The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-02-19
a story of Mount Etaa.

Giuseppe, young vine-grower in vii
lage at the foot Of the mountains looking
towards MeSSina, was in love with Maria,
the daughter of the richest bee-master of the
place. and his affection, TO the great displeas-
ure OF the father, was returned. The old
man, though he had encouraged him at first,
wished her TO marry young profligate in
the city, because the latter was richer and
of higher stock; but the girl had a great
deal Of good sense as well as feeling, and
the father was puzzled how TO separate them,
the families having been long acquainted.
He did everything in his power TO render
the visits of the lover uncomfortable TO both
parties, but as they saw through his object,
and love can endure a great deal, he at
length thought himself compelled TO make
use OF insult. COntriving, therefore, one
day to proceed from one mortilying word TO
another, he took upon him, as if in right Of
offence, to anticipate his daughter attention
to the parting guest, and show him out of
the door himself, adding a broad hint that
il might be as well if he did not return very
soon. Perhaps, Signor Antonio, said the
youth, piqued at last to say something harsh
himself, you do not wish the son Of your
old friend to return at ALL perhaps not
said the bee-master. What, said the poor
lad, lOosing all the courage Of his anger in
the terrible thought of his never having any
more Of those beautiful lettings out Of the
door by Maria what, do you mean TO say
| may not hope to be invited again, even by
yourself?-that you yourself will never again
invite me, or come TO see me ? ooh, we
shall all come, of course, to the great Signor
Giuseppe, said the old man, locking scom-
full, all cap in hand Nay, nay returned
Giuseppe, in a tone Of Precipitation; III
wait till you do me the favor 10 look in some
morning, in the old way, and have a chat
about the French: and perhaps added he,
blushing, you will then bring Maria with
you, as you used to do; and | won't attempt
to see her till then. 'Oh, we'll all come,
Of course, said Antonio, impatiently, 'oat,
dog, anG all; and when We do, added he, in
a very significant tone. you may come again
yourself. Giuseppe tried TO laugh at this
jest, and thus sill propitiate him; but the
old man, Fastening to shut the door, angrily
cried, Aye, cat, dog. and all, and the cot
tage besides, with Maria's dowry along with
il; and then you may come again, and not
iii then And so saying, he banged the
door, and giving furious look at poor Ma
ria, went into another room to scTawl note
to the young citizen. The young citizen
came in vain, and Antonio grew eulkier and
angrer every day, I'LL at last he turned his
latter Jest into a vow; exclaiming with an
oath, that Giuseppe should never have
his daughter, ill he Qhe lather,) daughter,
dog, cat, cottage, bee-hives, and all, with |
her dowry OF almond-trees, to boot, set out
some fine morning to beg the young vine
dresser to accept them. Poor Maria grew
thin and pale, and Giuseppe looked little
better, turning all his wonted tests into signs,
and often interrupting his work to sit and
look towards the said almond-trees, which |
formed a beautiful clump on an ascent upon
the other side Of the glen, sheltering the
best of Antonio's bee-hiyes and composing
pretty dowry for the pretty Maria, which
the father longed to see in the possession of
tic hdsig young ClllIeil. One morning, al /
ter a very sulIy night, as the poor youth
sat endeavoring to catch glimpse of her in
this direction, he observed that the clouds
gathered in a very unusual manner over the
country, and then hung low in the air, heavy
and immovable. Towards Messina the
sky looked so red, that at first he thought
the city on FIRE, till an unusual heat affecting
him, and smell of phur arising, and the
little river at his feet assuming tinge of
a muddy ash color, he knew that some con-
vulsion Of the earth was at hand. His first
impulse was wish to cross the ford. and,
with mixed anguish and delight, to fad him.
self again 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 moment; but he
was proceeding to cross, when his ears ting
led, his head turned giddy, and while the
earth heaved beneath his feet, he saw the
opposite side Of the glen lifted up with a
horrible deafening noise, and then the cot
tage itself, with all around it. cast as he
thought, to the ground, and buried forever
The sturdy youth, for the first time in his
life, tainted away. When his senses re-
turned, he found himself pitched back into
his own premises, but not injured, the blow