Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-07-11

t"i tonFc"t supper. Inc uinner would
have graced the table Of an emperor
soup. beef, cutlets. ducks, @oodcocks. Iol-
lowed each other. cooked in the most ap.
proved manner, with all the accompani
ments established by taste and usage: and
better VINE, white and red, never was
pressed from the Tuscan grape The
dessert was various and plentiful, and
while we were sitting, after the good ia
Tiers departure, wondering at the Injuries
we had found on a mountain top. strong
coffee and liquors were set before us oil
the finest flavor.
was to sleep myself in the convent
Father Gasparo joined US upon the wood
en- bench IN the avenue, where we were
enjoying a brilliant sunset, and informed
me that the gates shut al eight. The YES
per bell soon rung, echolns round from
the rocks. and babe my tour Companions
good night, aud followed the ,nonk 10 the
cloisters. As we entered the postern, he
asked me whether would go directly 10
the ceh, or attend first the service ia the
chapel, assisting my decision al the same
tune by gently Shipping his arm through
mine and drawing me toward the cloth
door, from which a strong peal OF the or
gaa was ISSUING
We lifed the suspended curtain, and
entered chapel so dimly hit, that could
only judge oi ITS extent lIom the reverbe-
ratlans of the music. The lamps were all
IN the choir, behind the alter. and the
shuflllng footsteps OF the gathering monks
approached il from every quarter Fa-
tner Gasparo led me to the base OF oil
lar, and telling nie to kneel, left me and
entered the choir, where lie was lost ~
Inc depth Of one OF the old richly carved
seats Tor few minutes, appearag again
with thirty or forty others, wiio rose and
joined in the chorus Of the chant, making
The hollow roof ring with the deep unmia
gied bass OF their voices
stood rni was chilled. listening to the
service, and looking at the line oil monks
rising and sitting, with their monotonons
changes OF books and positions. aud not
knowing winch way to go for warmth or
retirement wandered up and down the
dim church during the remaining hour.
an unwilling but altogether an unamused
spectator of the scene. The performers
of the service, with the exception Of Fa
Their Gasparo, were young men of from
sixteen to twenty; but during my slow
turns to and fro on the pavement OF the
church, fifteen or twenty old monks en-
tered, and, with bend Of the knee before
the altar, went off into the obscure cor
|ners, and knelt motionless at pray er for
almost an hour. could just distinguish
the dark outline Of their figures when my
eye became accustomed to the imperfect
light. aud never saw finer spectacle Of
religious devotion.
The convent clock struck ten, and shut
ing up their ''ciasped missais," the young
monks took their cfoaks about them, bent
their knees IN passns the alter, and dis
appeared by different doors. Father Gas.
I,aro was tue last to depart, and our foot
steps echoed as we passed through The
long clois'ers to the cell appropriated fol-
me. We opened one Of some twenty
small doors, end was agreeabiy surpris
Ted to find a supper Of cold game upon the
table. with bottle of wine and two plate:
the monk intending to give me his com
pany TO supper. The cell was hung round
with bad engravings of the virgin, the
death OF martyrs, crosses, &c., and a small
oaken desk stood a. ainst the wall beneath
a large crucIfix, with a prayer book upon
Itt The bed was high. ample, and spot
!, ssiy white, and relieved The otherwise
| comfortless look of a stone floor and white
washed walls. felt the change fom sum
mer heat 10 the keen mountain air. and as
! shivered and buttoned my coat, my gay
guest threw over me his heavy lack cow
| Il ctoth-a dress that, with ats eiosenes'
sud numerous folds, would keep one warn
III Siberia Adding TO II his little black
skull cap, he told me, with aheafty laugh
that but tor certain absence OF sancity u
The expression OF my face, and the uncan
onlcal length OF my hair. | Looked thu
monk complete. We had merry supper
The wine was OF cholcer vintage tbai
fthat we had drank at dinntr. aud the Ia
lner answered, upon my discovery OF ITS
merits, that he neUer ,oasted II upon tcomel
In the course of Jur conversation,
Hound out that my entertainer was kin'
lof butler, or head servltor, of the conven
and that the great body oil the monk
(were of noble lineage The feeling o
ipride stril remains among them, from tn
tdays when the Certosa OF Valiomnfosi
was a residence for princes, before II
splendid pictures were plllaged by Tor
leigh army, its wealth scattered. and ii
Numbers diminished. ''in those day 5
said the monk 1--WE received nothing 70
our hospitality but the pleasure it give
us''-relievlng my mind. by the renarA
, of what looked forward to at parting a
a delicate point.
Il My host lett me at midnight, and wei
TO bed. and slept under thick covering
an Italian August "The blanched line
. white and layendered," seemed to have
! peculiar charm, for though | had preui
i led to meet my excluded companions
) sunrise. on the top Of the mountain, sieI
i soundly till nine, and was Obliged to bres
: Hast alone in the reiectory OF the CONVEX
We were to dine at three, and sta
g for Florence AT four the next day, and
= lspent our morning IN trayerslng the mou
= HIN uatha and paftInp views on eve