Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-05-14
FROM THE PHILADELPHIA ALBUM.
SELICO. OR LOVE AND DUTY.
Translated from the French.

a
Not far from the city of Sabir, which is the
capitol of Juida, situated on the coast OF Guinea
In 1927 resided a poor widow named DHlna.
She was the mother of three sons, whom she had
brought ND with tenderness rarely exercised IN
these climates, where children are rather regarded
as objects Of commerce and sold as slaves by then
unnatural parents, than as their own legitimate Off
sprino. The eldest of these sons was named Gu
berthe second Ielone and the youngest SelIco.
They were amiable and intelligent, and hllaly a.
dored their good mother who already old and IN
firm continued to live only through their cares.
The wealth of this family consisted of a cabin and
small contiguous field appropriated to the cultva-
ton ofmaze whichwas their principle sustennce.
With the return of each morning one OF the
brothers went TO the chase another titled the
ground. and the third remained with the aged Da-
rina. In the evening they all reassembled at their
cabin. The hunter displayed the game he had
obtained the agrculurist produced the fruits ofhls
toll. and he who remained to protect his mother,
had also in the meantime provided the evenings
renast. They all supped together, and the sons
strove to rival each other IN atteconate attentions
TO their parent The supper finished, they receiv-
ed her benediction retired to rest on their mats
side bv side, and with the dawn of day again pur-
sned their avocatons with alacrity and cheerful
ueS9-CeIlCO, lllt Iulllol blDAlcls hNIhtAf ffNllt
TO the city and offered tribute Of fruits Tor his
family at the temple of the principal god of the
country. This god was alarge snake, Of that spe-
cies called felitctcs, which not poisonous, but
on the contrary devourlng yCnomous reptiles and
consequently so venerated IN Guido that II Is deem
ed 4 crime to kill one Of them. From this clrcum-
stance these animals are exceedingly numerous.
In the interior of the cities and villages and even
in the midst of the habtations they are to be met
with at every step. They eat familarly at the Ia
bles of their doaters, and sleep undisturbed upon
their hearths.
Among the Youths of Juida, SelicO was consid-
cred pre-eminentlv beautiful, as well as pre-eml-
nently virtuous. His eye was large and eloquent;
his skin smooth and polished, and his form graceful
and finely modelled In the temple of the Bic
Snake he had seen Berissa-the young and lovely
Berissa. who was the daughter of the chief high
priest. and bv her beauty and her attractions ex-
ceeded all her companions. SelICO conyersed with
her, wood her, loved her, and was beloved.
Every Wednesday, the day consecrated to worship
and repose, he repaired TO the temple OF the idol
and Toasted his soul in passing the day adjacent Ia
his dear Berissa. He spoke Of his mother Of his
love-and of the happiness they would ENJOY
when united. At such moments Berlssa would
endeayour 10 suppress the sigh which rose 10 her
bosom, for that happy perlod, whist me a5ed
Faralko, her sire, embraced the lovers and prom
ised a speedy consummaton to their hopes.
At length the long anticipated day was named
and the mother and brothers of Selco had prepar-
ed the cabin for the betrothed couple. But Just
At this moment the famous Truro Andat, king Of
Dakoma. whose rapid conquests had been cee-
brated even in Europe invaded the kingdom OF
Ardra exteuninated It's inhabitants and was adj
vancing at the head of powerful army towards
the kingdom Of Juida, when his career was for a
while arrested by large river which bordered
that dominion.
The king of Juida was a weak and cowardly
ruler governed entirely by his women and his MN
listers. He neglected to confront his troops with
those ofthe invader and relying in the supremacy
of his gods for his defence, he collected and placed
on the border of the river all the cLitches he could
collect as the talisman of his safety. The Daho-
mian surprised and enraged to combat only with
reptiles. threw himself and his followers INTO the
flood. gained the opposite shore and either cut TO
pieces or roasted upon Goals all the sacred animals
he met with. At this, the king Of Juida despainng
of any further effort to save himself abandoned his
capitol and fed for safety and concealment 10 re-
mote island, whilst the conourers spread themselves
over his empire, burning crops cities and villages,
and massacTeeing without mercy all living things.
Few Of the inhabitants escaped the dreadful car