The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1844-06-15
From .Ainsworth's Magazine.
LOVE STORY OF AN EARTHQUAKE
by LEIGH HUNT.

We inuSt CLOSE tiliS dTllCle Will d loFt
story, in connection with the dreadful
earthquake of 1888, which destroyed Mes
slna, swept into the sea, in one moment.
nearly three thousand persons on the OPP
posue coast of Scylla, together with their
peace. The reader may believe as much
of the love as he pleases, but The extraordl-
nary circumstances on which 1t turns is
only one of multitude of phenomena, ali
equally true and marvellous.
Giuseppe, IA young vine-grower, in a
village, at the foot of the mountains look
ing towards Messina, was in love with
Maria, the daughter of the richest bee
master Of The place, and his affection, to the
great displeasure of the father, was return
cd. The old man. though he had en-
couraged him at first, wished her to marry
young prolligate in the city, because the
latter was richer and of IA higher stock; but
the girl had great deal of good sense as
well as cling; aud the father was pnz-
zled how to separate them, the families
having been long acquainted. lie did
every thing in his power to rerder the vsls
of the lover uncomfortable to both part
les but as they saw thro' his object, and
love can endure great deal, he at length
thought himself compelled to make use Of
insult. Conlriving, therefore, one day to
proceed from one mortiying word to an
other, he took upon him, as if in right Of
office, to anticipate his daughters usual
attention to the parting guest, and show
him out of the door himself, adding Il
a. :, Ia bo ,,i.ll &c bo
did not return very soon.
"Perhaps, Signor Antonio," said the
youth, pqucd at last to say something
harsh himself, ''you do not wish the son
of vrur old friend to return at a!lY"
Perhaps not" said the bee-masler.
"Whar," said the poor lad, losing all
courage, and his anger in the terrible
thought of his never having any more of
these beautiful lettings out of the door by
Maria; "w hat do You mean to say ! may
no, hope to be invied again, even by
yourself? that you yourself will never in
vIte me, or come to see me?
"Oh, we shall all come, of course, to
the grea, Signor Guiseppa," said the old
man looking scornlul, 'all cap in hand"
Nay. nay" returned Gniseppa, in
tone of Precipitation, "I'll wait till you do
me the favor to look in some morning, in
the old way, and have a chat about the
French and perhaps added, blushing,
"you will then bring Maria with you, as
you used to do; and wont atlemptto see
her until then"
"Oh, we'll all come, Of course said
Antonio, impatiently; scat, dog, and all;
aud when we do," added he, i'll very in
significant tone, ''you may come again
Yourself"
Gulserpa tried to laugh at the jest, and
thus still propilia,e himself; bu, the old
man Fastening to shut the door, angrly
cried, "Ay, cat, dog, and all and the cottage
besides, with Maria's dowry along with it
and then you may come again, and no!
ill then" And so saying he banged the
door, and, giving furious look at the
poor pale Maria, went into another room
TO scrawl a note to the Young citizen.
The young citizen came in vain, and
Antonio grew sulkier and angrier every
day, till at last he turned his bitter est
into vow; exclaiming with an oath, tina
Guiseppa should never have his daughter
till he, (the falher,) daughter, dog. cat,
cottage, bse.hives, and all, with her dow
~ ofalmond trees to boot, set out some
fine morning to beg the young vinedres-
ser TO accept them.
Poor Maria grew thin and pale, and
Giuseppe looked little better, turning all
his wonted jests into signs, and often in
terrupting his work to sit and look to-
wards the said almond trees; which for
med beautiful clump on an ascent upon
the other side of the en-, shelterlng the
best of An,onio's bee-hives, and compo-
sing pretty dowry for the pretty Maria,
which the father longed to see in the pos
session of the lashy young citizen.
One morning, after very sullry night,
as the poor youth sat endeavorng to
catch glimpse of her in this direction,
lie observed that the clouds gathered in a
very unusual manner over the country,
and then hung low in the air, heavy and
immoveable. Towards MessIna the sky
looked so fiery that at first he thought
the city was on fire, till all unusual heat
affecting his own skin, and smell OF sui
phur arising, and the little river at his feet
assuming tinge Of muddy ash color,
he knew that some CONFUSION of the
earth was at hand. His immediate i'm
pulse was to cross the ford. and, with mix
edranguish s. delight, again find himself
in the cottage of Antonio, giving the
father and daughter all the help in his
power. A tremendous burst Of thunder
and lightning startled him for a moment,
but he was proceeding TO cross, whenhis
ears tingled, his head turned giddy, and,
while the earth heaved beneath his feet,
he saw the whole opposite side of the
glen lifted up with horrible. dealening
noise, and then the cottage itself, with all
L