236 Mine Host’s Second Story. [Szpr. 
some sort able to return the service of life by due offices and affection- 
ate care ;—when it has ceased to be propped, and may now become a 
staff ;— when its childish inferiority has given way to an equal and com- 
panionable faculty ;—the future friend—the sympathizing counsellor— 
the sweet companion—all, all is lost! and what remains is a cold, out~ 
ward figure of a dear idol, with an estranged or divided heart, and an 
allegiance broken entirely off, saving one or two slight bonds of reluc- 
tant and dubious attachment! I speak with fervour, Sir; for I have sate 
in a circle from which one, the gem, the most precious gem had gone ! 
Ihave seen the puppet hurrying with heartless tears from her paternal 
threshold, which she cared not again to recross ;—I have seen the whole 
arrears of gratitude for such deeds of fatherly fondness swept off and 
unremembered in the gratification of a woman’s vanity.—But this is not 
to the purpose. 
« As I said before, Rosalia’s marriage was cheerful as May-time. I 
well remember the very room, and the position of the bridal guests. At 
one end sate the young couple, glancing at each other with smiles no 
longer furtive—each adorned in the country fashion, as their rank 
allowed :—her dark hair drawn and tied back by ribbons and a silver 
spatella ; a rose-coloured satin boddice was half concealed by a loose 
silk handkerchief thrown over her neck and bosom; the outer striped 
silk petticoat festooned up by means of ribbons even as high as the knee, 
to disclose the under and more ornamented one of richly-coloured cloth. 
Her spouse appeared in blue velvet, with a red silk sash, and a famous 
glitter of those worked silver buttons, which you may have observed 
frequently on the waistcoats of our lower orders: they are the hereditary 
wealth of the rustics, and treasured for many generations. In all this 
finery were the two principals of the ceremony attired. Then came the 
bridegroom’s mother, with a basket on her arm, which was soon to be 
filled with no insufficient portion for the young couple. Some of the 
guests presented rings; others, as their fancy or judgment dictated, 
added other little gifts of use or ornament—ribbons, shoes, combs, a 
shawl, and the like. Then the whole measure was transferred by her to 
her children, with much comment and admiration of each article, as one 
by one they were produced. Nor was this all. The good mother pre- 
sently replenished her baskets, as is our custom, partly with toasted ciceri, 
partly with comfits and sugar-plums, which were distributed to the guests. 
What healths and good wishes then followed, as the sturdy attendant 
brought round the great jar, so well stored with the best lachryme ! 
And then how lustily we commenced the tarantulla, and footed it away 
to a merry song—not yet releasing the married pair, who no doubt 
longed for the dissolution of our party! But, alas! that party, so fes- 
tive, so careless, was not to be broken up ina spirit of gaiety! This 
happy scene became embittered by very different events; and many a 
heavy heart vented its emotions in a sigh, where a laugh and a joke had 
served the purpose so recently.—But you shall hear. 
“ T should remind you that, at that period, the island was under the 
protection of your country. Lord William Bentinck, as far as my 
memory will serve, was the commander of your forces, and his vigilance 
in his office is well known. His troops were stationed at different forti- 
fied posts all over the island, and, by constant intermingling with the 
natives, had become tolerably well known even individually to us. On 
this evening, as the gay doings were proceeding, and the male visitors 
