left of the square old convent tower, rising 
there out of the silver olive boughs—a tum¬ 
ble down sort of villa, with a flat roof and 
odd angles and parapets, ill the midst of a 
thrifty but small grove of lemons and 
oranges. They were poor enough, or would 
be in any country where physical wants are 
greater than here, and yet did not belong to 
that lowest class, the young girls of which 
are little more than beasts of burden, accus¬ 
tomed to act as porters, bearing about on 
their beads great loads of stone, wood, water, 
and baskets of oranges in the shipping sea¬ 
son. She could not have been forced to 
such labor, or she never would have bad the 
time to work that wonderful coverlet. 
Giuseppe was an honest and rather hand¬ 
some young fellow of Sorrento, industrious 
and good-natured, who did not bother Ids 
head much about learning. He was, how¬ 
ever, a skillful workman in the celebrated 
inlaid and mosaic wood work of the place, 
and, it is said, hud even invented some new 
figures for the inlaid pictures in colored 
tvoods. lie had a little fancy for the sea as 
well, and liked to pull an oar over to Capri 
on occasion, hy which he could earn a lew 
francs easier than he could saw them out. of 
the orange-wood. For the stupid fellow, 
who could not read a word in his prayer* 
hook, had an idea of thrift in Ids head, and 
already, I suspect, was laying up liras with 
an object. There arc one or two dam lies in 
Sorrento who attempt to dress as they do in 
Naples. Giuseppe was not one of these; 
hut there was not a gayer or handsomer 
gallant than he on Sunday, or one more 
looked at by the Sorrento girls, when be bad 
on Ills clean suit and bis fresh red Phrygian 
Cap. At least the good Fiametta though i so, 
when she met him at church, though 1 feel 
sure she did not allow even bis handsome 
figure to come between her and the Virgin. 
At. any rate, there can be no doubt of her 
sentiment after church, when she and her 
mother used to walk with him, along the 
winding Massa road above the sea, and stroll 
down to the shore to sit on the green sward 
over the Temple of Hercules, or the Roman 
Jlath, or the remains of the villa of C. Ful- 
vius CunclAlus Codes, or whatever those 
ruins subterranean are, there on the Capodi 
Sorrento. Of course, this is mere conjecture 
of mine. They may have gone on the hills 
behind the town instead, or they may have 
stood leaning over the garden wall of her 
mother’s little villa, looking at the passers- 
by in the deep lane, thinking about nothing 
in the world, and talking about it all the 
sunny afternoon, until Ischia was purple 
with the last light, and the olive terraces be¬ 
hind them began to lose their gray bloom. 
All I do know is, that they were in love, 
blossoming out in it as the almond-trees do 
here in February; and that all the town 
knew it, and saw a wedding in the future, 
just as plain as you can see Capri from the 
bights above the town. 
It was at this time that the wonderful 
counterpane began to grow, to the continual 
astonishment of Giuseppe, to whom it seemed 
a marvel of skill and patience; and who saw 
what love and sweet hope Fiametta was 
knitting into it with her deft lingers. 1 de¬ 
clare, as I think of it, the white cotton spread 
out on her knees, in such contrast to the 
rich olive of her complexion and her black, 
shiny luiir, while she knits away so merrily, 
glancing up occasionally with those liquid, 
laughing eyes to Giuseppe, who is watching 
her as if slid were an angel right out of the 
blue sky, I am templed not. to tell this story 
furl her, but to leave the luippy two there at 
the open gate of life, and to believe that they 
entered in. 
This was about the lime of the change of 
Government, after ibis region bad come to 
be a part of the Kingdom of Italy. After 
the first exeite.me.nl was over, and the simple 
people found lhey were not all made rich, nor 
raised to a condition in which they could 
live without work, there began to be some 
dissatisfaction. Why the convents need 
have been suppressed, ami especially the 
poor nuns packed off, they couldn't, see; 
iiml then the laxes were heavier than ever 
before; instead of being supported by the 
Government, they bad to support, it; and 
worst of all, the able young fellows must still 
go for soldiers. Just as one was learning bis 
trade, or perhaps bad acquired it, and was 
ready to earn bis living and beginning to 
make a home for his wife, he must pass the 
there best years of his life in the army. The 
conscription was relentless. 
The time came to Giuseppe, as it did to 
the others. 1 never heat'd but bo was brave 
enough; there was no storm on the Medi¬ 
terranean that be dare not face in Ids little 
boat; and be would not have objected to a 
campaign with the red sbirls of Garibaldi. 
But to be torn away from his occupations by 
which be was daily laying aside a little for 
himself ami Fiametta, and to leave her for 
three years,—that seemed dreadful to him. 
Three years is a. long time; and, though lie 
had no doubt of the prcliy Fiametta, yet 
women are women, said the shrewd fellow 
to himself', and who knows what might hap¬ 
pen, if a gallant came along who could read 
and write, as Fiametta could, and, besides, 
could play the guitar? 
The result was, that Guiscppe did not 
appear at the mustering offlee on the day 
set; and, when the file of soldiers came for 
him, be was nowhere to be found, lie bad 
fled to the mountains. I scarcely know what 
bis plan was, but. lie probably trusted to 
some good luck to escape the conscription 
altogether, if he could shun it now ; and, at 
least, 1 know that lie had many com ratio* 
who did the same, so that at limes the 
mountains were full of young fellows who 
were lurking in them to escape the soldiers. 
And they fared very roughly, usually, and 
sometimes nearly perished from hunger; for 
though the sympathies of the peasants were 
undoubtedly with the quasi outlaws rather 
than with the carabineers, yet the latter 
were at every hamlet ill the bills, and liable 
to visit every but,so that any relief extended 
to the fugitives was attended with great 
danger; and besides, the hunted men did 
not dare to venture from their retreats, 
'rims outlawed and driven to desperation by 
hunger, these fugitives, whom nobody can 
defend for running away from their duties 
as citizens, became brigands. A cynical 
German, who was taken by them some years 
ago on the road to Caslcllamnre, a few miles 
above here, and'held for lansom, declared 
that they were the most honest fellows he 
bud seen in Italy ; but I never could see that 
be intended the remark as any compliment 
to them. it. is certain that the inhabitants 
of all these towns bold very loose ideas on 
the subject of brigandage; “the poor fel¬ 
lows,” they used to say, “ only robbed be¬ 
cause they were hungry, and they must live 
somehow.” 
What Fiametta thought, down in her 
heart, is not told ; hut 1 presume she shared 
the feelings of those about her concerning 
the brigands, and when she beard that 
Giuseppe bad joined them, was more anxious 
for the safely of bis body than of Ids soul; 
though I warrant she did not forget either 
in her prayers to the Virgin and St, Antonio, 
And yet those must have been days, weeks, 
months of terrible anxiety to the poor child ; 
and il she worked away at. the counterpane, 
netting in that elaborate border, as 1 have 
no doubt, she did, it must have been with a 
sad heart and doubtful fingers. 1 think that 
one of the psychological sensitives could 
distinguish the parts of the bed spread that, 
were knit in the sunny days from those knit 
in the long hours of care and deepening 
anxiety. 
It. was rarely that she received any mes¬ 
sage from him, and it was then only verbal 
and of the briefest; be was in the moun¬ 
tains above Amalfi; one day lie hud come 
so far round as the top of the great St. 
Angelo, from which bo could look down 
upon the jrians of Sorrento, where the little 
Fiametta was; or lie had been on the bills 
near Salerno, bunted and hungry; or bis 
company had descended upon some travel¬ 
ers going toPfflstum, made a successful haul, 
and escaped into the sleep mountains be¬ 
yond. lie didn’t intend to become a regu¬ 
lar bandit, not at all. He hoped that some¬ 
thing might happen so that lie could steal 
back into Sorrento, unmarked by the Gov¬ 
ernment; or, at least, that he could escape 
away to some other country or island, where 
Fiametta could jam him. Did she love him 
yet, as in the old, happy days? As for him, 
she was now everything to him, mid he 
would willingly serve three or thirty years 
in the army if the Government could forget 
lie bad been a brigand and permit him to 
have a little home with Fiametta at. the end 
of the probation. There was not much com¬ 
fort. in all this, but the simple fellow could 
not send anything more cheerful; and 1 
think it used to feed the little maiden’s 
heart to bear from him, even in this down¬ 
cast mood, for his love for her was a dear 
certainty, and his absence and wild life did 
not dim it. 
My informant does not know bow long 
this painful life went on, nor does it matter 
much. There came a day when the Govern¬ 
ment, was shamed into now vigor against 
the brigands. Some English people of con¬ 
sequence (the German of whom I have 
spoken was with them) bad been captured, 
and it, bad cost thorn a heavy ransom. The 
number of the carbineers was quadrupled in 
the infested districts, soldiers penetrated the 
fastnesses of the bills, there were daily lights 
with the banditti; and, to show that ibis 
was no sham, some of them were actually 
shot, and others were taken and thrown into 
prison Among those who were not afraid 
to stand mid fight, and who would not be 
captured, was our Giuseppe. One (lay tlm 
lUiiin newspaper, of Naples, bad an Account, 
of a fight, with brigands; and in the list of 
those who fell was the name of Giuseppe 
-, of Sorrento, shot through the bead, ns 
be ought to have been, and buried without 
funeral among the rocks. 
This was all. But when the news was read 
in the lit tle post-office in Sorrento, it seemed 
a great d.nil more than it does as I write it; 
fur, if Giuseppe bad an enemy in the village, 
it was not among the people, and not one 
who beard the news did not think at once 
of the poor girl to whom it would be more lion was stayed at the foot of Esquibc, by ^ - V) s* rv 
than a bullet through the heart. And so it pulling down an immense quantity of build- tTv.UltTl) jtifttUlliy* 
was. The slender hope of her life then ings, so that an open space, and as it were, _ 
went out. I am told that there was little void air, might check the raging element by r - --—-- 
change outwardly, and that she wa 3 as breaking the continuity. NOT KNOWING. 
lovclv as before: but a great cloud of sad- But ere the consternation had subsided .T... ron banes a mist 
ness came over her, m which she was the lire broke out afresh, with no little vio- o’er my eyes. 
always enveloped, whether she sat at home, lence, but in regions more spacious, and Ana so each step in my onward path ne makes new 
or walked abroad in the places where she therefore with less destruction of human And overjoy blonds mo.coyms as a strange and 
and Giuseppe used to wander. The simple life, but more extensive havoc was made of sweet surprise. 
people respected her grief,and always made the temples and porticos dedicated to amuse- ^ ^ ^ fltop boforo rae „ 8 i trend on another 
a tender-hearted stillness when the bereft ment. * Nero seemed to aim at the yenr 
little maiden went through the streets,—a glory of building a new city, and calling it Bat the past is still in Gop's keeping, the future His 
NOT KNOWING. 
I know not what shall befall me. Gou hangs a mist 
stillness which she never noticed, for she by bis own name; for of the fourteen sec- And in the distance may brighten 
drink. 
Or if Murnh must be Marith. Uo will stand beside Us 
brink. 
never noticed anything apparently. The turns, into which Rome is divided, four wer c as I draw near, 
bishop himself when he walked abroad still standing entire, three were leveled with Fo rhllp8 lIl0 drcttflod future has less bitter than 
could not be treated with more respect. the ground, and in the seven others there , Ullll it, 
This was all the story of the sweet Fia- remained only here and there a few rein- The Loan may sweeten the waters before 1 stoop to 
metta that was confided tome. And after- mints of houses, shattered and halt con- qj. Mumii must be Marith, lie will stand beside its 
wards, as I recalled her pensive face that Burned. It were no very easy task to re- brink. 
evening as she kneeled at vespers, I could count the number of tenements and temples M m . iy , H . Ho hM wnttod for t |, e coming of my feet, 
not say whether, after all, she was alto- which were hist, but the following, most g onie R irt, of mi eh rare blessedness, some joy so 
«> <* «'• '»"y koluUon <* ' y T"?’ t 7 ... 
her grief, which I am sure sanctified her, consumed:—That dedicated by Seivius Lid- they cannot speak. 
and, in some sort, made her life complete. 1 i us to the moon ; the temple and great altar , , 
For I lake it that life, even in this sunny consecrated by Evandcr, the Arcadio, to ' ' 8S " K " onincc - 
It may lie lie has watted for the coming of my feet. 
Some gift- of such rare blessedness, some joy so 
strangely sweet, 
That my lips shall only trcmblo with tlie thanks 
they cannot speak. 
For I lake it that life, even in this sunny 
Sorrento, is not alone a matter of time. 
THE BURNING OF ROME. 
The CJrcniesi G'outlu unit ion of History, 
As everything connected with great fires 
lias a peculiar interest at the present time, 
we reproduce the narrative of ihe historian 
Tacitus concerning the conflagration which 
occurred at Rome, A. D., 64. : 
There followed a dreadful disaster— 
whether fortuitously, or by the wicked con¬ 
trivance of the l’riucc (Nero), is not deter 
mined, for both are asserted by historians— 
but of all the calamities which ever bel'el 
Ibis city from the rage of lire, this was the 
most terrible and severe. It broke out in 
that pai l of llm Circus which is contiguous 
to Mounts Palatine and Godins, whore, by 
reason of simps in which were kept such 
goods as minisTcr aliment to fire, the mo¬ 
ment it commenced it acquired strength, and 
being accelerated by the wind, it spread itt 
once through (lie whole extent of the Cir¬ 
cus; for neither were the houses secured by 
inclosures or the temples environed with 
walls, nor was there any other obstacle to 
intercept its progress; but the flames spread¬ 
ing every way impetuously, invaded first 
the lower regions of llm city, then mounted 
to the higher ; then again ravaging the low¬ 
er, it battled ee-try eti* 1 ' to extinguish it by 
the rapidity of its destructive course, and 
from the liability of the city to conflugra- 
Ilerculca while present; the chapel vowed 
by Romulus to Jupiter Stator; the palace 
of Numa, with the temple of Vesta, and in 
it the tutelar gods Of Rome; moreover the 
treasures accumulated by* so many victories, 
ihe beautiful productions of Greek artists, 
ancient writings of authors celebrated for 
genius, and till then preserved entire, were 
consumed ; and though great was the beauty 
Oh, useful, blissful Ignorance! 'Tls blessed not to 
know, 
It keeps me so still in those arms which wilt not let 
mo go. 
And hushes my soul to rest in the bosom that loves 
So T go on. not knowing ; I would not If I might, 
I would rather walk in the dark with GOO than go 
alone In the light. 
I would rather walk with Him by faith than walk 
alone by sight. 
My heart shrinks hack from the trials which tho 
future may disclose, 
Of the city in its renovated form, the older Yet I never had a sorrow but wlmt the dear I.oiti) 
inhabitants remembered many decorations 
of the ancient which could not bo leplacecl 
in the modern city. 
chose. 
So I send tho coming tears back with the whispered 
word "He knows.” 
THE HABIT OF DEFAMING. 
MACHINE PRAYERS. 
Ik 1 here is one human fault more common 
than another, it is that of reflecting upon 
people behind their backs. Every variety 
of defamer is everywhere found, from Ihe 
malignant calumniator, who libels with poi¬ 
soned tongue, to the careless gnssiper who 
habitually talks about and criticises others. 
“ There are some |x.*rsoiiB," wrote Woi.i.as- 
ton in his Religion of Nature, “ wlm carry 
their stories from family l<> family and prop¬ 
agate them very fast, like little insects. 
There are few, very few, who have the will 
and the ability to represent things truly.” 
“The same man,” says Arthur IIEI.P8, 
“who would be ashamed of talking at haz¬ 
ard about the properties of a flower, of a 
weed, of some figure in geometry, will put 
forth his guesses about the character of bis 
brother man us if he had the fullest authOli- 
iion in consequence of the narrow and intri- unuuer man us n ne mm me im.est m.ium 
cate alleys and the irregularity of the streets lor u ** lbat lie "'ay saying. Oiten an 
in ancient Rome. entire neighborhood is prejudiced in advance 
Add to this the wailings of terrified against a new comer by some sim which an 
women, the infirm condition of the aged, acquaintance has let drop. W b<» is there 
We know a man who conducts family 
worship as he winds up his dock, lie closes 
t he Bible with a slam, hurries through I he 
hymn, if he stops to sing one, and closes his 
stereotyped prayer as nbmpily as did 
Oi.ivek DitsON liis blessing. Sm li machine 
worship as this, is unquestionably offensive 
rather than pleasing in the sight of God. 
We may be sure that If we do not lake time 
to ask the Almighty for llis blessings, lie 
will not shower them upon us. “Genuine 
prayer,” as the poet ban expressed il, is “the 
soul’s sincere desire;” the sublime strain 
which reaches the Majesty on high. Wo 
may, however, mumble with our lips when 
the heart is on other tilings, ami we sliall 
never reach Ihe Almighty's ear. 
Arthur IIBfiPS lias smielhing in bis 
last, volume of “ Essays” on ibis subject, 
which heeommends to every reader. “ Flay¬ 
er,” be says, “ is a constant source of invig- 
oration to sell' discipline ; not the thought¬ 
less praying, which is a tiling of custom, 
but that which is sincere, intense, watchful. 
Let a man ask himself whether he really 
would have the thing he prays for; let him 
think, while lie is praying for a spirit of for¬ 
mal the helplessness of childhood; such us dial lias not cxpei ienced the injustice o a ^ u „ mn us | { himself whether lie really 
si rove to provide for themselves, and those remark made in anger or envy . would have the thing be prays for; let him 
who labored to assist others; those dragging _ The habit of criticising grows on w la it (ljj . w , (i , c , 1U j g praying for u. spirit of (br¬ 
ibe feeble, those waiting for them; some feeds upon,until those who yield to it no „- IvCuesg w i, C Lhot* even at that moment lie 
hurrying, olliers lingering; altogether crea- (infrequently become confirmed railers or jg ^posed to give up the luxury of anger, 
ted a scene of universal confusion and cm- back-biters. From force of burnt they look uot w ] m t a horrible mockery it is? To 
barrassment; and while they looked back for the faults and flaws of oi here, and seem- llli||k tllllt a uian C an find nothing better to 
upon the danger in their rear they often ingly take satisfaction in detecting am ex- ^ Su the presence of Ins Creator, than tell- 
foimd themselves beset before and on their posiug them. Did it ever occur to you, ’ so nm „ y words ? alone with bis God 
sides; or if they had escaped into the quar* reader, to keep an account lor a single day ^ aU his lask like a chl | (li lunging 
lers adioinimr. these too. were already of the many persons you have spoken against, . . ,. . * , to its 
barrassment; and while they looked back 
upon the danger in their rear they often 
found themselves beset before and on their 
sides; or if they bad escaped into the quar* 
,o co " fl ™7? "I"™ " to dUpoMllo glv. m> Clio fernery .>1 linger, 
force of Inline U.ey Ionic w|lllt Aombfe mocUwy it To 
;tws of others, and seem- „... . .. i in 
(ere adjoining, these too, were already ot the many persons you nau. spoken against, 
seized by the devouring flames; even the justly or unjustly ! 
parts which they believed remote and ex- Generally speaking, the individual whom 
think that a man can find nothing better to 
do, in the presence of bis Creator, than tell¬ 
ing off so many words? alone with his God 
and repealing his task like a child, longing 
to get rid of it, and indifferent to its 
meaning!” 
ompt were, found to be in Ihe same distress. 
At length, not knowing what to Blum, or 
where to seek sanctuary, they crowded the 
streets and lay along the open fields. Some 
from tiie loss of their whole substance, even 
the means of their daily sustenance, others 
from affliction for tlieir relations, whom 
they bad not linen aide to snatch from the 
flames, suffered themselves to perish in 
them, though they had opportunities for 
escape. Neither dared any man attempt to 
check the lire, so repeated were the menaces 
Of many who forbade to extinguish it, and 
because olliers openly threw firebrands with 
loud declarations “ that they bad one who 
Authorized them ;” whether they did it that 
they might plunder with the less restraint, or 
in consequence of orders given. 
Nero, who was at the juncture sojourning 
at Antium, did not return to the city till the 
fire approached that quarter of bis bouse 
which connected the palace with the gur- 
everybody likes is the one who speaks kindly 
of everybody, who instead of retailing scan¬ 
dal or unpleasant fuels concerning persons, 
always has a good word or keeps quiet. 
" He never says any tiling against any one.” 
“ He was never known to breathe a word 
against a soul,” are remarks which wo Occas¬ 
ionally bear made of persons. We have 
two such acquaintances now in mind, and 
we never witness the cordiality with which 
they are everywhere received, without 
thinking that it pays to keep a bridled 
longue. 
BE AT PEACE WITH YOURSELF. 
Wherever you have life in the world, 
you have, as far as we can discern, a sufii- 
oiency of adverse circumstances surround¬ 
ing the living being, to occupy its whole 
attention, without leaving any spare time 
for the play of its own bad passions. Take 
the case of man. He appears to be too 
good for tho place he occupies, and also, at 
the same time not good enough. By “ loo 
good," I mean too refined, too sensitive, too 
soft, too requiring for the hat'd and coarse 
(suppose you resolve at tho beginning of (jjruyiustuiiccs hy which he is surrounded. 
. .. . -it... -i . . .1 .» ** 
the week, that you will not make an unkind 
remark against any one; that though this 
or that may be true, you will not repeat it; 
depend upon il, you will be happier when 
next Sunday comes round, for even having 
made the resolution, though you have not 
At. tile same time be is not good enough; 
for, having these difficulties to contend with 
it seems as if lie ought to have very few 
malignant passions, in order to combat 
favorably with these coarse and bard cir¬ 
cumstances. For instance, to nourish and 
maintain bis bodily powers, is an enormous 
111 .llllllllll, UIVI UWV ICttllU »-»/ U4V VH » Vllt IIIV . ,, , . .. .. .11 -—- 
fire approached that quarter of his house ' vho1 k ‘‘ 1>l *'• But a, J er ^ t,n ) 1 ' V1 maintain his bodily powers, is an enormous 
which connected the palace will, the gar- be ' lbl ° carrv . i . t mu ; Tho h f n ,. of ‘ c * work for him. To dJ* well, he ought not 
dens of Maecenas; nor could it, however, be st.ami ami mauiiaiunigsilenceuil to have bad any quarrelsomeness in him; 
prevented from devouring the house and ]y beco ‘» e firmed, so thatfor, though he sees it not, lie has really no 
palace and everything around. But for the yo,,r flmg y heu olherS aie p hng 1 coi c * a spare moment for quarrelling. And that 
1 * characters to pieces. - • • *■* •> - -»..«i. 
relief of the people thus destitute and driven 
from their dwellings, he opened the field of 
Mars and the monumental edifices erected 
by Agrippa, and even bis own gardens. He 
likewise reared temporary houses for the re- 
A COSMOPOLITAN DISH. 
so many of his kind are now living in such 
loathsome squalidily is probably owing, 
could we trace it up, to man’s quarrelsome* 
Prof. TiEfdbsken, a Vatel of Germany, 
wishes to convoke a universal congress for 
ceplion of the forlorn multitude, and from the concoction of a cosmopolitan dish, which 
Ostia and the nuighhoriug cities were brought sliall be conceded by all peoples as the most 
up the river household necessaries, and the exquisitely perfect food. Tills will put an 
(nice of grain was reduced to three sesterces end to questions of supremacy in matters of 
the measure. All of which proceedings, 
though of a popular character, was thrown 
away, because a rumor bad become univer¬ 
sally current, that at the very time when the 
city was in flames, Nero, going on the stage 
the palate; as for instance, the rat steak of 
the Chinese, the saner kraut of the Germans, 
the Italian macc:)toni, uiidlhc missionary 
cutlet of the Sandwich Islander. The idea 
contains the germ of an indissoluble link 
between the nations. What says the lnler- 
of bis private theater,sang the “ Destruction between the nations. What says tin 
of Troy,” assimilat ing the present disaster to national t—.Exchange. 
that catastrophe of ancient, times. —- +++■ - 
At. length on the sixth day the couflugra- Be just before you arc generous, 
Doubtless the Ichthyosaurus could have 
made the same complaint. In the vast 
lagoons of a primeval world, be bad, uo 
doubt, sufficient difficulty in gaining bis 
livelihood, without being bothered with 
troublesome quarrels with other lehthyosau- 
lians. It was quite enough to have to 
guard against, and contend with, the espe¬ 
cial enemies of bis race. And each race of 
beings seems 10 be blessed with these espe¬ 
cial enemies .—Arthur Helps. 
He bath riches sufficient who bath cnom 
to be charitable. 
■u 3 
I 
-artto-O-- 
