Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-08-31

| colored silk sash, from which the handle OF
knife of Spanish shape stuck out.
| any FRIEND" said /, sis it indiscreet in a
stranger who knows nobody in Sullacaro, to
ask the hospitality of your mistress !"
| .sCertainly not, your excellency," answer
ed he; ..the stranger knows the house he Wis.,
| its,-Maria," continued ne, turning around to
servant maid who appeared behind him,
.go announce TO Madame Savilia that it is a
French traveller who desires hospitality"
| At the same time he descended the eight
which conducts to the entrance door, and
took my horse by the bride, and | alighted.
sLet your excellency be perfectly uncon-
lcerned," said he. '.All your baggage shall
| be brought to your ROOM"
made the best of this gracious invitation
| to laziness, one of the most agreeable that
can be rendered to a traveller. ] quickly
cended the ladder, and made a few steps tow
ards the interior. At the turn of the corridor
| found myself in front of female of high
stature, clad in black. fel; that this lady,
about thirty-eight of forty years Of age, yet
handsome-was the mistress of the house,
and ! stopped before her.
Madame said /, bowling, ''you doubtless
think very indiscreet; but the custom of
the country is my excuse, and the invitation
of your servant authorizes me-
You are welcomed by the MOTHER an
swered Madame de Franchi, sand you will
soon be welcomed by the son. From this
minute, sir, the house belongs TO you; use
it as your own"
Il implOre your hospitality for one night
only. Madame. Tomorrow morning at day
break, | shall depart"
.'You free TO act according TO your pleas
ure, sir; however, | hope you will change
your mind and that we may have the honor
to possess you longer"
bowed a second time.
s'Maria,'' continued Madame de Franchi,
''lead the gentleman to Louls's room; light
fire instantly, and bring warm water"
..Pardon, sir,'' she continued, turning to
me, while the maid set about following her
instructions; Il know that the first want of
a tired traveller is water and fire. Follow
that girl. sir, and ask any thing you may want.
I
will have returned in that time, will have the
honor to inquire whether you are visible.
'.You will excuse my travelling costume,
Madame
"Yes sir,' answered she, smiling, ''but on
condition that on your part, you will excuse
the rusticity of your reception"
| The servant assembled the stairs; l bowed
last time and followed her.
/ The room was situated on the first floor, in
/ the back part of the house. The windows
! opened upon pretty garden, covered with
myrtle and rose bushes, and watered by
charming brook which empties In the Taraco.
A kind of hedge of pine trees, so closely
planted as almost TO form wall, limited the
prospect in the back ground. According to
the custom of most of the Italian houses. the
walls of the room were whitewashed, and or
namented with paintings representing land
scapes. | was satisfied that this room, which
was the one of the absent son, had been CIV
| en- me as the most comfortable of the house.
| The idea struck me that while Maria was
/ lighting my fire, and preparing the water.
might make an inventory of my room and its
contents, and form an opinion of the charac-
! ter of him who inhabited it. / Immediately
proceeded to realize my project, and turning
I on my left heel SO as to execute a movement
of rotation around myself, passed in review
the different objects with which was sur
rounded.
The furniture was all in modern style,
( which, in this part of the Island, where CIV
ilization has not yet penetrated, is nantes
tation of luxury but seldom met with. Ii
consisted of iron bedstead, furnished with
three mattresses and one pillow, one divan,
four arm chair, six chairs, library and bu-
reau. The divan, the arm chairs and chairs,
were covered with painted calico, and cur
tains of the same material hung before the
windows and encompassed the bed.
I had proceeded thus far with my invento-
ry when Maria left the room, and gave me
chance to push my investigation still farther.
| opened the library, and found a collection
of all our best Poets CorneilIe, Racine, No
liere, Lafontaine, Ronsard, Victor Hugo, and
Lamartine cur Moralists; Montague, Pas
cal, Labrugese, our Historians: Mezeay,
Chateaubriand, Thierry; our Savants: Gu
vier. Beudans, T.. de Beaumont; and lastly,
some volumes of novels, among which | sa-
f, luted with certain pride my Impressions de
! Foyage."
The keys being on the bureau drawer, |
opened one and found in it fragments of his
tory Of Corsica, an essay on the means to be
employed to abolish the vendetta, some French
verses, and few Italian sonnets, all Of which
were in manuscript.
/ That was all | needed. and / had the nre-