Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-09-17

had been blind, another owned but one
leg, one was born bald, another grey
another deaf. Another peculiarly
was, that the inheritance was transmit
ted from son to son; and never had there
been known more children to have been
born to any of them, than a single son
Messer Giovanni was more favoured in
personal appearance than most OF his
ancestors had been; for he was only
hump-backed, and from his earliest
wears, had walked with his body bend
ing to the earth, as ifwith age. Think
ing that the time had %arrived,in which
it was most suitable to provide an
heir for his castle and his gold;. and
fearful, if he delayed much longer, so
beautiful a family might be lost to the
world, he cast around his eyes upon the
neighbouring damsels, to select a lady
worthy Of so distinguished a lot. Fran
cesca, the eldest daughter OF a noble,
but impoverished knight, having the
fortune to please him, was, in spite OF
her remonstrances, if indeed the
thought ever occurred of consulting
her, happily installed mistress OF the
castle 1t was said that her father, in
addition to relieving himself from The
charge of her maintenance, stipulated
with Messer Giovanni, though terribly
against his will, that, as his FIVE other
daughters successfully grew up, Mes
ser Giovanni should receive them as
companions 10 his wife, until they, in
like manner, could be advantageously
disposed of. There was, as may be i'm
agined, great rejoicing at this happy
event. The gates of the castle we're
thrown open to all corners, and tables
were spread in handsome order, TO re-
ceive the provisions OF those who had
had foresight enough to bring them
from their houses. There was, how
ever, no lack of dancing, as two va
grant MINISTRIES performed for their
lodgings. The poor bride soon found
that she had but little share in the Joy
of the OCCASION; for hardly was the we'd
ding celebrated, before the hump-back-
cd husband became SO intolerably jcai-
ous, that he would hardly let her Tor a
moment quit his sight. The castle was
carefully examined, to see that no am
youth had thrust himself in to
interrupt the matrimonial felicity OF
Messer Giovanni In this can hard.
ly blame him; for Francesca was young
and beautiful, hated her spouse in two
DAYS as cordially as it she had been
married to him twenty years, and had a
heart naturally too tender to kill by
herfrowns a well-made and gallant suit
or. After she had lived in this man
ner for a month, she formed such a res
~olution as most other ladies in her Sit
uation would do, to take the first favour
able opportunity to bid adieu TO the
Castle Of Beauty, as it had been named
by the neighbours One day as she was
brooding over the unpleasantness OF
her abode, and was strengthening her.
selfin her determination to leave the
castle without bestowing on 1t an heir,
her meditations were interrupted by her
husbands giving her the not unpleas-
ing intelligence that that morning bust
ness would oblige him to spend out OF
her society,", and, as he spoke, he left the
apartment. Rejoiced at her release,
and at the prospect ofnot being tor.
men,ed for the day by the presence OF
the odious Messer Giovanni, she ran in
great glee, TO a window Of the castle
which looked towards the road. She
gradually watched the hump OF her
husband receding, till ii departed from
her view; bit. imagine her transport
when she perceived advancing to the
castle three minstrels, bearing their
harpsi in their hands. She shouted tol
low, and ran out of the castle to wei
come and invite them in. They enter
ed. singing the praises Of hospitality
and promising many a lay, in requita
for generous treatment. AS they pas
scd before her, she almost shrieked-
they were all hump-backed. She rub
bed her eyes,, thinking there must b.
some delusion, or that The daily con
.emplation' of her husbands want o
symmetry had destroyed her percep
ton of ii altogether-but in vain, the,
were still hump-backed. Francesca
however, soon forgot their deforml'y
in listening to their enchanting lays @
tournaments end love courts, in witnes
sing their tricks of hand, or gracefu
gestures; as they recited animated Ola
~loeues, and already meditated the rob
berry Of her husbands boards, genel
ously to recompence them, when, acct
de ntally lifting her eyes to the window
she saw the object other fears rapid
approaching. What can she do:-wher
shall she conceal the wandering bard'
He is quickly coming-somethin
must be done, and all her womanly II
genui,y is put in requisition to ASST:
her Luckily, in an adjoining apar
mcnt stood three large jars, usual
filled with oil, but then empty, whlc
she thought c~apacious enough, by