Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-07-15

The following affecting and delicate story, told
by CoLERIDGE, in his Six Months in the W. In
dies, will be read with interest, by all who are
fond oftbose affecting and tender efusons, which
emauate from the heart Of the humane and sympa-
thetc. 1t is a tale of truth fiction is not moulded
in its formaton-and as such we submit it TO the
perusal of our fair friends
Reader, if you whim, or your necessities
should lead you to Madeira, 60, for my
sake, to the nunncry Of Santa Clara 1t is
at the western end of Funchal, and you
may buy there the prettiest flowers for your
sweetheart's hair, and the most ingenious
toys in wax that are in the world. The
nuns sell them very cheap, and all they get
from you goes in real charity to themselves,
or their pensioners. Perhaps, also, you
may see poor Maria, if she be not dead /;
if she comes, speak to her very kindly,
and give my love to her; but you do not
know me, or poor Maria either.
Maria Clementina, the youngest child of
Pedro Agostinho, was horn in Maderia.-
Her parents had an unusually large family,
and were laboring under Some embarrass-
ment. from the uniavorablc termination
Of an important lawsuit What unfortu-
nate event coincided with her birth know
not, but Maria was disliked by her father
and mother from the first years of her in
fancy. Her brothers neglected, in obedi-
ence to their parents and her sisters, who
were ugly, hated her for her beauty
Every one else in Funchal and the neigh
bourhood, loved her and she had many Of
fers of marriage at thirteen years of age !;
which the little maiden laughed at, and
forwarded to her elder sisters. The more
she was petted abroad, the more was she
prosecuted at home She was treated at
length like Cinderella, with no chance of
fairy to help her. Amongst other ar
rangements for the purchase Of commits
sons for his two sons, and for giving por-
tions to two of his daughters, Angostinho
determined to sacrifice his best and sweet
est child, Maria. AT eighteen she was
placed as novice in this nunnery at nine
teen she took the veil, and renounced the
world forever. At this time she was the
most beautiful girl in the island and what
is remarkable in Portuguese, Of fair
complexion, with brilliant color, blue
eyes, and very long and glossy brown hair.
A year after this, the constitutional GO
vernment was established in Portugal
and one of the first and wisest acts of the
Cortes was to order the doors of all reli-
gious houses to be thrown open. Santa
Clara was visited by friends and strangers,
some to see the Church and some to
see the Nuns Amongst others a Por-
tuguese officer, at that time quartered in
Funchal, saw and fell in love with Maria,
he was handsome youth of good fami-
ly, and Maria returned his love with an
earnestness which perhaps had as much
desire of liberty as female passion in it.
A nun is emancipatcd from her parents,
and the law declared the vow of celibacy
null and void. The marriage was deter
mined on, her hair permitted to grow a
gain, her clothes prepared, and the we'd
ding day fixed. Maria fell i'll and the ply
sicians enjoined perfect quiet for some
time. The wedding was fatally postponed
to another day; and before that day arri-
we'd, his faithful majesty had dissolved his
parliament, and fearful lest heaven should
lose one more of its fair daughters, had re-
voked the law ofthe Cortes, and despatch
ed an express to notify as much to his
subjects in Madeira. Maria rose from her
bed of sickness to return to her cell and
her rosary; her lengthening ringlets were
again merciIessly shorn; the mob cap, the
leathern corset, the serge gown, were laid
before her; and some old Egyptians, who
could not better themselves elsewhere,
bade her return thanks to God, that she
had so narrowly escaped mixing again in
the vanities ofthe world
On the fifth Of January, few hours be-
fore we sailed from Madeira, walked
with a handsome and very agreeable En-
gish woman to visit Santa Clara. was
very anxious to see Maria, whose story
knew. After little hesitation on the part
oftwo or three venerable ladies', who first
presented themselves at the great door OF
the house, Maria was summoned. She
came to us with smiling countenance,
and kissed my companion repeatedly
Her color was gone, but she was still beau
tifiIllv fair and fhe eyouisife ehane of her