The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-11-13
From the Token.
THE MADONNA,


The day bad been suTiry. Resolved |
% avail myself Of tie approach Of eve
lng to catch breath Of fresh air upon
he sea shore, provided myself with a
guide, aud salhed from the gales OF Sy-
-acuse. Before wandering far | sudden
y caught sight of the most interesting
group my eyes had ever beheld. Upon
a high, square pedestal, in a niche which
on one side had suffered from time and
The elements, q marble image ofthe Ma
donna stood before me. Countless
creeping plants twined around the shrine
and gentle breeze played among the
dark green leaves which intercepted the
last rays Of the setting sun, and threw
their HemuIous shadows upon the pale
marble face oElhe image. The dark
clouds that were roliinkgp' from Etns,
were hogsd'pith . EStdeb purple; ard
before me lay the sea. quiet ana pntpf-,
fled as the blue heavens il reflected.
Mount Etna, the sun, the sea-what
we're they, compared with the maiden
who knel before the image Of the Vir-
gin, with her family, in prayerl The
fires of Etna flashed in her deep blue
eye, and as | afterward learned, the
commotion ofthe volcano was but too
true an exponent other troubled heart.
Her mouth was slightly parted; she
prayed, But alas /! the voluptuousness
Of earthly passion gIowed upon her
swelling lip. ConVu'sively she clas ped
her delicate and almost transparent
hands, while irresponsible emotion was
leg'be in her trembling frame. Her
humid eyes constantly wandered from
the marble image, scanning the distance
with such aarnestuess and power, tina,
had stood upon the summit Of Etna, OF
lain 10 the depths OF the sea, that look
would have drawn me lrresislib,
thence. II was but too evident tha
those eyes had lost some object which
no Madonna could restore to their long
ing sight. Her tair mother, upon whose
placid features sat the blessed light o
inward p ace, knelt by her side. Th
u.olher was teaching little gIil ofabou
six yearSto pray land pointing to eros
sculptured upon the square stone pedes
, tai. ln cradle near them lay sweet
, ly smiling infant, with its innocent eye
, directed 20 'hescross and the Madonn
. above it. There we'e also o,hsss, Wn
men and maidens, kueeling before Il
: image; bu, needed them not-absort
{ ed as was in The contemplation of III
r strangely expressive face Of that prayiu
girl.
"She also, prays in vain "
Shrinking with sudden terror, | gt
Z zed around. Had my guide spoken
f "Did you say something, ueroDimO
3 yes my lord, meant that pray
8 would never help the fair Marcel
a more.'
] was silent.
It sold Etna has been long time qu
: ei. PleirO will soon rise again from Il
d sea. and drag her with him under Il
y waves"
10 These words, TO mo were perfectly
= nigmatical. Etna-Pietro-l could n
t, seize the connection. Geronimo perez
rt ed it.
so you know the storyP
1t WHAT story
81 OF Pietro and Hermossa. FIJI
is years are now past and gone."
4, 'What was it, GeronlmoP
ID "Pietro was the handsomest youth
al Syracuse; Hermosa, the fairest of Ms
" cella's family. Pielro was poor; H
At mossa was rich. Pietro loved Hermo.
l. So far it is common story. Th
could not be united. How na,urs
Or Hermossa must marry another.
- "Durlng terrible eruption ofMOl
nd Etna, poor Pie,ro, here fIom thisrpIa,
bo know not exactly how, threw hims
ok into the sea. But he had no rest the
nd at times he comes again upon earth,
lat a form 30 fair and seductive, that
be maiden who unfortunately beholds, IN
ire love him, and is irretrievably lost.
u> the evening before the wedding d
ur Pietro sinks again beneath the waN
for leaving h bel he'd in despair. Fl
'r- mossa was his first victim; the sea (
ts sed over her beautiful form. Eight
ln' ago, Marcella's betrolhed lover dis
- peared. lam satisfied he was no ot
sue Than Pietro, and that be will surely {
ale pei her to follow him. He usually q
nto this during an eruption Of Etna.
DO is the fourth maiden Of whom Pietro
are robbed her family. How sad it is
are know her impending fate, and be un
md TO afford her succor !"
md Six months aheIward, found my
res again in Syracuse. My first visit
aro TO the Madonn's shrine. The 9
ess @ family we're kneeIing before it, Mu
~ las mother and sister were clad 10
. mourning. Marcella was not th
The 5enlguant face of the Madonna
now comnlatelv hid hv the luSu,