Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-12-12

Vol. l..


hood, and, il she felt no repugnance TO continu
ance there, devote herself at once TO life Of rel
gion. And there was no rebellions hesving in
her quiet heart, no regretfu tear in her calm blue
eve, as bending meekly 10 receive his last blessing
she answered. so, dear father, have ever intend
| ed 10 do
| But weeks passed away, and the sweet face and
gentle voice Of Blanca, still gladdened the fair
home which now had passed into the possession
of her brother Giovanni was six years older
than his sister. He had spent his boybood wildly
and extravagant; for his mothers early death, his
sisters absence, and his fathers unsoca labors,
! had conspred 10 make home q gloomy place, Just
at the period when it should have put forth its
sweetest attraction, If it was TO have any chance
with one like himself, in comparison with the spe-
cons allurements of worldly pleasure. Thus he
! had been led to mingle in scenes less innocent,
and to associate with companions less profitable
than home, under other circumstances might have
afforded him, and a reckless expenditure was the
natural consequence OF such a mode Of life as
| his.
At the time Of bis fathers death, his debts were
very heavy-the whole Of the ready money he
could command was insufficient to liquidate
then--and he felt that, if he ever hoped TO re.
trieve his fortunes, much less expensive course
must be adopted He was already weary Of the
road OF dissipation he had been pursuing, and
domestic life, il grsced by the presence and COM
partnership Of so sweet creature as Blanca, ap
pearpd to his ardent Imagination delightful, even
| from the very force Of contrast. He strenuonsy
oppose his sisters return to her convent, at least
for the present. he represented in the most glowing
terms the good effects which her society might
produce upon him, and soon won her consent to
remain with him as long as she was permitted to
do so.
In retirement scarcely less complete than that
OF the closter, Blanca Mont continued to reside
with her brother, and with him she would have
been contented to dwell for ever. had not letter
arrived from her ahhess, urging her to decide at
once upon her future manner Of life. Giovanni
was urgent in his enreaties that she should re.
main with him He declared that he could not
survive if she went from him-that the view which
was opening on him Of purer and happier exs.
tence than he had ever before known woull he
banshed again if she forsook him now--and at
length he obtained promise that she would not
leave him until the expiration OF year from their
fathers death. He explained to her all his diff.
cutes and his plans for extricatine himself from
them and was astonishad TO find the clear and un
Outstanding view which her unworthy mind took
simple as she was she possessed great natural tai
ents, and her exceeding candor always hel ped her
to come straight to the truth at once, for she had
no false shame no want OF moral courage, to hold
her back from it. 1T seems that you have been
imprudent, Giovanni, and that you now must be
poor for time. Well, let us be poor, our pow.
erty, after all, is but comparative. We have a
home 10 shelter us; can still provide whole.
some food ard decent ranPnr: few attendants can
serve US; and with our books, our beautiful gar.
den, and our trus! in God, what do we want
more!'
Six months sped away like fairy dream, Gi.
ovanni scarcely ever left home, aud was generally
by the side Of his lovely sister, shar ng in her pur
suits, and directing her attention with his own, TO
Others which he felt he had too long neg ected.-
lie was not more surprised at her quickness in
compromising what he could teach her, than sht
was at finding that there was so very much TO ht
learned and things relating 10 a world which sht
had always been taught TO look upon as scene
Of trial, temptation. and danger could be so fu
of interest for her. The brother and sister were
! mutually improving each other. Giovanni pos
sessed much quckness, a good share Of inlorma
) ton, and some literary taste and he was daily
, leading his sister into enchanted regions OF knowl
edge and Imagination, Of whose existence she hat
: no previous conception She meanwhile wa:
r extending father and farther over his wild ant
wayward nature the influence Of her own pure anr
gentle spirit; and while in her simplicity she con
; sidered his mind as the treasury Of all world.
learning, he, in the (ervency Of his fancy, wds dis
posed TO regard her as his guardian angel.
= must have your likeness, my own sweet sister
, cannot bear the thought that you should eav
, me, and nothing remain with me except you
D precious memory. | urge it now, because here
fair opportunity Of having it well executed.
c know that you would not like TO visit studio 70
Y the purpose, nor should wish to bring any towns
J man hther 10 make impertinent observations OF
= ourpresent circumstances; but this English pante
n whose name is in every ones mouIh-nay, no OF
d lection, sweetest-you know we are hall Engs
l. ourselves in fact, pardon me, have already en-
{ gagged him for your portrait, and he will be her
u tomorrow.
u Three weeks before Giovanni made this propo
$ slion Godfrey Western, the English artist i
|. question. had caught one glimpse Of Blanca Nor
t IT, aud ever since had been longing for another
S He had seen her as she returned from church, tn
only place at which she ever appeared in public
h and had tried to obtain her name from the atlel
&c dant who followed her at little distance. b
n the man could not, Or would not, understand tn
a doubtful Italian in which he was addressed, il
4. deed the Genoese dialect is so different from viii
ID we reckon pure Italian, that, had Western bee
OIL ever so accomplished a scholar, it would hay
< been di llicull 10 make himself understood. Whi
ST therefore, was his delight when he ound that Il
y subject OF his pencil was to be the same love
face which had hauntrd his dreams and though
E. ever since he had first seen it?
I'd My limits will not permit me to detail all Il