Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-08-30
Story Of an Earthquake.
BY LEIGH HUNT.

momeni, nearly three thousand persons
on The opposite coast of Sicily, together
with their prnce.* The reader will be-
Iieve as much Of the love as he pleases.
bu, the extraordinary circumstances on
which il turns is only one Of a multitude
of phenomena, all equally true and mar.
veIlous.
Giuseppe. young vine grower. in
village a, 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 affections. to
the great displeasure Of the father, was
returned. The old man, though he had
encouraged him a, first. wished her 10
marry young proniga'e in the city be-
cause the latter as richer and of higher
stock; bnl the girl had grea. deal of
sense as we'll as feeling, and the father
was puzzled how to separate them, The
families having long been acquainted. He
did every Thing in his power lorender the
visits uncomfortable to both parties, but.
as they saw through his object. and love
can endure a great eeal, al length thought
himself compelled 10 make use of insult.
Con,rivlng, therefore, one day to proceed
from one Notifying word to another. he
took upon him. as if in RICH! Of his Of
fee. TO anticipate his daughters usual at
lenlion TO the parting guest, and show him
out Of the door himself, adding broad
hint lha, ii might be as well il! he did no,
return very soon.
A,,{c , cetI tho
youth piqued at last TO say something
harsh himself. you do not wish The son.
CT your old friend to return a, all 2
Perhaps not, said the bee-mas'er.
what said the lad, losing all cour-
age, and his anger in the terrible thought
of his never having any more OF these
beautiful lettings out of the door by Ma
ria 'whal do you mean TO say! may
not hope to be invited again even by your
self? ,ha, you yourself will never again
invite me, or come TO see me z
.Uh. we shall all come of course. to
the great Signor Giuseppe said the old
man lacking scorniully, all cap in hand
Nay. nay returned Giuseppe. in
tone pf precipitation. IN wait I'll you do
me the favor 10 look in some morning. in
the old way. and have a chat about the
French; and perhaps. he added. busting,
you will then bring Maria with you; and
| won, a,,emp, to see her I'LL then .
.Oh, we'll all come. of course said
Antonio. .impalien,iy. 'ca,. dog and all
and when we do added he in a very sig
nican, tone, You may come again your
self
Giuseppe tried to laugh at the jest. and
thus still propiliale himself; but the old
man Fastening TO shu. the door. angrllys
cried, .Ay. cal, dog and all; and the cot
&c besides, and Mara's dowry along
with it; and then yon may come again.
and not till then. And SO saying he
banged the door aud giving furious look
a, The poor pale Maria. went into the room
TO srrawl no!e to the young citizen.
The young citizen came in vain. and
Antonio grew suIkier and angf'er every
day. until at las, he turned his biller jest
INFO a vow: exclaming with an oath thai
Giuseppe should never have his daughter
nil he, (,he fa,lrer) dog. cat. cottage. bee
hives and all, with her dowery Of almond
trees to boot. Sc, out some fine morning
10 beg The young vine-dresser TO accept
them.
Poor Maria grew thin and pale. and
Giuseppe looked li''le better turning all
his wanted jesls into signs, and ever M
,errus,iug his work TO sill and look towards
,he said almond trees, whirh formed a
beautiful clump on an ascent upon The
other side of The glen, shcllerlng The best
of An,onio's bee hives, and composing a
pretty dowry for the pretty Maria; which
The father longed to see in the possession
of the fashy young citizen.
One morning. after very suify night
as The poor youth sa, endeavoring to catch
glimpse of her in the dlrec''on' ne oo-
ser, ed lha, the clouds gathered in very
unusual manner over the country, aud then
HING low in the air heavy and immo. able.
Towards Messina the sky looked 50 fiery
,ha, a, frs, I've though. the city was on
fire. ill an unusual heat affecting his own
skin. and smell of sulpher arising ant
The l;,,le river al his feet assuming tinge
Of muddy ash color. he knew that some
COLI uls,on of The earth was at hand. Hi'
i;hlediae impulse was 10 cross me 'ofu
and whh mixed anguish and delight; aga''
IL find himself in the cottage Of ANTONIO
giving the father and daughter all the hell
IN his power. tremendous ours' 0
thunder and lightning startled him Tor
momen,; but he was proceeding 20 cross
!. when his eals ,ingled, his head 'u'ne'
II is calculated that about 0,O0O souls perish