; but they ran away, crying with fear. Unluckily, they couldn't get back to their mamma, for the high gate of the barn-yard was shut, and they could neither climb over nor creep under it. They hoped the goose would go away, but she scarcely stirred from her post all the afternoon ; and, with THE LITTLE TURKEYS AND THE CROSS GOOSE. 23 her goslings, kept nibbling at some dirty weeds across the road. Two or three tinaes the silly little turkeys moved softly toward the hole, thinking to reach it without being seen ; but each time the goose ran at thfem so fiercely that they crowded close together, and made off in a body. " It was nearly night before the gate was opened.- As they ran into the yard, their mamma met them, and said, ' Welcome, my darlings. You have had a fine time, I dare say. I longed to get out and chase the grasshoppers with you, but the gardener fastened the gate before I could leave the house.' " ' No, indeed, dear mamma, you are really very much mistaken,' cried the little ones, in a breath. ' We have had no fun at all, nor as much as a single grasshopper. We have been penned up in the wood-yard the whole of this lovely afternoon by a hateful old goose.' << t Why, how came that about ? ' '' ' The ugly thing hissed at us, mamma, and stretched out her long neck and ran at us every time we tried to get through the hole.' " ' And what if she did ? Were you obliged to mind her ? ' ''^Why, we thought she would bite us every minute, or beat us with her heavy wings.' *' ' Did she actually do it ? ' " ' Oh, no, mamma, we gave her no chance, for the very minute she began to turn round, we ran as fast as we could.' 24 THE TWO SICILIES, " 'I am sorry that you missed your expected pleasure/ said the mamma turkey, ' but I hope it will teach you that there are many apparent dan- gers which are really no dangers at all. Whenever you have decided to do a thing, go straight for- ward, and there are ten chances to one that the way will not prove as hard as it looks. Even if it should be, it would be of no^use to skulk and hide. Think of that.^ ^'The next day was warm and bright, and the old turkey sent her brood again to the meadows. They hung back at first, and begged her to go with them ; but she was resolute, and they started with- out her. ^Eemember what I have told you,' she said, ' and mind that you don't turn back for any- thing but the master's orders.' " ' Oh ! oh ! I am so afraid ! ' exclaimed Gray tail. '''And so ami,' said Redtop. 'I tremble all over.' " ' Mamma knows more about it than we do, an^ she wouldn't have sent us if there were any danger,' said Spottedbreast, who, having broken his shell three or four hours earlier than his broth- ers and sisters, plumed himself upon his age and experience. " ' Spot is as much afraid as any of us, only he wants to appear brave,' said Yellowfoot. " By this time they had arrived at the hole. The goose was there, and she hissed and ran at them just as she had done the day before ; but, although their little hearts beat so hard that she BESSIE'S MISTAKE. 25 must have seen their feathers shake, they kept straight on, and didn't once look at her. They had a charming time in the field, and ate as many grasshoppers as they liked. Their pleasure would have been perfect if they could have carried some to their dear mamma. They returned home just as the sun was setting, and they had grown so brave that they even turned upon the goose when they were fairly through the fence. They flocked into the yard in the highest spirits, and declared that they would never again be afraid of anything, — at least until they had found by actual trial that it was something to be afraid of.'' ''Oh, mother!" exclaimed Bessie, her lips quivering, and the tears filling her eyes. ''Oh, mother ! you told that story because I was afraid of the dog yesterday." " You are mistaken, my darling," replied mother, gently. "I had entirely forgotten that you did not like" Tiger's bow-wow ; but as I have told it, perhaps it will be well for you to remember it." "I like those little turkeys, mother," said Maggie, " and I sympathize with them, too ; for I am just the least in the world afraid of geese. They put me in mind of snakes, with their long, slender necks, and their disagreeable hissing." " I shouldn't think you need be afraid of either," said Thornie, bursting into a laugh. " You can beat them in a race two to one. Oh, mother, you should have seen Maggie run away from a striped snake yesterday ! Oh, but she was fast ! " 26 THE TWO SICILIES. " Take care, Thornie," returned Maggie, good- naturedly, " or I will tell '^ ''Let us have another story," said mother. *' Father, it is your turn.'^ " All ready, '^ answered father ; *' my story shall be about " SPY, THE BROOM. " In the back room of a shop in the town of Dryenfels, in Bavaria, stood a broom of split bark. It had been there nobody knows how long, for one customer thought it too light, another said it was too short, and a third declared that the daubs of paint on the handle reminded him of a flying dragon. At length a poor widow asked its price, and the owner, tired of seeing it, sold it to her much cheaper than he had offered it before. '' The broom had listened to the bargain with great anxiety, and when it was concluded, she burst into tears, exclaiming, / Have I, then waited so long for a purchaser only to find myself doomed to a miserable old cabin at last ! ' " ' Hush, my child,' replied another broom near by. ' Our happiness does not depend upon the place in which we live, but upon the manner in which we live. Beside, there are many peasant cottages where one can be more merry than in the palaces of kings.' " ' I will do my best,' answered the first broom, wiping her e^^es. ' I will certainly do my best, and if I fail, it shall not be for want of trying.' SPY, THE BROOM. 27 '' The little broom was as good as her word. She went cheerfully with her new mistress, and never was broom more industrious than she was. Every night she renewed the tips of bark which had worn off or been broken during the day ; and when- at work, she never left a crack or corner until it was thoroughly clean. '' She was beginning to grow old, although no one would have suspected it, she kept herself looking so trimly, when Mrs. Eckart, the wife of a rich farmer, called at the cottage. ' ^Tis truly wonderful, Mrs. Brennan,' said she, looking around, ' that you can contrive to keep this poor place so bright and neat. ^Tis a real pleasure to sit down' by your fire ;^ and she settled herself comfortably in her chair for a cosey talk. " 'You must not give me all the praise,' replied Mrs. Brennan. ' You must also praise my broom. Such a treasure you never saw. She can't endure a speck of -dust. You ought to see her digging about the tumble-down walls and broken hearth. I call her Spy, she sees so far and so quickly.' " ' If you will sell her to me,' said Mrs. Eckart, ' I will give you ten times as much as you paid for her when she was new.' '' ' I don't like to part with her,' said Mrs. Brennan, ' but with the sum you offer I can get my leaky roof mended, and buy some lights for my broken window. Yes, you may take her.' " So Spy went to the farm. She was sorry to leave the mistress who had handled her so gently, 28 THE TWO SICILIES. and had praised her so warmly. ' But, then/ she kept saying to herself, ' it is such a rise/ " She had been in her new place about three months, when, one stormy evening. Count von Berlach, who had lost his way and got dripping wet in the shower, begged leave to stay all-night. Nothing could well have delighted Mrs. Eckart more, for she thought it would be a fine thing to tell her neighbors that she had actually lodged a lord. The Count was delighted, also. He looked with interest at the great stove which occupied half one side of the room, and which was as clean as hands could make it. Then he glanced along the shelves which took up the most of two more sides, and where the copper and brass cooking- vessels shone in the lamplight, and the cups, and saucers, and plates, and tumblers, stood in straight rows as if they were placed with a rule. Finally, his eye rested on the unpainted, oaken floor, which was washed daily, and which looked almost too nice to step on. The extreme cleanliness of every- thing gave him pleasure, and he complimented his hostess in the kindest manner. " ' It is trim and tidy here, I own,' replied Mrs. Eckart. ' I and my maids do a good deal of scrubbing, but after all we couldn't get on as well as we do but for my broom. Spy. She keeps the floor brushed so nicely that she saves half the mopping and scouring.' " 'Ah,' replied the Count, 'pray show her to me. Without doubt, she is just such a one as my SPY, THE BROOM. 29 little daughter wants for her baby-house. She was complaining only yesterday that she couldn't keep it properly dusted.' '* So Mrs. Eckart brought out Spy, and she looked so fresh and modest, and had such a good reputation, that the Count bought her of his hostess for double the sum she had paid for her. " 'I shall miss her, certainly,' said Mrs. Eckart to herself, * but 'tis such a good price ! " " ' I shall miss this cheerful kitchen, and the gay men and maids,' said Spy, ' but 'tis such a rise ! " "'There, Maria,' said the Count, tossing Spy toward a little girl who ran into the courtyard to receive him ; ' there, Maria, I have brought you a present. 'Tis a brocfm, and her name is Spy. The farmer's wife who sold her to me says she will clear all before her.' '' ' Oh, thank you, thank you, father, a thousand times,' returned the pretty child, clapping her hands. ' It is just what I want for my baby-house. I only hope the woman did not deceive you.' '' ' Try Spy,' said her father, laughingly. ' Try her, and if she doesn't suit you, you shall your- self carry her back to the farm-house.' - '' Maria and Spy became fast friends imme- diately. The latter, indeed, had many tempta- tions to linger among the pictures and books, and sometimes she felt sorry to go into her dark closet. But when this was the case, she had only to remember that she owed all these pleasures to her 30 THE TWO SICILIES. good behavior, and this made her willing to obey. ''About six months after this change, Maria went to a grand exhibition of paintings, and the little Bavarian princesses happening to go also, they took such a fancy to her that they begged their mother to permit her to visit them. So Maria went to the palace and told her new friends about her rabbits, and doves, and dog, and lastly about her baby-house and her wonderful broom. In return, the princesses showed her all their treasures, and they had a delightful time together. As she was leaving, the Princess Therese said, ' The only thing you have told us of, that I should like, is that cunning broom of yours. Only to think that I never touched one in" my life. I should enjoy having one so much, for then I could make belief be a merchant's daughter, and I would keep house and do the work just as they often do.' " ' You shall certainly have Spy,' answered Maria, ' for I don't doubt that father can get me just such another ; and if he can't, I am so used to sweeping now that a common broom will answer quite as well.' *' So the next day Spy was thoroughly washed and trimmed, — for princesses must have every- thing in the very nicest order, — and then she was wrapped in great sheets of silver paper, and given to a servant to carry to the palace. There she found a much finer baby-house than the one she left, and so many toys that it was a long time SPY, THE BROOM, 31 before, she had even glanced at all of them. In truth, I doubt if she ever did so, for a singular event bef(?ll her, '' One day King Maximilian was asleep beneath a tree in the garden of the palace, when an en- raged wolf, which had broken loose from the menagerie attached to it, ran furiously toward him. His eyes were fiery with anger, and he snapped at everything in his way. Prince Eugene was at that moment in his sister's play-room, hold- ing Spy in his hand, and listening to a long account of her good conduct. The noise made by the dreadful animal startled him, and looking through the great windows which opened to the floor, he saw the king's danger. Like the faithful boy that he was^ he sprang to the portico, rushed into the gravelled walk in front of the wild beast, and whirled and brandished Spy in his very face. This frightened the wolf so that he turned aside just as he reached the sleeper, who awoke with a start. " ^ What an escape ! ' exclaimed the king, after having been told four or five times over just how it all happened, ' Let me see the broom with which you have accomplished such wonders, my son ! ' '' 'Here it is, father,^ said Eugene, handing him Spy. ' It is Therese's pet toy at this moment, but I think it ought to be put away and to be kept safely in memory of to-day.' '' * So it ought, my boy,' replied the king, * and I will tell you what I will do. I will have the handle made into a cane, and we will put it in the picture gallery.' 32 THE TWO SICILIES. '' Very soon the once bumble and despised Spy was made into an elegant souvenir. She had a silver foot and a gold head, and the hea(i was set round with diamonds like a crown, and was en- graved- with a picture of the king asleep in the garden, and the wolf flying down the gravelled walk, and the little boy brandishing a broom. Then she was placed in a grand room where she did not even sweep baby-houses, but merely stood to be stared at by fine people who cared nothiug about her except to say that they had seen the famous broom-handle in King Maximilian's gal- . lery. She liked it pretty well at first, but she soon grew tired of her idle state, and her very heart wept for good Mrs. Brennan, who always smiled when she saw her, and who took such hearty pleasure in her work about the poor little cottage. ' Oh, dear, dear,' she often exclaimed, ' how foolish and ignorant I was, not to know that one grain of true "affection outweighs all the splen- dor in the world I ' ''Ah, dear children, it is love that makes sun- shine, and not money, or fine houses, or even admiration and praise." "I wish, my dear, that you could get a mate to Spy, for Kate,'' said mother. " It is the fault of her broom, I suppose, that the corners of her chamber are not always clean." " Mother is a magician," cried Maggie, " a real magician. No matter how poor a broom may be in the hands of the chambermaid, the moment BESSIE'S STORY. 33 mother takes it it has such a quick, light touch that t it gives one pleasure to see it move ; and the roses f and leaves and stems come out on the carpet almost as fresh and bright as if they were just woven/' '' Yes/' said father, " when people complain of their tools, I say to myself, ' It is the workman who makes the tools, not the tools which make the workman.' " *' Now let me tell a story, please," said Bessie. " Yes, indeed, we should all like to hear Bessie's story. What is it to be about, daughter ? " asked mother. ''About BESSIE CLIFTON," replied the child. " Once there was a little girl, and her name was Bessie Clifton, and she was going to be five pretty soon. And she had a father and mother. And her father had black eyes and her mother had blue eyes, more, beautifuller than anything. No, not beautifuller than her father's, but more beautifuller than anything else. And she had a sister Kate, and she was sixteen. And she had a brother Thornie, and he was fifteen. And she had a sister Maggie, and she was fourteen. And they was all ridin' in the cars, and the cars broke down, and it was so warm, you can't think. And they was so warm, and they told stories. And Bessie was so warm, and so hungry, and — and — I don't know no more." '' Shall I finish the story ? " asked mother. '' Oh, yes, please do," said Bessie. 3' 34 THE TWO SICILIES. " Bessie's mother pitied her dear little daughter, and she said that Thornie might take out the luncheon basket and that Bessie might open it. And Thornie did take out the basket, and Bessie did open it, and she saw apple-tarts, and sponge cake, and pieces of cold chicken, and many hand- some curls of dried beef, and a bottle of sweet milk, and a dozen oranges/' ^' Oh, mother, what a beautiful finish!'' ex- claimed Bessie ; and her dear, tired eyes bright- ened as Thornie really took the basket from under the seat, and she looked in and found all the ^things that mother had named. We ate our luncheon slowly, and made ourselves as gay as we could over it. Just as we had fin- ished, we heard a far-away whistle, which grew louder and louder, and then our engine gave a frightful shriek for answer. In ten minutes more the new engine had drawn ours away to the next station, where it sent it trundling down a side track. This done, it returned for us. Oh, how glad we all were I We did not reach Fonthill until midnight, but uncle was waiting with the carriage at the depot, and aunt was waiting for us in the veranda, and Mrs. Sharp had the nicest of suppers ready. Dear uncle and aunt ! how good it was of them to be so glad to see us. Then, Mrs. Sharp did not appear to think of the extra work we should make for her, but hugged Bessie as if she 'had been her own child, and laughed as if our coming was the RECEPTION^ AT FONTHILL. 35 nicest thing- in the world. Clementina, — Tina we used to call her for convenience, — the maid of all , work, Sarah the waiter, Ben the gardener, and Joseph the colored coachman, looked happy too. It is the fashion of the house to be happy when guests appear, and a beautiful fashion it is, and always will be. I do not like to think about the next morning, for father and mother went away. Bessie cried herself nearly ill, and Thornie ran off and did not return until dinner-time ; but aunt kept Maggie and me so busy in unpacking the trunks, filling the flower vases, and hulling the strawberries foi" dessert, that we had no time to think of anything but our work. We had a charming drive in the evening, and the next day we — the children — settled quietly to our studies, with uncle and aunt for teachers. CHAPTER II. THE TOUNG PEOPLE COMMEKCE THEIR STUDIES — KATE PEOPOSES TO WRITB ANOTHER BOOK — EXTENT AND POSITION OF THE TWO SICILIES — THE ISLAND OF SICILY — SICILIAN HOUSES — SICILIAN DISHES — SICILIAN DANCES — SICILIAN MUSIC"— children's GAMES IN SICILY — SICILIAN MONKS — APPEARANCE AND MANNERS OF THE SICILIANS — SICILIAN CLIMATE AND DRESS — SICILIAN SCHOOLS — MESSINA— A STOLEN MARRIAGE— THE SECRET LOTBRS. HE classes were ar- ranged and the hours for drawing and music were decided upon, and then I told uncle that father and mother were delighted with the little book which I wrote during my last visit, and that they said I must write an- other for my gift to them on their return from the West, Uncle was pleased, and replied that as there was no work for young people on the kingdom of the Two Sici- lies,, he would tell us about it, and I might write out what I could remember. " Perhaps we had better begin now,'^ said he. *'If you like, 36 EXTENT OF THE TWO SICILIES. 31 you may call your aunt, and give Bessie an invita- tion. She must not fancy that she is overlooked because she is so small/ ^ In a few minutes aunt appeared with her knit- ting and Bessie with hex darling kitten, — a gift from Mrs. Sharp, and which she called Snowball. Oh, how pleasant it was I The sunshine crept in through the honeysuckles* which climbed to the roof of the veranda, and danced merrily on the roses and lilies of the carpet. Poll parrot, sitting in a mountain ash, called, ''Spot I Spot I ^^ and when Spot woke from his comfortable nap in the shadow of an apple-tree, and walked unwillingly toward the house, she shouted, "Naughty dog! go away I go away I '^ following the order with a delighted, "Ha! ha!'' Uncle began the lesson by speaking of the extent and position of ti THE KINGDOM OF THE TWO SICILIES. " It consisted," said he, " of the islands of Sicily, Ischia, Procida, and Capri, the Ponza group off the Bay of Gaeta, and that part of Italy which lies south of a line beginning on the Adri- atic at the northern shore of the river Tronto, and ending on the Mediterranean about two miles east of Terracina. Get out the maps, children, and find the outlines of this kingdom, that you may know what we are talking about.'' After we had each taken a look, uncle went on. 38 tee two sicilies. '' Sicily is the largest and finest island in the 'Mediterra- nean. When I looked at it from the sea, it ap- peared to be merely a collection of jagged rockd^ and I could scarcely believe that there were any rich valleys among them. I soon found that I was mistaken ; for, although there are no pleasant meadows such as we find in this country, with fat cattle quietly grazing on the green grass, there is, nevertheless, an abundance of beautiful vegetation^ The vineyards are numerous and well cared for,, and the grapes are finer than any that I tasted in France. In looking over a landscape, one sees, instead of our noble oaks and elms, etc., pepper- trees, cork oaks, with the bark of which we stop our bottles, the soft gray of the olive, the rich green of the lemon, orange, and fig-trees, the blue-green of the castor-oil plant, the light tint of the almond, and the glossy foliage of the sweet- scented myrtle. Among the slight stems of wheat grows the purple gladiolus, followed by the bright- eyed lupine. The white gumcistus blossoms at the beginning of summer, and is followed by the orange, lily, and the fragrant clematis. Eoses of many hues abound. Gigantic oleanders make hedges with the spiny leaves of the aloe, which look as if carved by a sculptor. The bell-shaped blossoms of the yellow broom open in company with the buds of the spreading heath, and the saffron shows its golden heads against the tall SICILIAN HOUSES, 39 maize and tender flax. Rice, cotton, and the liquorice plant grow in some parts of the island. The water lily spreads its snow on the small lakes, and palms nod gracefully to the stone pines and the stiff, dark fir-trees. The stony land, even high up among the mountains, bears a kind of cactus .called Indian fig. The great thick leaves grow out of each other, and the fruit is set round the upper part of each leaf. It is sweet and pearlike in taste, and forms the principal food of the peas- ants during several months of the year." '^ I wish I could see those olive and orange orchards, and the tall, waving palms," said Mag- gie. *' I should like our growths the best," said Thornie. " I do not believe there can be anything in that line more beautiful than our farms, with their broad meadows, and their great fields of wheat, and rye, and oats, and their upland pas- tures on the edge of deep woods, all broken by mossy rocks, and cool hollows, and little singing rills." ''You are right, Thornie," replied uncle. " Other vegetation may be more gay, more lux- uriant, or more wild, but none is so lovely to live and die amidst." '' What kind of houses do the Sicilians have, uncle ? " I asked. ''The houses of the upper class of Sicilians are showy but uncomfortable. They have great state- rooms, with gilded and painted walls upon wMch 40 THE TWO SICILIES, hang" fine mirrors, but they are almost entirely unfurnished. The entrances are usually dirty and covered with filthy beggars. They have no fire- places. In cold weather, brass basins of burning charcoal are used, which warm the fingers and toes, but bring on teasing headaches. Stone is the common material for building, the floors and stairs being often made of it. Gentlemen^s coun- try-houses are usually only a story high, and- without glass to the windows. The town-bred owners occupy them occasionally during the spring and autumn, but remain in the cities in summer, where the narrow streets and high build- ings secure shade. Village houses often show a front of bars hung with macaroni. Old women sit at the doors and spin shining threads of flax, in no wise disturbed by the pigs which run in and out, or the fowls which cackle and peck around the bin of sour wine in the corner. Maidens bear terra cotta pitchers of water upon their heads, which are protected by a short veil, — of woollen in winter and muslin in summer. Boys drive their goats to the dwellings of their customers, and milk them before the windows, so that they may know that the milk is clean and has not been watered. Here and there, donkeys bring wine from the hills in long, narrow casks, hung at their sides like saddle-bags, or draw little carts from the mines, laden with blocks of sulphur. "Even the higher classes among the Sicilians live sparingly at home in order to shine abroad. SICILIAN DISHES. 41 Provided they can have a gala suit, a carriage and horses, and can go to the opera now and then, they ca:e very little how they eat, dress, and sleep when * no one is looking on. Great numbers of the lesser nobility are very poor. They have obtained titles without fortunes to support them, yet refuse to labor themselves or to permit their children to do so. Ihis silly pride keeps them ignorant and miserable, with no prospect of ever rising in the world. '^ '' What do the Sicilians eat? " asked Thornie. ''I went to a grand dinner, where, as nearly as I can remember, the courses were as follows : First we had soup, then macaroni served in two ways, — with grated cheese alone, and with cheese, oil, tomatoes, and fried slices of fruit. This was fol- lowed by vegetables variously dressed, and. shell- fish. Next came the largest fish that could be bought in the market, its immense size being its especial recommendation ; and afterward, fancy dishes, roast meats, salad, delicious pastry, fruit, and coffee. Small plates of raw ham, anchovies, olives, and fresh figs, remained upon the table during the changes.^' " Were any toasts drunk ? '' asked Thornie. " I think it is a stupid custom to drink toasts. '^ ^' We drank a kind of toast consisting of an impromptu complimentary couplet. When given .by the guest, it ends with and rhymes to the name of the host. When offered by the host, it ends with and rhymes to that of the guest. The gen- 42 TEE TWO SICILIES. tlemen rose with the ladies instead of stopping to drink by themselves/' " The Sicilian is a much more difficult kind of toast than that which is drunk in this country," said Thornie. ''It appears so at first, but one soon gets the knack of rhyming. '' At other tables beside that I have meationed, I have eaten of partridges, plovers, wild ducks, cranes, larks, delicious beccaficos, or fi^-peckers, wild boar and frogs ; have tasted of iced water containing a few drops of zambra, a spirit distilled from anise seed ; and have found at dessert some- thing that Bessie would like very much." '' What was that, uncle ? " asked Bessie. . ''Was it candy ? " " No, it was whipped cream sprinkled with the smallest of bright-colored sugar-plums." " What do the peasants eat ? " I asked. " Indian figs, brown bread, onions, fish, roasted chestnuts, macaroni, — when they can get it, — and polenta. The latter is a Eoman dish, consisting of corn-meal flavored with grated cheese and smoothed with olive oil. Another national dish is made of pulse, lentils, lupines, and the carob pod, and is eaten either cold or hot. When eaten cold, it is dressed with oil and vinegar as a salad ; when eaten hot, it is boiled with oil, lard, meat, and fish." "Oh, horrible I " exclaimed Maggie, in deep disgust. "Do the Sicilians ever dance, uncle ? " CHILDREN'S GAMES IN SICILY. 43 " Yes, they are very fond of dancing. Among their national figures is the barubba, in which the dancers paint their faces and go through various violent movements in imitation of savages, to the sound of the drum and trumpet. It is a most uncouth affair, and if I had come upon the per- formers without warning, I do not know but I might have thought they were getting ready to scalp an unfortunate victim. The guitar is uni- versally used, but the peasants prefer more noisy instruments, such as the tambourine, the bagpipe, rustic flutes made of reeds from which they draw really sweet sounds, and the mandoline, a sort of guitar strung with wire, and played with a quill. ^' ^'What do the children play, uncle?" asked Bessie. •'Blind-man's-buff, forfeits, and cross-purposes. I played them all with half a dozen bright-eyed, laughing children, who flew about me with such rapid feet, and threw up their arms, and tossed their curly heads with such swift, graceful move- ments, that I was fairly bewildered with the lovely, moving picture. I remember that I was to redeem one forfeit by catching and kissing them all round, and I thought it would be quite as easy to catch six squirrels. Away we went running and leap- ing, now to the balcony, now down the grand stairway, now to the chambers, and the fairies would pull my coat this, that, and the other way, and dart off so quickly that I could scarcely tell which did it last. At length, wholly out of breath, 44 THE TWO SICILIES. I sat down and bought them off with some Amer- ican coins, whicli they kept for curiosities. After that, I had a kiss all round without running for them, and sweet kisses they were.'' '' Did you see any monks, uncle ? ''asked Maggie. '' Yery many. There were, at the time of my visit, seventy thousand monks and nuns in the Two Sicilies. I know nothing about the nuns, but the monks were, for the most part, lazy, dirty, and ignorant. They make a great parade of their charities. Before a window in some of the con- vents, there is a revolving stand on which beggars place dishes and bottles, and receive them again "filled with food and wine. But the monks manage to get back more than they give. They watch the nets of the fishermen, and waving a piece of rope over them by way of a benediction, pick out the finest fish, without once thinking of paying for it. When the fruit is gathered, they make the sign of the cross over the basket, and the richest and ripest figs, melons, or oranges are given without question or complaint. They are regular beggars, also, and go on little begging trips, covered with a white mantle having two holes for the eyes, with a crown of thorns set lightly on the head, and a rope tied round the waist." " I am glad that we have none of the greedy fellows here," said Thornie. ''lam, too," replied uncle, ''for I think that while prayer helps us to labor in a manner accept- able to God and useful to our fellow-men, true labor helps us to offer true prayer." APPEARANCE OF THE SICILIANS, 45 " How do the Sicilians look, uncle ? '^ " They are of middle size and well shaped, and have, in general, dark eyes and black hair. They are excellent mimics, and are full of fun. They compliment almost as much as the Spaniards, and use grand words for common things. They call a house a ' palace ' ; a trade, a ' profession ^ ; and a servant departing on an errand is said to be ' charged with an embassy,' '^ '' Is Sicily pleasant in winter ? '' asked Maggie. '^ Not very, I think, for while the sun scorches, the wind is keen and cold. The peasant who in summer is ambitious to possess a white cotton or silk net for his hair, a broad leathern belt and silver buckles for his shoes, in winter clothes him- self from head to foot in shaggy sheepskin, to which he adds, at morning and evening, a long brown cloak with a pointed hood. Cloaks of the same style are worn also by the wealthy, but of finer material." ^' Are there many schools and colleges in the island ? " I asked. " No," replied uncle ; " they are few in number and poor in quality, because the priests used to control them, and they wished to keep the people in ignorance. They are, however, beginning to improve under the better and freer government of Victor Eijianuel." '' Now for a story, uncle," said Maggie. '' Well, then, a story it shall be. One of the prettiest of Sicilian cities is 46 TBE TWO SICILIES, " MESSINA, which rises from the sea in a half circle, and looks as if just from a bath, so dazzlingly white do its long tiers of houses show against the dark mountains behind. Many of the streets are paved with blocks of lava, and fountains leap and play and glitter in the warm sunlight. '' I was sitting beside one of these fountains with a great bunch of grapes in one hand and a newspaper in the other, when a friend pointed to a gloomy old building at a distance, and said, ' I can tell you a little story about yonder convent.' " ' That will be pleasant,' I answered, and I put down my newspaper and prepared to listen. '^ 'It is about ' A STOLEN MARRIAGE," said my friend, ' and runs thus : Some years ago, a beautiful girl named Rosetta was standing where you git now, busily catching the water-drops in her hand and letting them drip between her jew- elled fingers. She was thinking of the coming festival, of what she would wear, and whom she would dance with, and her cheeks glowed and her eyes sparkled with pleasure. Just then the son of a rich Russian merchant, named Rugowski, — a young man as handsome, impulsive, and headstrong as she was herself, — happened to see her, and fell violently in love with her. She returned his affec- tion, and they wished to be married. The families A STOLEN MARItlAQE. 4Y of both parties opposed the match, thinking that the young people were entirely unsuited to each other, and that they would be very wretched as husband and wife. But their counsel and com- mands did not produce the slightest effect, and so they sent Eugowski to Russia, and shut up his betrothed in yonder convent. '' ' For six months Rosetta fretted and pouted, declaring that there never was such a tyrannical father or such a harsh mother as hers, wishing that she might die, so that they might repent of their course, and looking by turns defiant and miserable when her superiors tried to restrain or console her. She heard nothing from Rugowski. Either he did not write, or his letters did not reach her, and she was beginning to fret at him also, and accuse him of having forgotten her, when she heard him one twilight, chanting a part of the vesper service. His voice was rich and mellow, and it swelled up from under the lemon-trees with sweet, entreating tones. Rosetta started so suddenly as to bring a reproof from the old nun who, as guardian and governess, occupied the cell with her ; but she cared nothing for that. She kept thinking of the singer, and she remained awake the whole night, laying a plan for escape. At first this appeared impossible. The building was secure in every part, the garden wall was of solid stone-work, thick and high, and all the doors and gates were kept locked. But Rosetta was daring and reso- lute, and as often as she gave up one scheme she began upon another. 48 TEE TWO SICILIES. ti I She knew of no one who would help her, unless it might be the old woman who came occa- sionally to the convent to sell fruit, and there was always a nun within hearing whenever she wanted to buy even a dozen figs. However, when the fruit-seller — whose name was Ballina — came again, she managed to let her know that she had something to say to her privately. So the latter pretended there was a knocking at the gate, and the portress who was in attendance hurried away to learn what was wanted. Then Rosetta told Ballina to find Rugowski and bid him be at the gate the next evening at nine o'clock. When the time arrived, Rosetta raised an alarm of fire, and thus threw the nuns into the wildest confusion. They lived so quietly, and events of consequence were so rare, that they had no courage or self- possession ; and they ran hither and thither, wringing their hands, and unmindful of the Lady Superior, who was doing her best to still the com- motion. While the uproar was at its height, Rosetta contrived to push rudely against the portress and cut the keys from her girdle. Then she slipped softly into the garden and unlocked the gate. Ballina had been faithful, and Rugowski was waiting for her with a dark cloak to cover up the conventual dress, which, much against her will, she had been compelled to wear. They went directly to a priest and were married, while the abbess and her nuns were still ransacking every nook and corner of the convent and garden for their lost charge. THE SECBET LOVERS. 49 " * All turned out as their friends anticipated. The young- people imagined that they were in paradise for a time. Both were smiling- and ten- der, and did everything, they could think of to please each other. Then slight misunderstandings and little jealousies arose. Sudden flashes of angerjj sullen discontent, hot words, scornful looks, and painful, studied neglect, followed. Love turned to hatred, and Kosetta was glad to go back to the convent from which she had been so eager to escape.' '' " Was she h£i.ppy after she went back, uncle ? '^ asked Maggie. ''Did the gentleman tell you whether she was or not ? ^' ''He did not tell me,'' replied uncle, " but we may be very sure that she was not happy, unless she became a great deal more patient and unselfish than she had ever shown herself to be.'' ''Do you know another true love story, .Uncle Paul ? " asked Thornie. " Yes," answered uncle, " I know one still sad- der than that. The events occurred in the same province, upon its eastern shore, at the extremity of the Faro, as the Straits of Messina are often called. I put them into rhyme while I sat on the mouldering, stones of the old castle which was thus rendered memorable. I called my little poem " THE SECRET LOVERS. " Silent and sad the region round, Comes from the parching earth no sound, 4 60 TEE TWO SICILIES. The song of the waves is soft and low, Hushed in its free but gentle flow, And the sun looks down with a blinding glare Through thehot, unstirring midsummer air. • " I sit on the wall of a fortress old; 'Twas strong, and gloomy, and dark, and cold In the da}' s when the belted barons bold Battled for honor and not for gold. Now not a tower its column rears, No archway grim and stern appears, And iron bolts and bars give place To the green ivy's wreathing grace. " Once twenty knights as true as steel Followed its lord for woe or weal ; Once forty bowmen, fearless all, Answered its owner's battle-call; Once the shorn priest with solemn air Lifted his voice in chant and prayer ; And many a page and lady fair Rustled in silks and satins rare. . " Philip v., — but I have no space His gracious and merry rule to trace, 'Tis his daughter's story I would repeat In pleasing numbers and rhythm sweet. " Firenza was the maiden's name, Firenza of Sicilian fame. For poets praised her golden hair, Her eye of blue, her witching air, Her voice,' which reached the inmost heart. And healed its every secret smart. " Never was there a fonder sire , From northern snows to Ethiop's fire. THE SECRET LOVEHS. 51 Not one whose every hope and fear, Whose hours of gloom, whose hours of cheer, More closely linked him to his child, Or bounding boy or maiden mild. ** Firenza was his hope and pride, For her he would have gladly died ; To her he every plan revealed, From her no wish, no thought concealed. Her welcome was the one he sought When he returned from fields well fought ; No music in the lyre he heard Unless its notes her bosom stirred; No pleasure in the cup for him Unless her lips had touched the brim ; Nor cared he in the chase to ride If she had wandered from his side. " No cloud between them ever came, Until of love the uncertain flame Was kindled in the maiden's heart, And from her sire drew her apart. For not to Raymond's handsome face, Not to young Tancred's form of grace, Not to bold Richard's iron arm Ready to ward off every harm, Gave she a thought, a blush, a sigh. Or cared if they were far or nigh. *' She loved, — I hesitate to tell, — She loved, not wisely but too well, The heir of a proud rival race, Forgot her name, forgot her place, And met him secretly by night. When heavy clouds obscured the light. " Alas, Firenza, foolish maid. Flattered, caressed, and then betrayed! 52 THE TWO SICILIES. " Once, when nor moon nor twinkling star Shone from the gloomy vault afar, When the deep sob of shrub and tree, Mixed with the moaning of the sea, Told of the coming tempest's wrath, Eearful to ail upon its path, — With light and rapid foot she sped Through winding passages which led To .a low postern in the wall, Known but to few in bower or hall. Scarcely did she with trembling hand Withdraw the bolt and shivering stand Beyond the shelter of the toAver, Beyond her father's shielding power, Than, with a sharp and sudden cry, She fell upon the earth to die. *' Tangling her curls of golden hair, Crushing her brow and cheek so fair, Trampling her rounded limbs of snow. Staining her mantle's crimson flow. Her lover's kinsmen fleet and fierce Eushed on, her father's heart to pierce. " Sliort was the struggle, fast the blows Were dealt by stoat and treacherous foes, Their victims wakened but to die, — Scarce could they fight, they could not fly. " In twice ten minutes all was done, No eye looked on the rising sun ; Not one of all that brilliant train E'er wielded sword or lance again. Dead were the knights as true as steel Who followed their lord for woe or weal, Dead were the bowmen, fearless all, Who answered their leader's battle-call, THE SECRET LOVERS. 63 Dead was the baron and dead liis wife, Dead was his child, — his love, his life. " Such is the tale which is chiselled deep On the crumbling stones of this donjon — keep; On the broken arch and the ruined wall, "Which threaten at every gust to fall ; Which is whispered still by the moaning sea, Which a peasant has just now told to me." " Oh, uncle, how dreadful that was ! " said Maggie, who had been crying over the fate of the unfortunate Firenza. " She deserved her punishment, anyhow," re- torted Thornie, his eyes flashing, and his slight figure fairly quivering with indignation. '' Only think of the meanness of cheating such a father ! '' '^ And the vulgarity of meeting her lover out- side the castle after dark," added I. ''-Yes, I know she appears heartless, and mean, and vulgar, but I pity her for all that," said Mag- gie, " and I am glad she never knew the dreadful mischief that she did."' " So am 1, Maggie, glad of that," replied I. " And I am glad, too, that the baron did not know who let his foes into the castle. That would have been too terrible ; it really would." CHAPTER III. KATE AND THOENIE DIFFEH IN OPINIOIT EESPECTING THE POVEETT OF P0ET3 — HOUSE OF THE EAEL OF STIRLIU-G — HOLLAKD HOUSE — POPE'S VILLA AT TWICK- ENHAM — THE PEETENTIOUS ME. BENTHAM — LADY ANNE BAENAED'S HOUSE — EOGEES'S HOUSE IN ST. JAMES'S PLACE — MOOEE'S COTTAGE NEAK DEVIZES — MISS bailie's HOUSE AT HAMPSTEAD — THORNIE YIELDS FOE THE TIME — PALEEMO — STREETS OF PALERMO— THE TUN.NY FISHERY — THE INVASION OF SICILY BY HAMILKAE — GELO'S LUCKY STRATAGEM — DEFEAT OF THE CARTHA- GINIANS—THE INVASION OF SICILY BY HANNIBAL — ASSAULT OF HIMEEA — TERRIBLE REVENGE OF HANNIBAL — THE EXILES OF GELA — THE BEAUTIFUL APPEAL OF TELINUS — ITS SUCCESS — POSITION OF SYRACUSE — ALPHEUS, THE RIVER-GOD, AND HIS BRIDE ARETHUSA. DID not know that you could write poe- try, uncle, until you read to us your pretty lines on the ' Secret Lovers,' ^' said I, when we were collected for another lesson. " I think uncle can write anything he pleases, '^ said Maggie. "So do I now, Maggie, '' I answered ; " and I wish he had done nothing but write poetry all his life.'' "I do not wish anything of the kind," said Thornie, " for poets are poor, and in that case we should have no Fonthill to visit." ''How can you say that poets are poor, and THE POVERTY OF POETS. 55 haven't nice houses ! " I exclaimed indignantly. " I can show you in a twinkling that yon are mis- taken ; " and I opened one of uncle's portfolios and took out a handful of pictures. " In the first place, look at this sketch of Stirling's house." HOUSE OF THE EAEL OP STIRLIKO. " Very well;" answered Thornie ; " Stirling lived ages ago, and I heard uncle say he was secretary of state for Scotland. That picture does not help your side of the argument at all." " So be it, then," said I. " But here is Holland House, where Addison lived — the Addison who 56 THE TWO SICILIES. wrote the Gharming hymn which we used to repeat every Sunday evening in town : * The spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim.' " HOLLAND HOUSE. *' Oh, pshaw ! Uncle was talking about Addi- son only yesterday, and he told us how he had a pension to enable him to travel in Italy, and then he was made commissioner of something, I forget what, and finally he became secretary of state." " That is one half the story, Thornie,'' replied I ; TEE rUETENTIOUS MR. J3ENTnA.}f. 57 *' the other half is that his verses brought him into notice, and were thus the cause of all his pros- perity.'^ "But I have more pictures, as you will see. Here is Pope's villa at Twickenham." pope's villa at T\yiCKENHAM. " I remember about Pope," said Thornie, '' for Mr. Bentham quotes him forever." ''Tiresome man that Mr. Bentham," returned I ; '' tiresome, very, because he is all the time try- ing to show off." '* Uncle knows a thousand times as much as Mr. Bentham, and he never tries to show off." 58 TEE TWO SICILIES. *' No, never ; he says it is vulgar to make pre- tensions of any kind.'^ '' What is that picture you have in your hand now, Kate ? '^ " It is a picture of Lady Anne Barnard's house. LADY ANJS'E BARNARD'S HOUSE Lady Anne wrote 'Auld Robin Gray/ you will remember,'' I continued, and then I sang the last verse of that touching ballad : • I gang like a ghaist, and I care na to spin, I daurna think on Jamie, for that wad be a sin ; EOGERS'S HOUSE, 59 But I'll do my best a gude wife to be, For auld Eobin Gray is kind unto me.'! *' Here is a picture of Rogers's house in St. James's Place.'' EOGEES'S HOUSE IS ST. JAMES'S PLACE. " Was it Rogers who wrote that cunning story about the ' Bag of Gold V? " asked Thornie. 60 THE TWO SICILIES. ^* The very same/' answered T. ''And how prettily it is told ! I positively trembled for the old woman and her daughter, until I read the triumphant words of the young lawyer, *But to whom is the bag of gold to be delivered ? What says the bond ? Not to one, not to two, but to the three — let the three stand forth and claim it.' "Now look at this lovely little sketch of Moore'.« cottage near Devizes. mooke's cottage near devizes. ''Next I will look for dear Miss Baillie's house at Hampstead,^' said I. " I remember reciting her lines to a kitten last winter, when Uncle and Aunt Lynwood came into the schoolroom. Ah, yes I here it is ; look, Thornie — just look I '' MISS BAILLIE^S HQUSE^ 61 " ^Tis a nice-looking place," replied Thornie, " and I will yield for this time ; but one of these days I shall speak on my side of the question.'' MISS baillie's house at hampstead. " I wish you would, Thornie,'' answered 1, *' and we will have rare fun. You might begin now, only that uncle is ready." " Yes," said uncle, " ready to tell you about 62 THE TWO SICILIES. " PALERMO. " Palermo is a beautiful city lying on the curv- ing edge of a bay. Behind it are fruitful fields, which stretch back to cool, green hills. The semicircle which these hills enclose is often called the ' Golden Shell.' Two long streets crossing each other form the best part of the city, but there are several delightful public squares with fountains and statues in them. A charming walk along the shore is called the ' Marina.' One end of it termi- nates at a pleasant public garden. The streets are paved, but they are muddy after rains, and are then crossed on little movable bridges. Along them are ranges of palaces, with shops and stalls on the ground floor, balconies over which wet linen is hung to dry, and grand gateways with coats of arms half covered with playbills.'' ''I should not care for a palace disfigured in that way," said I. "Probably not; the people of cold climates usually value privacy and keep their domestic in- dustries out of sight as far as possible. The people of hot climates open their kitchens to the public as much as their parlors. The Sicilian idea of agreeable and polished life differs much from ours. But I will go on with my description. Where was I when you spoke, Kate ? " " You were telling us about the streets of Pa- lermo, uncle." "In the morning the streets are bustling and PALERMO. 63 noisy. Ladies go to church — young men dash by on horseback — melancholy convicts, dressed in yellow and chained together, pass under guard — nobles, ojfficers, and priests sit in chairs before the coffee-houses — thirsty people gather round the gaudily-decked iced-water stalls — tailors, coop- ers, and workmen of all kinds, in fact, occupy themselves' in front of their shops, driving the walkers off the pavement — while the merry coach- men call laughingly to them to take care, marking each one by a name expressive of his or her figure, dress, and the like. Beggars swarm everywhere, with the mournful cry, ' Give me • something for the love of God — a farthing — I am so very hun- gry.' Or perhaps they say, 'Give me a trifle for the love of the Blessed Virgin — I am hungry ! — I am so very hungry ! ' At one or two points, great baskets stand beside a fire, made between four stones, over which a pot is boiling. Here a cook stews common garden snails with green herbs and tomatoes, and sells the disagreeable dish smoking hot to customers." At noon the streets are de- serted for dinner and an indoor lounge. As evening approaches, they are again filled with people on foot and in carriages," crowding to the breezy Marina. Sometimes they ax'e illuminated for festivals and public rejoicings, when they are lined with slight wooden arcades, all of the same height, covered with lighted lamps.'' ^' How gayly they must look when they are illuminated ! " exclaimed Maggie. '' I should like to see them then." 64 THE TWO SICILIES, " What else do poor people eat except those odious snails, uncle ? " asked Thornie. " They eat tunnies. Do you want to know how tunnies are caught ? '^ " Yes, sir. Are they caught like trout ? '^ " Not at all,'^ replied uncle, laughing heartily. " The tunny is from five to seven feet long, and almost as large round. It is migratory, like the herring, and passes Sicily on its way to spend the summer in the Black Sea. It is taken in great nets from fourteen to fifteen hundred feet long, nearly three hundred feet wide, and from fifty to one hun- dred feet deep. These nets are put into boats, with a quantity of large stones and anchors. They must stand upright in the water, so as to form walls of network, and as there are often strong under-cur- rents, which would wash them into a slanting posi- tion, watchers lo^ok constantly into the sea to give notice when it is perfectly still. Their signal brings the boats with the nets to the spot selected, about a mile from the shore. The stones and anchors are fastened here and there alonoc the lower edge of the net to sink it, and pieces of cork are attached to the upper edge to make it float. It is then let down by two boats' crews, which part from one point and lower them; so that they form a long range of squares or chambers ; these chambers have doors opening into each other, which can be opened and closed by the fish- ermen when they please ; so that the entire net is really a net-work hou^e, with roof, sides, bottom, THE TUNKT FISHERY. 65 and partitions. When the nets are properly arranged, the assistance of St. Anthony, the patron of Roman Catholic fishermen, is prayed for. A branch of olive, perhaps ten feet high, is set up in the middle of the fishery, and the priest sails round the nets, blessing them as he goes. ''■ Two watchers next take their place at the door of the first chamber. They lean over the side of the boat, with wide tarpaulins upon their heads to screen them from the burning sun, and occa- sionally pour a little oil on the water to make it smooth. Every three hours they are relieved ; for as they cannot speak or move during their 'watch, it is extremely tiresome. When the tunnies enter the first room in the net, the door is pulled up and is kept closed until they go into the second ; this is then shut behind them, while the first one is opened to let in more fish, and so on. When they reach the last room, — which is made very strong and is called the death-chamber, — the net is drawn near the surface of the water, and each fisherman, seizing a sharp, hooked weapon, helps to drag the fish into the boats. ^' Upon Saturday and Sunday evenings, the pro- prietor of the Solanto fishery, eight miles from Palermo, gives a dance for the fishermen and their families, and the young people not only dance quadrilles, but even polkas and mazourkas.^' " I am glad I am not a Solanto fisherman. I donH think I should like any part of their life ex- cept the dancing,' ' said Thornie. 5 # 66 THE TWO SICILIES, '' I believe you/' replied uncle. " I cannot even fancy my impatient nephew keeping a three hours' immovable watch on the water in a broil- ing June sun/' Thornie blushed, and said, to hide his confusion, " Now let us have a war-story, uncle." " A true story, or a made-up story ? '' " A true one I A true one I '' we cried, and uncle began : — " Eastward from Palermo, and not far from it, is the site of the ancient Himera, celebrated for < " THE DEFEAT OF HAMILKAE AND THE TERRIBLE REVENGE OF HANNIBAL, which happened thus. Some hundreds of years before Christ, the Carthaginian general, Hamilkar, invaded Sicily, at the head of three hundred thou- sand men. He landed at Palermo, and marched directly against Himera. Notwithstanding the number of his soldiers and their savage disposi- tions, the Himerans were not frightened, — at least, they were not afraid of him. They were only afraid of traitors among themselves, and they even bricked up their gates, lest they might be slyly opened to the enemy. They, however, took every possible measure for defence, and sent to Gelo, lord of Syracuse, begging for immediate aid. Gelo promptly afforded it, for he said, ' If Himera falls, we shall have the barbarians down upon us.' So, with fifty thousand foot and five thousand horse, he set out for Himera. On his way, he caught THE DEFEAT OF HAMILKAR. 67 a courier who was travelling in hot haste to the Carthaginian camp, and opening his despatches, be learned that the Selinuntines were to send a body of horse at a certain time to the assistance of JIamilkar. ' Aha/ said Gelo, ' I think I will spoil that nice little plan I' And so be did, sure enough, for he detached from his cavalry a number equal to that expected from Selinuntura, with orders to join the hostile camp at the appointed hour, and when once within its bounds to throw the Carthaginians into disorder. " He was strictly obeyed. His Syracusans were admitted with shouts ; and when, reaching the very centre of the camp, they turned suddenly and charged to the right and left, the uproar and confusion were frightful. At the same moment, the Himerans and Syracusans marched out from the city, and, notwithstanding the vast number and great bravery of the Carthaginians, they gained a complete victory. ''A careful search was made for the body of Hamilkar, but it could not be found. During the whole engagement, he had been sacrificing to his gods, and his countrymen said that when he found defeat certain he leaped into the flames. Al- though he was an enemy, the Himerans honored his courage and skill, and erected a monument to his memory. " By and by, Giskon, the son of Hamilkar, had a son born to him, whom he named Hannibal. He was a passionate and revengeful little fellow, and 68 THE TWO SICILIES. when he heard how his grandfather was defeated in Sicily, he swore with a wicked oath that he would take vengeance on the Sicilians when he should be grown up. He talked about it, and planned for it, and dreamed of it, and when he be- came a general, he did as he had sworn —he led a great army against Himera. '' As fast -as his troops came up, he placed them in the best position for attack, and, without losing a moment, he began to batter the walls above, and to undermine them below. The Himerans de- fended themselves with equal bravery, and no breach was made on the first day. On the second day, twenty-five Syracusan vessels sailed into the harbor ; and the poor people, supposing them to be filled with soldiers, shouted for joy. But they were empty, and the leader could only take as many as the ships would hold to a safe spot on the coast, and then return as quickly as possible for the rest. Many lives hung on each passing min- ute, and old men, women, and children, were hur- ried on board without an extra garment, or a loaf of bread. Those who remained, fought like heroes, but at the very moment when the returning vessels were seen like a speck on the horizon, the enemy broke down a part of the fortifications, and the whole Carthaginian army burst in and spread through the city. " This was the hour that Hannibal had dreamed of and waited for. He did not stop to think that his grandfather had been justly overthrown by a TELINUS AND PERSEPEONE. 69 braye people on their own soil in the maintenance of their own rights ; nor that, even if his con- querors had been guilty of crime, these their descendants were wholly innocent. His heart cried, ' vengeance ! vengeance I ' and with a fierce joy he watched the destruction. The temples were robbed and burned, the walls and houses were pulled down, and the delicate women and dear little children were given to the victors for slaves. Three thousand male captives — all that were left from the assault — were driven to the monument raised by their own ancestors in honor of Hamilkar, and were there put to death as an offering to him.'' '' How awful ! " said Maggie, shutting her eyes, as if she could thus shut oat the frightful memory. "How awful ! How can anybody be so cruel and revengeful ! " *' It was awful," replied uncle, "but cruelty is always awful, and a mere school-boy may be as cruel for his means as Hannibal was for his." "Do give us something pretty. Uncle Paul," said I, — " nothing grand or striking, but some- thing simple and peaceful." " I think, myself, that we have had enough of the horrible for once," replied uncle, "so I will tell you about " TELINUS, fflGH PRIEST OF DEMETER, AND PERSEPHONE. " A few hundreds of years before Christ, some of the inhabitants of Gela — now Terranova — were YO THE TWO SICILIES. dissatisfied with the management of public affairs. At first, they whispered this at home, — then they spoke of it to a friend or two, — and at length they declared it openly. The feeling grew in bitterness, and occasioned a tumult, in which the fault-finders were driven out of the city. .They took refuge at Mactorium, a hamlet on the heights above Gela; but they looked sadly upon their homes smiling from among the olive and lemon trees, and longed once more to worship their household gods and to frolic with their little ones in their own dwellings. But how could they contrive to return ? They were too few in numbers to fight their way in, and they had nothing with which to bribe their tri- umphant enemies. '' Many plans were proposed and rejected, when Telinus, priest of Demeter and Persephone, asked leave to try the effect of a religious procession and the symbols used in the ceremonies of the god- desses whom he served. Clothed in a long purple robe, with a diadem on his flowing hair, he set out just as the new moon was sinking behind the mountains. Following and keeping time to his chanted hymns, in which they joined at intervals, were the exiles, — for the most part men, but with a few wives, daughters, and sisters, who had fled with them or had found means to join them. Slen- der vases of pomegranate and poppy seeds — for Demeter was goddess of the harvest — were drawn on a wagon by white oxen. A group of young girls bore on their heads pitchers of barley- SYRACUSE. 71 water, and baskets of cakes sweetened with honey, freshly gathered mint, and a few grains of salt. Small statues — one of Demeter and another of Persephone — were carefully carried, while the worshippers, garlanded with flowers and carrying lighted torches, danced by their side. Winding through the vineyards of Mactorium, crossing the open space rich in waving grain, and ^passing under the frowning walls where armed sentinels kept watch against them, — slowly, and with only the sweet sounds of solemn music telling of their approach, — came the exiles, anxious lest after all they should be shut out. But, lo, the gate flew open I One and another snatched up lamp and taper and fell into the line, when the whole glad multitude went to sacrifice together in the tem- ple. '' All was forgiven and forgotten, and it was decreed that, in memory of this beautiful service, the office of high priest to Demeter and Per- sephone should be hereditary in the family of Telinus, forever.^' "That is lovely, uncle, '^ said I. "I vote for another after the same style.'' " You cannot have it, Miss Kate,'' replied uncle, " but I can give you a pretty little legend, which you may like as well. The city of *' SYRACUSE " stands on the eastern shore of Sicily, and occu- pies only the smallest of the fortified portions of "72 THE TWO SICILIES. the old town, which was one of the most famous in the world. Among the few places in it which a traveller cares to visit, is the fountain of Arethusa. It is now a cistern, shut in by four walls, and sur- rounded, in the daytime, by washerwomen, 4vho rinse their linen in the sparkling water. But when I saw it, r forgot all about the stiff stonework and the splashing scrubbers, and went back in thought to the period of the Greek legend of " ALPHEUS THE RIVER-GOD, AND HIS BRIDE ARETHUSA. '' The river Alpheus took its rise far away in green and freedom -loving Arcadia. Flowing through El is and the grand Olympian plain, it fell into the sea with a song of gladness. For many and many a long year, the god of the stream had a merry time of it. Mountain rivulets brought him cold draughts from lofty gorges, — noble oxen, patient cows, and fine-wooled sheep, fed along his borders, — the hunter, loaded with game, stooped to drink of his clear waters, — and, lying at his ease, he could look on the noisy festivals of Pan, the god of shepherds. *' But one day, the nymph Arethusa went out to gather violets, and having filled her basket, she sat down by the river-side and braided the finest of them into a wreath. Then she put it on and peeped into the stream, the only mirror that she knew anything about. The god was delighted. Never had he seen anything so beautiful. If he could but marry her and have her to live with ALPHEUS AND ARETEUSA. tS him in his pretty house of soft, singing reeds ! He felt sure that he could make her happy if she i would only let him try. He was very humble. ' He was willing- to beg — willing even to wait awhile, but he really must have her for a dear little wife. Arethusa, however, did not like the plan. She refused him decidedly, and finding him reso- lute, she ran away. Poor, disappointed Alpheus ran too, calling her by all the sweet names he could think of, and imploring her at least not to be quite so positive. By that time, Arethusa was really frightened. She thought she should certainly be dragged down, out of sight and hearing of the upper world, into a dim cavern, where her friends could never find her. So she fled faster and faster over hill and valley, and along the tops of the great billows to the island of Ortygia — now Syra- cuse, — where she changed herself into a fountain. ^' At first, Alpheus was extremely sorrowful. He wept and sighed and wept and sighed. Then he wiped his eyes with a white lily and went slyly to work. He was strong and industrious, and in a few hours he made a passage under the sea, and mingled his crystal waves with the glit- tering waters of his beloved Arethusa.'' " Hurrah for Alpheus, the river-god ! '' shouted Thornie. '' He was a lover after my own heart ! '' CHAPTER IV. AW BVESIHO ON THE VEBAlf DA — PECyCE CKEST — CEBSX'S NAUGHimESS— SEITT TO MADAM STOKK — THE WOITDEKFUL \VALL — CREST IN A PASSIOK — DE- SCRIPTION OF STOKKLAKD — CREST AT NIGHT — CREST'S BATH — CREST'3 BREAKFAST — CREST'S REFLECTIONS — \THAT THE WALL WAS MADE OP — CREST RETURNS HOME — THE CONTINENTAL PORTION OF THE TWO SICILIES — LAST DAYS IN ROME — FONDI — THE PIRATE AND THE COUNTESS — INN ON THE BAT OF GAETA — NURSERY RHYME— ROAD TO NAPLE S — DESCRIPTION OF NAPLES — THE LAZZARONI — SOCIETY OF NAPLES — VIEW OF NAPLES AND ITS SURROUND- INGS — MT. VESUYIUS — HERCULANEUM — POMPEII — PUCK AND SNOWBALL. AST evening we sat on the veranda. It was so charming ! More charming than I can describe ! The moon was at the full, and the moonbeams lay all about in bright silver patches. The jasmines were in blossom, and they were as sweet as flowers can be. Fireflies sparkled under the trees, and a band in the village played " Home, sweet Home.'^ After we had talked awhile, Maggie said, " Aunt Mary, you can't think how I do want to hear one of your stories. '^ " One of mine, when your uncle tells so much better stories than I can ? " asked Aunt Mary. " Yes, one of yours, aunt ; for you tell such odd ones. Please tell us one.'' 74 PRmCE CREST AND BIS ADVENTURES. 75 " Oh, yes, please do tell one," echoed Thornie and I. '' If you really wish it, I will tell one," answered Aunt Mary. " Let ^me consider a minute. Now I am ready. I will tell you about '' PRINCE CREST AND HIS ADVENTURES IN STORKLAND. " Once upon a time there was a little prince who had more petting than was good for him.. His name was Crest, and he was the son of so great a king that nobody thought of crossing him. The consequence was that he was the most disa- greeable boy under the sun. He was ignorant, lazy, disobedient, selfish, and ungrateful, and the torment of everybody about him, his papa and mamma included. At last he took it into his silly head to want the moon for a plaything, and be- cause he could not have it, he screamed and stamped and strack about him with a great heavy cane, and appeared more like a wild beast than a little child. The longer he thought about it, the more determined he was to get it, and he kept the whole palace in an uproar, until his papa was so entirely out of patience with him that he sent him off to an aged stork, renowned for her patience and happy way of bringing troublesome young people to reason. *' Crest kicked, and shrieked, and pulled out the hair of the servants who carried him to Madam Stork, and he even threatened to tear out their eyes and cut off their hands, but they were 76 THE TWO SICILIES. SO glad to get rid of him that they bore his ill- treatment with fortitude. They had their reward, for no sooner was Crest fairly in Storkland than a high wall sprang up behind him, which he could neither climb over nor pull down, but which they passed through with ease and returned to their master. " Crest was furious when he saw this wall. He kicked it with all his might, he caught hold of the bars and tried to shake it, and he broke off the reeds which grew near, and threw them at it as hard as he could. Madam Stork looked on for a time, and then said mildly, ' My little friend, you may beat the wall just as much as you please, but I warn you that it will be useless. Nothing can move it except good deeds. Every time that you are generous, gentle, and obedient, every time that you do right for right's sake, one bar will dis- appear, and when the last one shall have vanished, you may leave Storkland forever.' •' ' 'Twill be a joyful day to me,' said Crest sulkily. '' ^ And to me, also,' replied madam, 'but it doesn't appear to me at present that time will ever come.' *' ' Get me something to eat, old woman, and let it be something nice,' said Crest. " Madam paid no attention to this insulting command, but went on showing her great grand- daughter how to build a nest for the eggs which she meant to lay. Crest looked about for some- PRINCE CREST AND HIS ADVENTURES. T (T body to quarrel with, but there was no one at hand, for madam had ordered all her subjects to keep away from him entirely, until he should be- come quiet and civil. She had also commanded that if at any time he should begiil to dispute with them, they should leave him until he should be in a better temper. " Crest waited a minute, and then, seeing that madam did not mean to serve him in haste, he flew at her like a young tiger, tore a gr^t hole in her white muslin robe, and tried to snatch her specta- cles from her very face. " Madam spoke not a word, but she put one foot forcibly on his shoulder, and looked at him so long and with so much severity, that for the first time in his life he felt afraid, and was glad to slink away out of her sight. " Storkland was not a very pleasant place in and of itself, inasmuch as it was merely a vast reedy shore on the bank of a great river, but the good and happy storks thought it a paradise be- cause their sweet tempers brightened and warmed it as if with a second sun. Crest, on the contrary,, would not have been comfortable in the loveliest spot in the world, and of course he found this especially dreary. He did just as he used to do at home. He fell into a terrible rage ; he stamped and roared, and cried, and tore his clothes, and pulled up reeds to throw at the little storks, until he was fairly tired out. In consequence of this, all the storks, without a word, went further down the river, leaving him to follow them or not as he if 8 THE TWO SICILIES. chose ; and he, finding; it worse without than with them, went too. When night came, they made him a little reed bed ; but he, remembering his mattress at home with its cambric sheets and satin counterpane and velvet curtains, stormed again. Madam Stork merely looked down to learn what the uproar was about, then she balanced herself on one foot, folded her long neck, laid her head upon her back, and went to sleep", or pretended to do so, which amounted to the same thing. All her sub- jects immediately followed her example, and Crest was left to look out for himself, as he best might. He was soon too tired to sit up, and he was ashamed to go to bed after all his naughtiness, but at last sleep conquered, he crept into the clean little reed nest, and slumbered soundly till morning. " The whole stork family arose at daybreak, and Crest was so hungry that he was glad to rise, too ; but when Madam Stork told him to go and bathe in the river, and gave him a reed towel and brush to assist him in dressing, he had another naughty fit, similar to those he had the day before. " ' No bath, no breakfast, my little friend,' said madam quietly ; and by and by. Crest stole down to the bathing-place and jumped in. The water was clear and warm, and it felt so pleasantly that he ducked his head, and threw out his arms, and splashed and dashed as merrily as if he had lived in the water all his life. And when he had dried himself and combed his hair and put on his clothes, he thought that he would never complain about PRINCE CREST AND HIS ADVENTURES. 79 bathing again, but would go down with the little storks every morning and have a good play. " It was a great trial to Crest to appear before Madam Stork in such nice trim, but he was too hungry to delay long, and madam smiled kindly, and said, ' Ah, my young guest, you look like a gentleman. Your breakfast shall be served in a few minutes ; ' and she chatted very pleasantly about the things she had seen in her frequent jour- neys, until the meal was ready, "There was a little reed table, and upon the table were little reed dishes, and napkins braided with reed pith, which were as white as snow and as soft as satin. Two delicate broiled fishes lay under two covers, and there were, beside, two boiled eggs, a great bunch of grapes, and a reed goblet of cold water. Two young storks stood beside the chair for waiters, and everything was so pretty, and the fishes and the eggs and the grapes were so good, that Crest forgot to find fault, and was, for a wonder, civil to his little pages. " When he had finished eating, and while he was still sitting at table, an entirely new idea occurred to him. ' I declare,' said he to himself, ' I do declare 'tis more comfortable to be good than to be naughty. I get so tired and hot, and have such a headache when I have one of. my rages that on the whole I'm not sure that those rages, are not just as disagreeable to me as to other people.' " In this quiet mood, Crest went to Madam 80 THE TWO SICILIES, Stork and asked her, as politely as he knew how, to continue the account of her adventures which she began before breakfast. She was catching insects for a lunch, but she said she had eaten sufficiently, and she told such amusing stories as Crest had never before heard. When he was tired of listen- ing to her he played with the young storks, and when he was tired of playing he made calls with Madam Stork on her great family of sons and grandsons and, great grandsons, and daughters and grand-daughters and great grand-daughters, and so on. '' When night came Crest went quietly to bed, but before he fell asleep he looked sorrowfully at the wall, which stood tall and frowning between him and his home. Oh, how dear that home was to him then ! How precious appeared the things that he had cared the least about while he still possessed them ! What would he not have given for a kiss froni his mamma, and a ride on his papa's foot, both of which he had so often scorned ! Then he remembered that it was his own wicked conduct which had separated him from all that he loved, and he sobbed aloud. He might perhaps have cried all night but that he remembered that Madam Stork had said, * Every time that you do right for right's saTie, one bar of the wall will dis- appear, and when the last one shall have vanished you may leave Storkland forever.' Thereupon a bright hope dawned in Crest's heart, and he resolved to ask madam what right was. PRIKCE CREST AND HIS ADVENTURES. 81 " A good sleep improved Crest's spirits, and his morning bath with a few hundreds of little storks made him really gay ; but after breakfast he went directly to Madam Stork and asked these ques- tions : ' What is right ? And how can one do right for right's sake ? ^ UADAM SIOEK. '' ' Ah, my dear little friend/ replied madam, ' how very glad I am to hear that question. I am sure that you would not have asked it if you had not resolved to improve. It is right to be obedient to those who have authority, and to be just and generous to all, and whenever you are so because it is right, as I told you before, one bar of that black wall will disappear.' '' 'Why?' asked Crest. 'Why will it go?' *' ' Because,' answered madam, ' it is built of 82 . TEE TWO SICILIES. your bad passions, and naughty, selfish ways, arid therefore as fast as you improve it will vanish and be forgotten. Your dear mamma takes a telescope and goes every morning to the top of the high hill behind the palace to look at this wall. Only think how delighted she will be when it begins to lessen ! ' *' Crest was good for three days after this con- versation, and the wall lost three rows of bars. Then he had a naughty. fit which lasted six hours. Madam Stork said nothing, but marched off with a thousand or so of storks behind her and had a nice picnic down the river. When she returned. Crest was very hungry, very tired, and very sorrowful, and that was the last whole day that he was troublesome while he remained in Storkland. Little by little, the frowning wall passed away ; and when nothing of it remained, the king and queen went with their whole court and joyfully carried their dear, good little Crest back to the palace.'' '' Oh, what a pretty, pretty story ! '' exclaimed Maggie. '' Oh, Aunt Mary, you do tell the nicest stories ! '' " So you do ! So you" do ! '' said Thorni©, and then we kissed our thanks all round. This morning uncle gave us a lesson. The first topic was THE CONTINENTAL PORTION OF THE TWO SICILIES. " Southern Italy," said uncle, " contains fifteen THE CONTINENTAL POUTION OF 83 provinces, the inhabitants of which know but little of each other. In this country everything is done to bring' people together. The newspapers tell all about the affairs, not only of states, but of families. A little boy is drowned far away in northern New Hampshire, and another little boy in Texas, or Cal- ifornia, learns it, and feels sorry for him. Some- body finds a silver mine at the West, and every State in the Union sends people to help work it. So, from this wide-spread knowledge and this wide-spread interest, come great enterprises nobly carried out. But in Southern Italy, until recently, a jealous and cruel government has, as far as pos- sible, prevented free communication among its subjects ; rightly believing that if they should be drawn together by common enterprises and inter- ests, — if they should exchange ideas largely, — if they should tell each other their trials and griev- ances, — they could not be as easily tyrannized over. The Bourbon kings, who reigned before Victor Emanuel came into power, did not try to make the country great, rich, and prosperous ; they cared only to live luxuriously, to rule despoti- cally, and to keep the people so poor and ignorant that they should not dare so much as to think about their rights as men and women. '^ '' What a wicked race ! '^ exclaimed Thornie. '' They were so, Thornie, with the exception of Charles, who did as well as he knew how, and who would have improved the condition of his sub- jects much more than he did if he had seen hjs way clearly/' 84 THE TWO SICILIES. " Which way did you enter Southern Italy, uncle ? " I asked. '' From RomO; where I spent a part of the pre- ceding winter. I enjoyed the last few days of my stay in that city better than any of the others. It was then spring, the season in which everybody 'ifeels hopeful and happy, and wherever I went, I found the sweet scent of growing and budding things. The ivies about the old ruins were fresh and bright, and there were hosts of fragrant viO" lets, and anemones, and daisies, and beautiful wall- flowers, which perfumed the whole air. Bird songs floated round the crumbling walls and gushed out from under the broken arches ; and the sky was full of golden light, which made all the browns and grays and greens look wonderfully clear and rich. i left the famous old city in a vettura, a comforta- ble carriage drawn by three horses, which wore brass trappings and a number of little bells ; and so we had an abundance of glitter and music. The first town which I entered, after crossing the line between Central and Southern Italy, was "fondi, " a dirty, uncomfortable place, but which has its little story, which I will tell you under the title of "the pirate and the countess. " In the year 1534, there lived in the castle of Fondi a countess by the name of Giulia Gonzaga, whom everybody declared to be exquisitely beauti- TEE PIRATE AXD THE COUNTESS, 85 ful. The poets went half crazy about her, and so did the painters ; and even mothers who had lovely daughters admitted that they were less fair than this noble lady, which is the very best proof I can give that she was indeed perfect in face and form. Her fame, of course, spread far and wide. Not only did gay French knights and stately Spaniards sing her charms, but the story-tellers by the foun- tains of Northern Africa spun many long yarns about them, and the knowledge of them reached even to the Turkish court. " Unfortunately, the pirate Heyraddin Barba- rossa, a cruel and ambitious man, heard some of these glowing descriptions. He was the son of a Greek potter who had settled in Algiers, and had pretended to turn Mohammedan, for the sake of getting rich. By dreadful crimes, Barbarossa had made himself despot of Algiers ; and having re- ceived a favor from the Sultan Solyman II., he desired to offer a present in return. He bethought himself of all the fine things thstt he possessed, and all that he would probably be able to secure by a foray along the seacoast from the Straits of Gib- raltar to the city of Venice, and shook his head more and more decidedly at each mental sug- ^gestion, until the idea occurred to him that he might carry off the countess. ' By the beard of the Prophet ! ' he exclaimed, ' it shall be done ! ' '' So, in a day or two, he set off with a few swift little vessels, manned by men who were as treacherous and cruel as himself. The coast of •86 THE TWO SICILIES. Africa sank away in the soft blue of the ocean, — flowery Sicily and rock-bound Ponza faded like mist, — and then the boats drew silently and stealthily to land, and silently and stealthily the robbers crept upward to Fondi. The town was fast asleep, and father, mother, and little child dreamed of yesterday's plays and to-morrow's duties. The nurse was nodding over the sick-bed, the monk was taking a nap before the midnight mass, the very watch-dog shared in the repose of his master. A trampling of armed men and the clash of weapons startled the sentinels, who sprang up bewildered ; the alarm bell was hastily rung ; and the citizens snatched their weapons, and hur- ried out. But the time for resistance had gone by. The pirates had already forced the gate, killed the guard, and were rushing through the little city with savage cries. ''The shouts of 'Allah Acbar!' mingled with the shrieks and groans of the dying, awoke the countess ; and, without waiting even to dress, she let herself down from her window by the sheets from her bed, and fled to the mountains. The stones bruised her naked feet, the bushes tore her muslin night-dress, but the darkness which had favored her foes helped to conceal her, and she was already safe, when the enraged Barbarossa was hunting for her with furious oaths through hall and passage, from battlement to cellar. " ' BajBfled, and by a woman ! ' he muttered. * By Allah, I will be revenged I ' Then, with the Ilflf ON TEE BAY OF GAETA, 87 fury ,of a demon, he fell upon the poor people of the town, drove them to the boats by the light of their burning houses, and carried them all into slavery/' *' I suppose the savage old fellow would have carried off those poor people just the same if he had caught the countess, '^ said Thornie. " I think he would,'' replied uncle. " The Afri- can pirates were cruel to the last degree." " Where did you stop next, uncle ? " '' At a pleasant inn, standing upon the spot once occupied by the country-seat of Cicero, the great Roman orator." ^' The same, also, who figures in the charming nursery rhymes," said I, laughing. *' I can repeat them now : — ' You'd scarce expect one of my age To speak in public on the stage, And should I chance to fall below Demosthenes and Cicero, Don't view me with a critic's eye, But pass my imperfections by.' " " And Maggie used to follow me with * T'inkle, t'inkle, 'ittle 'tar,' to the delight of the maids," added Thornie. " But please go on, uncle." '' The large and prettily painted rooms, with the clear sea breeze sweeping through them and scat- tering fragrance as it blew, invited me to stay 88 THE TWO SICILIES. within doors, while the magnificent scenery with- out urged me to the terrace. Behind, were majes- tic mountains, rocky, and almost bare, but ^beautifully colored; and in front was the Bay of Gaeta, dazzling with brilliant tints — crimson and gold and green and purple, like a multitude of liquid rainbows. The inn stood high upon a slope, and the gardens descended to the water's edge. They were full of fig, apricot, orange, and lemon trees.'' "It makes my mouth water to hear about it,'' said Thornie. " The latter part of the way from Eome to Naples, by the Aversa route, .is lovely beyond description," continued uncle. " Luxuriant grape- vines climb from elm to elm, olive and orange groves abound, and there are great crimson patches of clover, and fine fields of flax and wheat." *' I am glad we have reached Naples," said Maggie. • "I have been wanting to hear about it ever so long." " NAPLES," said uncle, "was the capital of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, while that kingdom had an inde- pendent existence ; and a lovely, sunny, merry city it is. The common people are not thrifty and neat, like the farmers and artisans of our Northern States. Their little houses are damp, dark, and ill-scented ; but they live oat of doors in the glori- ous sunshine, with the fresh wind blowing in from NAPLES. 89 the sea, or stealing over gardens ana orange or- chards freighted with delicious odors. The beg- gars are countless in number, and they rap upon their chin until the teeth chatter, to show how fear- fully hungry they are. Even infants in arms per- form this rapping, and extend a hand for pen- nies. '^ '' The Neapolitans are an indolent people, I im- agine,'^ said I. " Very indolent. Everywhere one hears the sounds of merriment, instead of those of toil. A whole family rides past on one horse, the wife seated behind her husband, and a child in front playing with the whip. Calashes — a curious kind of carriage, with seats in the middle, and an ex- tended floor upon which passengers stand — pass with from ten to fourteen people sitting, standing, or holding on. They are drawn by one wretched horse, whose leanness is mocked by his long strings of little bells, red tassels, and nodding flowers. Other equally overloaded vehicles are sometimes dragged by oxen, mules, or cows, or even by difierent animals harnessed together.'' " Our poor people would stay at home forever before they would go out in that style,'' said Thornie. *' Our people care for comfort ; the Neapolitan of the lower class cares for fun. -Little girls dance to the violin, while the parents pick up a trifle among the lookers-on. In little wooden thea- tres, puppets leap and twirl, and Pulcinello makes 90 TEE TWO SICILIES, droll speeches to the laughing crowd. Almost within Jiearing of his jokes, a story-teller reads, sings, and acts passages from famous poems before an audience standing around, or sitting on coarse planks.^' '' I suppose the people do work some,'' said Maggie. *' Oh, yes; and out of doors, too. Workmen labor in front of their shops, and women cook, spin, sew, wash, and take care of their infants on the sidewalks. Along the wide beach, the fishermen's families mend nets, eat and sleep under the burn- ing sun, clad in a few rags." " Who are the lazzaroni, uncle ? " '' They are the lowest part of the people, who have no settled abode, and live by occasional in- dustry, begging, thieving, anything that will help them to a little fruit, a fish, or a dish of macaroni. They take their name from the Lazarus of the New Testament parable; and until recently their dress consisted of short drawers, a shirt, and hood. They have, for many years, chosen a chief annu- ally. The choice is made in the open air, and he who gets the loudest shouts wins the honor. They are not now regarded as a distinct class, but are subjected to the same regulations as the citizens. The life of the low Neapolitan peasantry makes one's heart ache ; because, although there is much jollity, there is no order and cleanliness, no com- fort, no desire for or even knowledge of what is really true and good. i NAPLES, 91 " But one does not always think of this part of the population when in Naples, for there are a great many pleasant things to see, and delightful places to visit. There are lovely gardens, and- charming drives, and fine palaces, and old churches with no end of paintings, and a museum which is, perhaps, as interesting as any in the world ; be- cause, in addition to its treasures of art, it contains a great many articles from Herculaneum and Pom- peii. The middle class — the scholars, artists, and professional men of Naples — form a refined and agreeable society. The*i, there is the land- scape — the enchanting, ever-changing Bay, dot- ted with ships, pleasure barges and fishing boats which rock lightly on its sparkling waves, and with Capri and Portici softly outlined in the dis- tance, — Vesuvius, with his head veiled in white, blue, purple, or golden vapor, — the curving shore, with the city lying at the base, and on the slopes of its amphitheatre of hills — and all warmed and colored by a southern sun, form a picture of which one never tires/' ** How lovely it must be ! '^ exclaimed Thornie ; who, with his eyes closed, had been trying to fancy the scene which uncle described. "It is lovely, Thornie, and it is something more. It fascinates, — it fixes the eyes and thoughts, — it haunts the memory — for years after one has seen it, he longs to see it again.'' " I should, not like to live very near Vesuvius/' said Maggie. 92 THE TWO SICILIES, " Neither should I," replied uncle. '' His power for evil is altogether too plainly seen for miles along the coast. He threw up the odd-looking hills, scooped out the lakes, and hollowed the cav- erns and underground passages which the heathen priests made use of in their old-time fables, and later, he buried two gay little cities. '^ " I know," said Thornie. " They were Hercu- laneum and Pompeii.'' *' You are right," replied uncle. " HERCULANEUM is four miles from Naples, and lies under the towns of Resina and Portici. Partly from fear of over- throwing the buildings, and partly because the lava is so hard to dig through, the openings are slight." " How did you get down to it, uncle ? " '' By a narrow passage, sloping down to the theatre, many feet below the level of the street, cut in the solid lava." " Of course it was dark there," said Maggie. " Yes ; we had lighted torches, by which we saw the place for the musicians, the dressing- rooms for the performers, and the seats for the spectators. Supports have been built here and there to sustain the soil above, and it is thus ren- dered a kind of labyrinth. More than once I closed my eyes and tried to fancy the building in its first beauty, filled with eight thousand per- sons, and to picture to myself the flowers and HERCULANEUM, 93 music, the glitter of jewels and rustling of silks, the gay jests and light laughter, and all the^ merry accompaniments of a play. Then the bright scene vanished, and there remained only darkness, except where the blazing torches cast their red light on the rude masonry, and silence except when carriage-wheels rolled above in busy Re- sina.'^ " How dismal ! '^ exclaimed Maggie. '' When I go to .Europe, I mean to see only pleasant sights ; and I am sure that I shall not go to Hercu- laneum.'^ *' You would prefer to visit " POMPEH, *' which is much more interesting than Hercula- neum. It was destroyed at the same time, but was overwhelmed, not with lava, but with hot ashes and pumice stones. It stands on high ground, thirteen miles south-east from Naples, and is sur- rounded on the west and south by the sea, which once almost washed its walls. It was a pleasant watering-place, where people went to show their fine clothes and their fine manners, much as people go now to Newport and Saratoga. The visitors lounged out of doors and watched the vessels come and go, or read the signs as they strelled through the streets. Many of these signs were not written out, but were expressed by pictures. A goat over the door meant that the shop was a milk-shop. Two men carrying a flask indicated a wine-shop. 94 THE TWO SICILIES. A man whipping one boy, lifted on the back of another, pointed out the house of a schoolmaster. '^ '' I should not have ' applied within,' as our posters say, after reading a sign like that,'' said Thornie. ^' The applications were made probably by fathers and mothers, and they may have thought some discipline of the kind hinted at desirable," replied uncle. ''I agree with you, Thornie, in imagining that it would not be attractive to pupils. " The summer guests whom I mentioned enjoyed themselves greatly at Pompeii. They boated and bathed ; they ate luxurious dinners, served in dishes of silver, gold, and glass, on tables orna- mented with exquisite little statues ; they went to the theatre in the most dashing of dresses ; and they were invited to banquets where hired danc- ing girls helped on the evening by their graceful turns and windings. " Suddenly this brilliant, busy life ceased. Fast and faster fell the gray ashes, filling the streets, the courts, the squares, blocking up the doorways and turning the day to night. Most of the inhab- itants fled ; but here and there a servant was sur- prised at his labor, — a rich man waited too long in the hope of saving his treasures, — an irresolute one lost his self-possession and wasted the precious moment, — and the Roman soldiers, faithful to the last, perished silently at their posts." " How glad I am that almost everybody es- caped ! " said Maggie. " 'Tis a comfort to think of that." POMPEII. 95 " Yes, Maggie/' uncle began in reply, but he did not finish the sentence, for at that moment Snowball ran through the half open door into the room, followed by Puck, who was exclaiming, " Oh, 'oo dear ittle t'ing. 'Oo ittle 'Owball/' Our pretty pet had just arrived ; so we — the young people — crowded about him for a kiss and a frolic, while uncle went to the drawing-room to welcome his mother. CHAPTER V. THS60LE IN THE TABLE-CLOTH — WOLF AND LIDA — THE BLACK KOTGHT— WOLF EST TKOUBLE — THE EUNAWAY HOESE — THE LEAP EKOM THE CLIFF — SOKEEIfTO — TASSO, THE POET — TASSO AT COUET — TASSO'S EETUEN TO HIS SISTER — TASSO'S MISFOETUITES — CALABEIA — COSTUME OF THE CALABEIANS — CALABEIAN MUSIC — OCCUPATIOiTS OF THE PEASANT GIELS — HEEDSMEK OF APULIA — SHEP- HERDS' FESTIVAL — COSTUME OF THE ABEUZZO — BESSIE AJ^D THE SWIKG. HIS morning, the pupils of the home school were to have written compositions ; but uncle told us that he would omit that exercise, and that we might tell stories instead. We were delighted at this, be- cause we thought it would be so easy ; but we were vastly mistaken. Uncle would not allow us to repeat a word, or put in one unnecessarily ; and we have discovered that we can write much more accurately than we can talk. I took my story from an old book which uncle brought from Europe ; and it is so striking, that I will write it out. '' THE count's leap. *' Eberhard II., Count of Wurtemberg, was strong and brave, but also ambitious and obstinate to the 96 THE HOLE IN THE TABLE-CLOTH. 97 last degree. He had two children, named Ulric and Lida, whom he loved very much, but whom he treated as harshly as if he did not care for them at all, "Ulric was fearless and skilful, but he was once compelled to retreat from the battle-field by the overwhelming numbers of the enemy. His father received him with bitter words, and in his rage cut the cloth in front of his seat at table, as a sign that he had not won his bread. Ulric felt this deeply, and the next time he met the enemy he fought with desperation, and fell dead in the mo- ment of victory. When his corpse was carried to his father, he shut himself up in his tent and wept like a tender mother. " After this sorrow, one would think that Eber- hard would have been gentle and indulgent to Lida, but this was not the case. She was engaged to Count Wolf, Ulric's dearest friend, who loved her, and whom she loved in return ; but when Ulric was no longer there to plead her cause, her father commanded her to break her promise to Wolf and to marry Conrad, his heir. In vain were the knight's prayers and Lida's tears. Eberhard would not yield, but betrothed his daughter to his favor- ite with great splendor. " In honor of the event, he held a tournament at the gates of Wildbad. Both ends of the lists — or place for the combat — were closed by gates, beyond which, to .the north, were the tents of the knights who offered to tilt with all comers. At 7 98 TME TWO SICILIES. the door of each tent hung the owner's shield, and beside it stood his esquire, dressed either in curi- ous fancy garments, or more simply and modestly in the colors of his master. The centre pavilion, which glittered with silk and gold, was given to Conrad as the hero of the day. At the opposite end were assembled such knights as proposed to tilt with the occupants of the tents, while along the sides were raised galleries for the better class of spectators. In the middle of that to the right was a higher gallery, surrounded by gilded railings and covered with a canopy of crimson velvet for Count Eberhard, his family and personal friends ; and there Lida was compelled to sit with a heavy heart to witness the festivities. ''At a signal given by Eberhard, the gaily dressed heralds proclaimed the laws of the tourna- ment, which they followed by cries of ' Largesse I largesse ! ' They were answered by a shower of gold and silver pieces, which they greeted with shouts of ' Honor to the generous I Love of la- dies ! Fame to the valiant ! ' and the like ; while the lower classes of the spectators applauded loudly, and the trumpeters blew their liveliest notes. After this the gates were opened, and the challengers rode across the lists to the tents of the knights, where each struck with his lance the shield of him with whom he desired to tilt. *' First among them, appeared a chevalier in black armor, without any device, and with his visor closed so that no one could see his face. THE COUNT'S LEAP. 99 He moved slowly and steadily forward, and touched the shield of Conrad. Almost every per- son present thought that this unknown warrior was Count Wolf; but Eberhard, measuring with his eye the tall and slender figure before him, be- lieved that he saw the shade of Ulric returned to support the cause of his beloved friend, and com- pel the fulfilment of his promise. He threw him- self from his seat with groans and shrieks, and, amidst the confusion thus occasioned, the black knight disappeared. '' In his despair. Wolf joined the enemies of Eberhard, hoping to force from him his daughter, but he was unfortunate. He was abandoned by his allies and vassals, his castle was burned, his city was plundered, and he was declared an out- law. In this sad condition he was obliged to take refuge with a kinsman at Ebernstein, and when he dismounted at the gate a thief stole his horse and cloak, leaving him with nothing but the garments which he wore and the armor in which lie had fought. '' The robber took the horse — whose name was Tador, and who was remarkable for strength and beauty — to Count Eberhard, who bought him at a high price, and finding him as gentle as he was handsome, ordered his daughter to ride him to church the next day, which was that appointed for her marriage with Conrad. When she had mounted him, everybody regarded her with ad- miration, for she was one of the loveliest maidens 100 THE TWO SICILIES. of the time, and her long, white veil, fastened with a myrtle crown, fell round her like soft mist, and made her look like an angel. " The procession had just started from the palace, when Tador threw up his head, snuffed the air, and then, breaking through the crowd, set off at his best pace for Ebernstein. Nothing could stop him, and at the very moment when Wolf was bewailing his loss with his kinsman, he came thun- dering over the drawbridge into the courtyard. '' Wolf stood a moment, too much astonished to move or speak, for there was Tador, covered with foam, and clinging to his mane — her veil torn into shreds, her myrtle crown broken, and her long locks falling in disorder about her shoulders — was his own dear Lida. But he quickly recovered himself, and begged his kinsman to permit his chaplain to marry them. The selfish, calculating Henry replied that no marriage could take place in his chapel without the consent of the relatives on both sides. '' ' At least promise me that you will not give up Lida,' implored Wolf. '' ' I shall certainly restore her to her father,' answered Henry coldly. '''Lida,' asked Wolf tenderly, 'will you seek with me a priest to marry us ? ' " ' It is my only wish,' replied Lida. "Then Wolf sprang upon Tador's back, swung his betrothed lightly up before him, and rushed from the castle. THE COUNTS LEAP. 101 " Meantime, the soldiers of Eberhard had traced Tador by the marks of his hoofs and bits of the torn veil which remained on the bushes by his route, and had stationed themselves near Ebern- stein, so as to cut off every chance of escape. Only one path remained unguarded, a frightful track up a rocky hill leading to a high cliff which overhung a boiling whirlpool. " Wolf saw that there was no hope. ' Lida,' he asked, ' do you wish to die with me ? ' *' ' From my inmost heart,' she answered, and wound her arms more closely about his neck, while he bent over and kissed her white lips. '' Then Wolf drove his spurs deep into Tador's sides, who sprang forward with great leaps up the dangerous steep. At this sight, the officers and men of the opposing party shrieked , with terror, and amidst their cries of fear and horror the horse and his rider disappeared over the cliff. '' There was a moment's silence, then Eberhard pushed forward and looked down. The whirlpool had drawn the body of his daughter out of sight, while it had thrown those of Wolf and his faithful war-horse back upon the shore. While the count still watched the whirl, and listened to the roar of the waters, he fancied that he saw the figure of his son as it appeared at the tournament, in black armor, without a device, and with his visor down, so that no one could see his face. He shuddered violently,, for he knew then that he had killed both of his children through his wicked ambition and his haughty pride.'' 102 , THE TWO SICILIES. After the stories, came our lesson, which began with a description of SOKEENTO. " This city,'' said uncle, " is admirably situated on a precipice jutting* into the sea. Upon three sides there is a deep gorge like the ditch of a fortress. In a colder climate, this gorge would be a gloomy, shivery place ; but under the Italian sun, which appears to have a magical gift for brightening and warming the darkest nook, it clothes itself with countless lovely blooms. It is a delightful spot for a ramble in the daytime ; but in the twilight, I must confess that the shadows gather too swiftly and deeply for pleasure. The peasants believe it to be haunted by goblins, which they call monacielli, and which they try to frighten away at night by placing lamps in little oratories built in rifts in the rock. The people of Sorrento, like the Neapolitans, love an out-of-door life. The women sit in the sun while they spin on their distaffs and talk over their housekeeping ; and girls with large black eyes, dark glossy hair, and great pearl ear-rings, flirt and laugh with their lovers on the picturesque old bridge." " Sorrento, Sorrento,'' repeated Thornie, slowly and thoughtfully, as if trying to think of something which had escaped his memory. " Why, uncle, a great writer was born there, but I cannot remem- ber his name." " It was TORQUATO TASSO, 103 TORQUATO TASSO. HIS poet, at the age of sev- enteen, received through- out Italy the pet name of Tassino, or the ' Dear Little Tasso/ '' '^ Oh, what a charming, charming compliment I ^' cried Maggie. '' I would rather have had that one, than all the rest that were paid him, and I suppose he had a great many.'^ " More than one could easily,. count, I fancy ; but he is as celebrated for his misfortunes as for his verses. None of them occurred at Sorrento, however, and among the few happy days of his manhood must be reckoned those which he spent there with his sister Cornelia. He was then thirty-three years old, very famous, but also very wretched. ^^ '' What made him wretched ? " asked Maggie. ^' Just that petty fault-finding, those slights, those accusations, and interferences, which a sen- sitive person is least able to bear. He was in the service of Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara ; and some of tbe courtiers, who were jealous and envious of the favor in which he was held by the duke's sister, — the beautiful and accomplished Eleanora, — said all manner of false and unkind things about him. 104 THE TWO SICILIES. They opened his private desk, and read his letters and papers ; they pretended he was a heretic ; and they appear to have made the duke hate him as much as they did themselves. Then bigoted priests — who knew no more about poetry than the man in the moon — meddled with the magnifi- cent poem which has made his name immortal ; and parts of it were copied without his knowledge, and were published with vexatious errors in sev- eral Italian cities/' " How mean ! I should just like to fight the whole worthless set ! " exclaimed Thornie. "The treatment which he received was mean and cruel, and drove poor Tasso almost frantic. In his distress, he remembered his sister Cornelia, who was then a widow, and living with her two pretty children in their old home at Sorrento. He had not seen her since he was a boy. He had been so ambitious, so full of splendid plans for making himself famous, — for winning money and honors while alive, and a place in the memory of men after death, — that he had had no time to spend in giving her pleasure. But now the world went wrong with him; and he was glad to go back in thought to his far-away childhood, which smiled at him with its peaceful eyes. How they two — him- self and the little Cornelia — used to look up at the brown statue of St. Antonio, over the ancient gate- way, and tell each other how the sturdy old fellow drove away the Prince of Beneventura, when he marched against the town, with good sound blows TORQUATO TASSO. 105 from his heavy cudgel I How they chuckled over the saint's righteous wrath, and how they made up a little drama in which he was father Antonio, and Cornelia was the beaten prince ! Then, how they played at housekeeping, upon which occasions Cornelia stole nurse's distaff, and tangled her shining flax, — how they served up banquets in the garden, and put their oranges and figs on broad leaves instead of dishes, — how they burned their fingers trying to roast chestnuts, — and how they peeped over the gorge to show their courage, at the risk of breaking their necks ! Tasso wished he had broken his, so that he could have gone home to the good God, and escaped so much misery. He longed, yet dreaded, to go back. He wanted the old companionship, the sweet confi- dence, the tender care ; but he was afraid Corne- lia might resent his neglect of her, and speak harsh, cold words. He had been harassed and worried in so many ways that his poor, bruised heart could not bear an added pang. So he resolved to awaken her sympathy before he dis- covered himself; and he stopped outside of the city, and changed garments with a shepherd, when he introduced himself as a messenger sent to tell her of her brother's ill-fortune. Cornelia was as affectionate as she was beautiful ; and she had never permitted herself to think that she had any cause for complaint. She listened eagerly to the seeming stranger, until, overcome by sorrow, she fainted away. 106 TEE TWO SICILIES. ^' Poor Tasso did not mean to give her such a shock, — he had not, indeed, supposed she would feel as much, — but he was delighted to find him- self held in such loving remembrance. He re- mained a year in Sorrento, where he regained his health and half forgot his calamities/' " What a dear, good sister she was I '^ ex- claimed Maggie. '' Yes ; she appears to have borne without a murmur her brother's neglect during his pros- perity, and to have proved a tender and judicious friend in his adversity." "Uncle, was he unfortunate after that visit?" asked Thornie. '' Yes, extremely so. He was imprisoned in a mad-house for seven years by Alfonso, who re- leased him at last only because he was so ill that it was impossible for him to recover where he then was." ''How dared Alfonso do such a thing ? " asked Thornie. " Those petty Italian despots dared do anything they chose to do," answered uncle ; " but why he desirad to do this, is not and cannot be certainly known. The sympathy of the world is and always will be with Tasso, and one can scarcely think calmly of his wrongs." " Did he get well after he went out of that fear- ful place ? " " Yes, he recovered, and he wrote much and well afterward ; but nothing equal to the ' Jeru- CALABRIA. lot salem Conquered/ which he had composed pre- viously, and which is one of the noblest poems of modern times.'' "Where did you go next, after you left Sor- rento, uncle ? " " I do not remember where I went next ; but I made some pleasant excursions into " CALABRIA. " Calabria occupies the toe of the boot to which Italy has been compared. The national dress for the male peasantry consists of a long, hanging cap, a velvet jacket and breeches, with three but- tons unfastened at the knees, over which fall white frills. Many wear high, pointed hats, like the brigands in pictures, with rows of velvet festooned round them, gaiters, and goat-skin sandals. The peasant women wear white head-dresses, square at the top, and flowing behind ; bodices laced and trimmed with colored ribbons, red under skirts, and scarfs gayly striped. When at work in the fields, they wear a petticoat nearly tight, with a blue over-skirt, open in front, which they knot behind, for convenience. Their stockings have no feet, and shoes are rare." " Oh, hideous ! " exclaimed Thornie. '' Not exactly after Miss Annie Mowbray's stjde, I grant," answered uncle, archly ; '' but convenient for work, nevertheless." Now, Miss Mowbray happened to be Thornie's admiration just then, so I saw a good deal of her ; 108 THE TWO SICILIES. and when I mentally contrasted the peasant scanti- ness of attire with her great hoop and ruffled skirts, her flowing sleeves, and falling laces, and the rib- bons fluttering from every point on which she could hang them, I laughed aloud. Thornie col- ored, and to change the subject, I asked, " What did you find at the inns, uncle ? ^' " Let me try to recollect. Nothing distinctive, that I think of, except perhaps custards made with buffalo's milk ; but I remember that one of my landladies was in mourning, and wore a head- dress of black gauze, folded like the white ones ; that the maid swept the floor with a broom of foxes' tails ; and that a peasant played upon a rustic pipe, holding sometimes two, sometimes three of the small reeds to his lips at once.'' " I don't see how he could do it," said Thornie. " I should think it must be extremely difficult." " It appeared to me so at the moment, which was the reason why I remember it." '' How do the peasant girls fill up their time ? " *' Sometimes they gather bergamots, or green- colored oranges, which they carry in baskets to the press, — a round machine, with brass divi- sions. This machine turns round forty times, when it rings a bell ; and the fruit is taken out un- broken, but without the oil of the rind, which has passed into a vessel beneath. This, when dis- tilled, furnishes the perfume of our shops. I used to dislike the smell of bergamot extremely ; but now I do not find it offensive, because it reminds APULIA. 109 me of the warm skies and lovely orchards of youthern Italy, and the merry boys and girls moving to and fro, and joking, singing, laughing, and dancing with the greatest zest." *'Do they have travelling flocks and herds, like the Swiss ? I mean, are there such in Apulia ? " asked Thornie. "Yes; the province of Apulia is distinguished by a vast treeless plain, dry in summer, but in winter clothed with thick, green herbage. This is the grazing ground for great numbers of sheep and cattle, which come from Abruzzo, for the cold season. When the flocks are on the march, one shepherd heads each division. He walks some steps in advance, crook in hand. He is followed by an old ram called 'The instructed,^ which wears a large deep-toned bell. Beautiful dogs, for the most part white, walk at the head, sides, and rear of each group. A few goats, usually black, follow the sheep. Mules finish the procession, bearing nets and poles for penning the animals at night> the utensils for the dairy, the tents and clothing of the shepherds, with jointed seats, curiously made from the stems of the gigantic fennel. The cows and horses travel separately.'^ ''Those seats must look a little like the baby- house chairs that Bessie makes out of rushes, '^ said Thornie. " I should not think they would be very strong. But where do the herds go in sum- mer ? '^ *' To the mountains. A portion of them reach the highest station on St. Peter's day, the 29th of 110 . TEE TWO SICILIES. June. By the time the districts have been marked out, and other necessary arrangements have been made, it is nearly sundown. The vesper service is' sung, a benediction is " pronounced, and the herdsmen sit down to a grand supper, provided by the owners of the land. It consists of sheep and kids roasted whole, oxen cooked in quarters on spits made of small pine-trees, bread, and wine cooled in the snow-pits. For dessert, there are wild strawberries, and various dishes from milk." " What a pleasant festival ! I should like to see the supper in preparation," said Maggie. " And I should like to see the people eat it," said Thornie. " It would be worth while to see so many happy faces." " How do the women of the Abruzzo dress, uncle ? " I asked. " The true peasant dress for them is a dark blue bodice, with sleeves of the same, fastened at the shoulder with bows of ribbon, a petticoat of any colored cloth, plaited in small plaits, and a head-^ dress made of a long strip of white cambric or muslin, trimmed with a border of coarse thread lace." " Are you almost through, uncle ? " asked Bes- sie, softly opening the library-door, and peeping in. '' Quite through, little niece." " Oh, I'm so glad," said Bessie ; '' for, uncle, I want you to fix the swing. One knot is loose, and Mrs. Sharp says I mustn't swing again till you fix it." CHAPTER VI. THE CHEKKTPAETT — KATE'S VERSES — FABLES ABOUT SICILT — THE STOEM AT SEA — THE SHIPfl'EECKED SAILOE — KIKT)]S^ESS OF THE SICILIANS — THEOCLES' EE- TtJEN TO CHALCIS — PROPOSAL TO COLOITIZE SICILY — CONSULTATION" OF THE OEACLE — EEPLT OP THE ORACLE — PEEPAKATIO]S^S FOR DEPARTURE — THE TEM- PLE SERVICE- THE DEPARTURE OF THE nOIIGEANTS — AEEIVAL UT SICILY — ALTAR OX MT. TAUEUS — DIO^^rSIUS I. — DIONYSIUS SEEKS A WIFE— THE DOUBLE MARRIAGE OF DIOlfYSIUS — GAMES OF THE BOYS — CONQUEST OF EEGGIO — SICILY COXQUEEED BY THE ROMANS — ARCHIMEDES — EUREKA — THE GOLD CROAVN — EFFORTS OF ARCHIMEDES FOR THE DEFENCE OF SYRACUSE — THE irUEDEE OF AECHIMEDES — AFTEE-FOETUNE OF SICILY — SOUTHERN ITALY — WICKED TRICK OF A GREEK COLOIfY — SYBAEIS — SYBARITES — SMINDYEIDES AND HIS WOOING — THE STOLEN BRIDE — DISAPPOINTMENT OF EUPHEMIUS — EEVENGE OF EUPHEMIUS — CONQUEST OF SICILY BY THE SARACENS — THB LITTLE CHRISTIAN AND THE GENEROUS SARACEN. ESTERDAY the whole family went to Hazlewood — Mr. Thornton's place — to a cherry party. We had a grand time. There were at least fifty guests, fathers _ and mothers, and young people, and little children. We ran races, and leaped the brook, and played sly little tricks on each other, which made a great deal of fun, because these tricks were all pleasant ones. When we were tired of picking cherries and playing games .and getting up tricks, we went to a tent, which was gay with streamers, and decorated with ever- .greens and flowers. There we found more cherries and other fruit, sandwiches, cold chickens, cake, 111 112 THE TWO SICILIES. milk, coffee, and lemonade. We drank toasts and sang songs, and wound up with a neat little speech from uncle, which expressed in the prettiest of pretty ways our thanks for the entertainment, and the pleasure which we had received from the visit. On the way home, uncle told me that I must write some verses about the party, for this week's composition. I wrote them this morning," and will copy them here : THE CHERRY ' PARTY. Cherry-trees, cherry-trees here and there, Cherry-trees, cherry-trees everywhere, With their fluttering leaves and their ruby crown. And their shining stems of black and brown. Cherry-trees, cherry-trees here and there, Cherry-trees, cherry-trees everywhere ; Bees rifle their sweets in the happy spring, And with songs of birds they in summer ring. The cedar-bird comes with his shaded breast. His sparkling eyes, and his pert little crest ; Hither and thither the sparrows flit; And here comes the robin and little tomtit. Next follow fruit-lovers, both young and old, Maggie the lovely^ and Thornie the bold, Uncle Paul and Aunt Mary, and dear little Bess, Mr. Thornton, wife Laura, and all of the rest. The whole afternoon of a midsummer's day We fill with our laughter, our songs, and our play 5 And when next this festa the cherry-trees see, A guest I most certainly hope to be. THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR. 113 The lesson for to-day commenced with the story of THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR. " The history of Sicily," said uncle, ''begins far, far away back in the age of fable, which is so named, because, as nothing is certainly known about what happened at that time, poets have in- vented for it the most wonderful tales. They pre- tend that Zeus reigned on Mount Etna ; that its flames (you will remember that the mountain is a volcano) were his breath ; and that when he turned in his bed the island shook as with an earthquake." "I hope he slept quietly, and was not troubled with bad dreams," said Thornie. " In the forges in the mountains Hephaestus wrought the thunder, and from its flowery base the beautiful Persephone was carried off by Pluto, to his gloomy underground kingdom." '* I have read all about that theft, in Haw- thorne's charming ' Tanglewood Tales,' " exclaimed Maggie. " Pluto came up through the earth with his black horses and handsome chariot, and carried off Persephone, when her mother was away on business. That was mean." " But the story is pretty," said Thornie. *' The true history of Sicily begins much like those old fables, with ' Once upon a time,' " said uncle. " Once upon a time, probably about T25, B. 0., 8 114 THE TWO SICILIES. the little vessel Naupactus moved at a snaiPs pace within sight of the south-western shore of Calabria. It was a sultry afternoon, and although the crew worked hard at the oars, they could scarcely get forward at all. Suddenly Theocles, the captain, shouted, ' The Euroclydon ! The Euroc- lydon I ' and sure enough, a long white cloud shot along the sea, as if to give warning of the coming storm. In a few minutes, the ship was tossing like a feather. Now she was mountain high on the top of the great billows, and again she was plunged in their yawning depths. The sky grew black. Neither moon nor stars were out to show the sailors whither they were driving. Soon they heard the terrible sound of the breakers, and caught sight of their white caps. A cry of despair went up from all on board, — ' We are lost I We are lost ! ' They no longer tried to guide their vessel, but, deafened by the roar of the tempest and blinded by the salt spray, they clung to its sides, and with prayers and vows called upon Poseidon to save them. Presently the Sicilian coast became visible. The slight bark drew nearer and nearer to it, caught on the reef, and went to pieces. There was one shriek, and then the furious sea closed over all but Theocles, who was swept by a huge billow high upon the rocks. ^'The poor fellow had thrown off his himation, or upper garment, before the vessel struck ; and he had no clothing except his chiton, a woollen shirt without sleeves. Cold, hungry and thirsty, with PROPOSAL TO COLONIZE SICILY. 115 aching limbs as well as an aching heart, he sat upon a rock wondering what he had better do, t^hen some natives went down to the beach to col- lect the star-fish which they supposed would be thrown up by the storm. They welcomed the stranger, took him to their huts, and gave him a feast of chestnuts, pine seeds, Indian figs, milk, and boiled star-fish ; which latter was not a dainty morsel since it resembled gristle covered with slime. Theocles stayed with them many weeks, making himself useful in such ways as he was able, and thus winning the confidence of the tribe. By and by, his hosts helped him to build a new boat, and some of them consented to go with him to his home in the Greek city of Chalcis. ^' His arrival threw the whole town into (commo- tion. For several days he was really besieged by the crowds who came to hear the story of his ship- wreck, and to learn something about that distant country which he had visited so unwillingly. '' Soon a lucky thought occurred to the city fathers. ' Would it not be well,' they asked, ' to send a colony to the island ? Colonies increase the commerce of the mother country and afford aid in times of need. Many young men, also, who are mischievous and troublesome at home because they have nothing to do, make useful and even heroic citizens in new settlements, with dangers and difficulties to meet and overcome.' " The city fathers were right, but they could do nothing before consulting Apollo, the god of 116 THE TWO SICILIES. prophecy. Messengers were, therefore, despatched with rich gifts to Delphi, the seat of his most famous oracle, to inquire if a colony should set out from Chalcis for Sicily. They returned with an answer which might be read either way. It was not unlike this : — ' Soft winds blow over the western island, kissing the laurel that Apollo loves, and the fir-wood whereon are laid the per- fumes and sacrifices. Stormy waters and rain- bearing clouds lie between.' " It gave rise to a great dispute at Chalcis. The restless and adventurous declared that it was a direct encouragement to seek the laurel and fir- wood, and make offerings with them to the god; but timid mothers and sisters heard in it only a warning against the stormy waters and rain- bearing clouds. As is usual upon such occasions, the courageous and energetic carried the day, and preparations for the voyage were commenced on every side. *' The vessels were easily made ready. They were merely large boats, moved by oars for the most part, but furnished with sails for use in a fair wind. Each one had a name which was painted on the prow, and each had a flag or ensign. Each, also, bore at its stern a statue of Apollo hung with laurel wreaths and set round with branches of fir. They were carefully purified by the sprink- ling of consecrated water, and were solemnly placed under the protection of the god. They were stored with salt meat, fish, cakes of barley THE TEMPLE SEE VICE, 117 and wheat, cheese, olives, onions, wine and honey. Some tools, also, were put on board, and some arms, which might be wanted in time. The latter con- sisted of leather helmets adorned with crests of hair or feathers, breast-plates either of brass or leather, brass greaves or armor for the legs, shields of bull's hide, ashen spears of different lengths, bows and arrows, javelins and slings. Carefully, too, and with many ceremonies, a pan containing a fire lighted at the altar of Hestia, the sweet god- dess of the hearth, was borne to the ship of the commander Theocles. '' At last all was ready and the emigrants and their friends went to pray together once more to Zeus, bearing simple offerings of wine, and cakes made in the form of animals. As the procession passed into the portico of the temple, the priests advanced to the altar, and one among them said in a loud voice, 'Let us make libations and let us pray.' "A second priest asked, 'Who are these now gathered together ? ' " ' Honest men,' was the almost whispered answer of the sad worshippers. " ' Be silent, then,' was the reply. " Soon flames shot up from the altar and de- voured the spicy cakes, when wine was poured on them from silver vases. Heartfelt petitions for the safety and success of the emigrants were offered, and a band of youths filled the splendid building with the sweet sound of their chanted hymns. 118 THE TWO SICILIES. " Many a regretful glance was cast at the city, many an eye sought a familiar roof or lingered, tenderly upon a dear face in the crowd upon the quay. But the farewells were not prolonged, for Theocles, impatient at the awkwardness of his crew, angrily thundered his orders, now shouting for some of the sailors to put out their boat-hooks and keep the vessels off the piers, and now calling to the oarsmen, who were vainly trying to pull all together. " The emigrants had a successful voyage and landed in Sicily near the hill Taurus, upon whose green summit they immediately began to build an altar to Apollo. It was evening when the simple pile of earth and sods was completed and the wood was placed in order. The moonbeams lay on the dewy grass, silvered the olive-trees, and tipped the waves which chased each other inland to the wide, smooth beach. The soft breeze was full of fragrance, and the deep sea music mingled with the leaf-whispers and the rustle of gently swaying boughs. A brand, lighted at the sacred fire of Hestia which had been kept through the voyage, kindled the sacrificial flames ; and oil, in- cense and wine, were poured out to Apollo amidst heartfelt thanksgivings. " The Sicilian Greeks advanced rapidly as long its they were just to each other ; but after a time, the strong began to prey upon the weak, and pop- ular leaders by cunning management made them- selves kings or tyrants, as they were very properly called/' DIONYSIUS SEEKS A WIFE. 119 *' What a pity/' said Thornie. " They might have lived so nicely and pleasantly in the beauti- ful island." "The change was brought about by wicked selfishness and violence/' said uncle ; " and thou- sands of people suffered and died to gratify the greed and ambition of a few. " DIONYSIUS I. was one of these tyrants. He was an able but fearfully wicked man ; and by a long course of de- ceit and murder he raised himself to the sover- eignty of Syracuse. " As soon as he was fairly established in power, he began to look about for a wife. First, he sent an embassy to Reggio to request one from thence. An assembly was called, therefore, to consider the proposal, with the promises which accompanied it. But the members were indignant at the perfidy and cruelty of the king, and cared very little for his wealth. They spoke of him contemptuously as well as bitterly, and one said, ' The daughter of the public executioner is the only fitting bride for so merciless a despot.' " The envoys repeated these words to their master, who treasured them in his memory until he should have an opportunity to revenge them. Meantime, he made the same offers to Locri which he had made to Reggio ; and especially solicited Aristides, a companion of Plato, to give him his daughter. ' I would rather see her dead,' 120 THE TWO SICILIES. replied Aristides, ' than united to a^ tyrant.' But Xenetns, more ambitious and less scrupulous, de- sired the alliance and offered his daughter Doris. " Very soon Doris sailed for Syracuse in a new vessel decorated with festive splendor, and spa'V ling all over with ornaments of silver and gold. BOEIS CKOSSIXG TO SYRACUSE. '' Flowers carpeted the deck, choice wreaths lined the sides of the vessel, and the lowers in ^i^3 GAMES OF THE BOYS. 121 glittering uniforms dif)ped their gilded oars to the music of flutes and lyres. '' On the same day that Doris arrived from Locri, a second bride — Aristomache of Syracuse — was conveyed to the palace. Her robe was of blue Milesian wool overshot with threads of silver, and was confined at the shoulders with exquisitely cut cameos. Over this was a tunic of the thinnest gauze, fastened at the throat with a collar of peai4s. A wreath of poppies and sesamum crowned the braids of. her glossy hair, and a veil of gold and silver tissue fell to her feet in dazzling waves. The windows, doors, and housetops along the streets through which she passed were crowded with spectators, who showered her with blossoms, and whose shouts mingled with the merry music of the great band of players and singers who pre- ceded and followed her chariot.'^ " To think of the monster marrying two wives ! " exclaimed Maggie. '* The ancient Greeks did not usually have more than one wife at a time, but Dionysius considered himself at liberty to do as he pleased. He cele- brated his double wedding with banquets ; theatri- cal exhibitions ; horse, chariot and foot races ; poetic contests, musical performances, cock-fights, and wrestling and boxing matches. '^ ''And what fun did the boys have, uncle?'' asked Thornie. " They played at odd-or-even for almonds, drove bronze hoops jingling with little bells, 122 TEE TWO SICILIES. shouted over the game of • hot cockles, skipped oyster shells on the water, and got out of breath running after each other in blindman's buff.'^ ^'I didn't think that any of our plays were so old,^' said Thornie. '' Some of them are decidedly venerable as far as age is concerned,'' replied uncle. " But this double marriage brought something beside games after it. By and by, Dionysius resolved to reward Locri for giving and to punish Reggio for refusing him a wife. He marched against the Rhegines with so large a force that they saw it was useless to fight against him. and begged that he would grant them moderate terms." " ' Surrender to me all your ships of war, pay me three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, and place in my hands a hundred hostages, and I will leave you in peace,' replied the tyrant. " These hard Conditions were strictly complied with, and Dionysius pretended to be busily en- gaged in preparing to cross to his capital. He requested the Rhegines to supply him with provi-> sions for a short time, promising to replace them from Sicily. They did so cheerfully ; but finding he did not mean to leave Italy, they suspected treachery and refused to continue the loan. He then sent back the hostages, and laid si-ege to the city. Bitterly did the citizens mourn their vea- sels, seventy in number, and the corn, wine and oil of which they had permitted themselves to be COXQUJ^ST OF BEG 010. 123 robbed ; but they did not despair. The whole popu- lation armed. A careful watch was kept along the wall, and no chance for surprise was given the enemy. Dionysius soon found that starvation alone would compel a surrender ; so he drew his lines closely together, and permitted no human being to pass in or out. For eleven months the Rhegines starved and died within the walls. For eleven months Dionysius and his army waited without. Then the gates were opened to the tyrant, who en- tered in triumph. There was the citadel, but no sol- dier kept guard upon its towers. There were the temples, but no priest burned incense on their altars. There were the stately palaces, but no footstep echoed in their halls. Everywhere, in chamber, and court, and portico, lay the dead bodies of parents, brothers, sisters, old and young, rich and poor, which the feeble survivors were too weak to bury. Six thousand citizens just ready to perish crept through the streets begging for food, almost all of whom were sold into slavery. The great city, with its splendid buildings and fine territory, was given by Dionysius as a marriage present to Locri.^' "He was mean!'' exclaimed Thornie. ''He wasn't fair I He was a cheat and a liar ! Don't tell us any more about him, uncle." " What happened to the island after it was split up among those monsters, uncle ? " " Just what was to have been expected, Kate. When the great mass of the people were broken 124 THE TWO SICILIES. down by slavery, Marcellus, a brilliant general, conquered Sicily for the Romans." ^' Were they as cruel as the Carthag-inians were?" *' Not quite, perhaps, but they did not fall far behind those savage victors. They destroyed thousands and thousands of happy families, and sold lovely and accomplished women, and beauti- ful little children, for slaves, to the very men who had killed their true-hearted husbands and fathers. It was in the sack of Syracuse that the most famous of ancient mathematicians and mechani- cians lost his life." *' What was his name, uncle ? " asked Thornie. " His name was '' ARCHIMEDES, and he was born in Syracuse about two hundred and eighty-seven years before Christ." " Oh, I remember about him now," said Thor- nie. " He was the old fellow who leaped out of the bath and ran home shouting Eureka! Eu- reka! " '' Old fellow," repeated Maggie, reproachfully. " You are not very respectful, I think." " But you wouldn't have me call him the old gent., I suppose," returned Thornie, laughing heartily. " Of course not ; ' gent.' is vulgar." " So I imagine. Forgive me, and I will begin properly. King Hiero bought a crown, which by AnCHIMEDES. 125 the terms of the bargain should have been cf solid gold, but which he suspected had some silver in it. So he asked Archimedes to find out the truth. At first Archimedes did not know how to do this, and he was thinking very busily about it when he en- tered the bath. The tub happened to be full, and of course the water ran over the edge to just the ex- tent of the space which his body occupied. When he saw this, it occurred to him that he could determine the bulk of the crown by putting it into water, and so learn whether it were all gold or were part silver ; ana he was so overjoyed that he forgot everything else, and ran home, undressed as he was, to make the experiment/' "But I do not see now how he- was to learn about the purity of the crown," said Maggie. '' Silver is lighter than gold," replied uncle, "and therefore if the crown contained silver it would be larger than one of pure gold of the same weight. Archimedes could first try a piece of gold of the same weight as the crown, and then the crown itself. If the latter should dis- place more water than the former, it could not be solid gold." " That was ingenious," said Thornie. "Yes," answered uncle; "it is not surprising that his whole mind should have been occupied with the discovery. " When Syracuse was besieged by Marcellus, Archimedes exerted his utmost skill in its defence. He burned some of the Roman ships by means of 126 T3E TWO SICILIES. the sun'p rays, and others he either upset or filled with water by means of machinery. His inven- tions worked equally well upon the land side, and the Roman soldiers were so much alarmed by this new kind of warfare that if as much as a stick or rope were seen hanging from the walls they ran away crying, ' Archimedes I Archimedes I ^ Marcellus, however, obtained through treachery what he could not obtain by arms. A Spaniard opened one of the gates by night and admitted him to the city. Every house was sacked, every temple was robbed, every statue of value was put to sea i^ an open boat and were drifted to a desert island, where they lived in the manner of Eobinsoa CrU' Boe. — iV". Y. Com. A book of great interest, and one which will be a treat to any boy —'R'^i'yz Circle. The young will pore over its pages with almost enchanted interest. — Ti-^nZcripU A modern Robinson Crusoe story, without the dreary solitude of that lamens hecff It will amuse and instruct the young in no ordinary degree. — Southern Lit. Qazatte A story that bids fair to rival the far-famed Robinson Crusoe. We becom? as nuch Interested in the Max, Johnny, Arthur, and the rest of the goodly company, ps vC tka . Swiss Family Robinson. — Sartain's Magazine. , :HE AMERICAN STATESMAN; or, Illustrations of ^b Life and Character of Daniel. Webster, for the Entertsinment aa Instruction of American Youth. By the Rev. Joseph Baiv""ard, aa thor of " Plymouth and the Pilgrims," "Novelties of the New World,'> " Romance of American History," etc. With elegant Illustrations. 0©- A work of great interest, presenting a sketch of the most striking and impc/r- tant events which occurred in the history of the distinguished statesman, Daniel Webster, avoiding entirely all points of a political character ; holding up to view, fot the admiration and emulation of American youth, only his comtnendable traits of character. It is just such a work as every American patriot would wish his cliildreir to read and reflect upon. y^ CHAMBERS'S WORKS. CHAMBERS'S HOME BOOK AND POCKET MISCEL. LANY. Containing a Choice Selection of Interesting and Inst/uctivt Reading for the Old and the Young. Six vols. 16mo, cloth. This work is considered fully equal, if not superior, to either of the Chambers'f •ther works in interest, and, like them, contains a vast fund of valuable information. Following somewhat the plan of the "Miscellany," it is admirably adupted to th« school or the ftimily library, furnishing ample variety for every class of readers, both •Id and yoxug. We do not know how it is possible to publish so much good reading matter at such alow price. We speak a good word for the Uterary excellence of the stories in this work ; we hope our people will introduce it into all their families, in order to drive away tlie miserable flashy-trashy stuflT so often found in the hands of our young people of both sexes. — Scientific American, , Both an entertaining and instructive work, as it is a very cheap one. — Puritan Rec It cannot but have an extensive circulation. — Albany Express. Of all the series of cheap books, tliis promises to be the best — Bangor Mercury. If any person wishes to read for amusement or profit, to kill time or improve it, get " Chambers's Home Book." — Chicago Times. The Chambers are confessedly the best caterers for popular and useful reading in tlie world. — Willis's Home JournaL A very entertaining, instructive, and popular work. — iV". Y. Commercial, The articles are of that attractive sort which suits us in moods of indolence when we would linger half way between wakefulness and sleep. They require just thought and activity enough to keep our feet from the land of Nod, without forcing us to run, walk, or even stand. — Eclectic, Portland. It is just the thing to amuse a leisure hour, and at the same time combines instruc- tion with amusement. — Dover Inquirer. Messrs. Chambers, of Edinburgh, have become famous wherever the English lan- guage is spoken and read, for their interesting and instructive publications. They combine instruction with amusement, and throughout they breathe a spirit of the purest morality. — Chicago Tribune. CHAMBERS'S REPOSITORY OF INSTRUCTIVE AND AMUSING PAPERS. With Illustrations. An entirely New Series, containing Original Articles, p. 260, 16mo, cloth. The Messrs. Chambers have recently commenced the publication of this work, nn- «Ur the title of " Chambeks's Repositoet of Instructive and Amusinq Tracts," similar in style, etc., to the " Miscellany," which has maintained an enor- jBOus circulation of more than eighty thousand copies in England, and has already reached -nearly the same in this country. Arrangements have been made by the Anaerican publishers, to issue the work simultaneously with the English edition, a v^olume every two months, to continue until the whole series is completed. Eack volume complete in itself, and will be sold in sets or single volumes. t0- Commendatory Letters, Eeviews, Notices, &c., of each of Chambers's workf, sufficient to make a good sized duodecimo volume, have been received by the pub- lishers, but room here will only allow giving a specimen of the vast multitude at hand. They e Footprints of the Creator and tho Old Red Sandstone, because it is seasoned with the same power of vivid description, the same minuteness of observation, and soundness of criticism, and tixe same genial piety. We have read it with deep interest, and with ardent admiration of the ati- thor's temper and genius. It is almost impossible to lay the book down, even to at- tend to more pressing matters. It is, without compliment or hyperbole, a most de- lightful volume, — iV". Y. Commercial. This is a most amusing and instructive book, by a master hand. — Bern. Rev. The author of this work proved himself, in the Footprints of the Creator, one of the most original thinkers and powerful writers of the age. In the volume before us he adds new laurels to his reputation. Whoever wishes to understand the character of the present race of Englishmen, as contradistinguished frcni past generations ; to comprehend the workings of political, social, and religious agitation in the minds, not of the nobility or gentry, but of the people, will discover that, ia this volume, he hat found a treasure. --Pe 4 o>. 1^ -.^^ 0(7 ^^^^^ ? .f^ .-Jv" ^^ A v^-^ '^^ -^^ ^. ^' 1-^ ,0' .0' ^ L / • "^ Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. -. v t * -^T^ '' - ^^ Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide ("■ Treatment Date: DEC - 9001 C^ PreservationTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION (^ 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724)779-2111 o» ^ * A?^ '^ •©lis*