KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



269 



rent has fallen precipitously down the whole 

 height of the mountain-side, and in cooling 

 lias cracked and rent itself into a thousand 

 wild fantastic shapes, forming a great gulf of 

 inconceivable extent and depth. 



Why the pastoral name, "Val di bua" 

 (Valley, or tract of the Oxen) should be given 

 to such a place, I am at a loss to conceive. 

 Such an appellation is, however, quite in keep- 

 ing with the one which a strange conceit has 

 given to the black, desolate plain that on 

 three sides surrounds the Fiery Region, 

 namely, " Plana del Frumento " (the Plain 

 of Corn) — a ghastly mockery, like crowning 

 a skeleton with flowers. 



THE TOP OF ^ETXA. 



Never before had I felt such a deep, such 

 an awful sense of the power of the Almighty. 

 The contrast with the plains below reminded 

 me that 



He can create, and He destroy. 



I beheld a scene which no effort of imagi- 

 nation can presuppose, no powers of inven- 

 tion prepare the nerves to bear its exciting 

 effects unmoved. Nor was I surprised to 

 hear my friend, the doctor, who ultimately 

 reached the crater, when I was half-way down, 

 say that he could not refrain from tears, such 

 was his state of excitement. 



We stood on the edge of a precipitous 

 chasm, sharp and rugged as if the mountain 

 had just been rent asunder. The internal 

 surface, as far as the eye could penetrate, 

 consisted of a coating of sulphureous earth, 

 which seemed to be continually burning 

 without being consumed ; whilst through 

 innumerable fissures jets of flame darted up, 

 and played over the glowing mass, dazzling 

 the eye by the intense brightness and variety 

 of their coloring. 



The jagged irregular outline of the whole 

 crater is divided by a vast projecting wall of 

 rock, of most singularappearance, coated with 

 the deposit of the fumes which rise from the 

 great laboratory below. This sublimation, 

 being chiefly sulphur, appeared in every 

 shade of bright yellow, orange, and crimson, 

 as it glittered in the morning sunbeam. 

 Clouds of dense white vapor rose, from time 

 to time, from the innermost depths, with a 

 hissing, roaring sound like a mighty cataract. 

 The occasional intermission of the rising 

 clouds, which steamed forth from the great 

 gulf, afforded a partial glance of the lurid 

 fire raging in the internal abyss. All around, 

 as far as the eye could reach, within the 

 crater, huge masses of rock lay tumbled over 

 each other in chaotic confusion. Such an 

 appearance, when the volcano is in a quies- 

 cent state, cannot fail to impress a spectator 

 with a fearful idea of the inconceivable powers 

 set in operation when the pent-up fires burst 

 their bonds ; and through this chasm, which 



is said to be near three miles in extent, the 

 mountain hurls back the rocks buried within 

 it by the fury of some earlier commotion. 

 For myself I can only say, that the glorious 

 view from the dizzy height on the one side, 

 and on the other the bewildering noise, the 

 dazzling glare, and the sulphureous vapor, con- 

 curred to raise a mingled feeling of admira- 

 tion, awe, and terror. — P. 



LADY JUNE." 



BY ELIZA COOK. 



Here she comes with broideredkirtle, here she is — 



the Lady June, 

 Singing, like a ballad minstrel, many a gay and 



laughing tune. 

 Let us see what she is drest in — let us learn the 



" mocle " she bring — 

 For maiden never looked so lovely, though she 



wear but simple things. 

 See, her robe is richly woven of the greenest forest 



leaves, 

 With full bows of honeysuckle looping up the 



flowing sleeves ; 

 See, the fragrant marsh-flag plaited, forms her 



yellow tasselled sash, 

 With the diamond studs upon it, flung there by 



the river splash. 

 See her flounces — widely swelling, as the Zephyr's 



wings go past, 

 Made of roses, with the woodbine's perfumed 



thread to stitch them fast. 

 See the foxglove's bell of crimson, and the poppy's 



scarlet bud, 

 'Mid her tresses, bright and vivid as the sunset's 



ruby scud. 

 Seethe fresh and luscious bouquet that she scatters 



in her way, 

 It is nothing but a handful she has snatched of 



new-mown hay. 

 See, her garments have been fashioned by a free 



and simple hand, 

 But tell me, have you seen a lady look more beau- 

 tiful and grand? 

 Yon old man has quite forgotten what his errand 



was, I ween, 

 As he stares with listless pleasure on her garment- 

 folds of green. 

 Busy dealers pause a moment in their hurry after 



Thinking there is something joyous in her troll- 

 ing carol strain. 

 Youths and maidens track her closely, till their 



footsteps blithely mingle, 

 In the field and by the streamlet, up the hill and 



through the dingle. 

 Children fondly gather round her, prying into leaf 



and blossom, 

 Pilfering with tiny fingers, jewels from her very 



bosom. 

 Here she comes with fairy footsteps, chanting 



ever as she runs, 

 Ditty words that soothe the mournful, and enchant 



the happy ones. 

 Here she comes with broidered kirtle, and we'll 



list what Lady June 

 May be telling out so sweetly, in that merry 



dancing tune. 



