Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-28
A STORY OF MOUNT ATNA.

A STORY OF MOUNT ATNAs-
sEaa' si Ef LEIGH HUNT. ."-
Giuseppe, young vine grower in village at ]
the foot Of the mountain looking towards Messi-
ma, vas in love with Maria, the daughter of the
richest bee master of the place; and his afec-
ton to the great displeasure of the father was
returned, The old man, though he had encour,
aged him Mt first, wished her to marry profit
gate III the city, because the latter was richer
and of higher stock; but the girl had a great
deal of good sense Us 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 nm.
comfortable to both parties but as they saw
through it ALL and love can endure great deal,
he at length thought himself compelled to make
use of insult. Contriying therefore. one day to
proceed from one thing to another, he took upon
him, as if in right Of offence, to anticipate his
daughters attentions to the parting guest, and
show him out of the door HIMSELF adding abroad
hint that it might be as well if he did not return
again very soon.
"'perhsps, Signor Antonio" said the the youth
pqacd at las to say something harsh himself,
"you do not wish the son of your old friend to
return at all.2
Perhaps not" said the bee master scornful-
ly.
"Whati' said the poor lad, losing all the cour.
age of his anger in the terrible thought of his
never having any more beautiful lettings out of
the door by Maria, what do you mean to say
that may not hope to be invited again, even by
yourself? tliat you yourself will never invite
fnHe, 81 CORE 10 seeftils y
ooh, we shall all come Of course to the great
Signor Giuseppe" said the old man." all, cap
in hand"
Nay, nay, returned Giuseppe, in tone of
Precipitation, I'll wait till you do me the tayorto
look in some morning ia the old way, and have a
chat about The French; aud perhaps" added he
blusling, you will then bring Maria with you,
as you used To do; and l wont attempt to see
her till them
sOh, we'll all come, of course" said Antonio,
impatlenty, cat, deg and all and when we do,
you may come again YOURSELF added he, very
Significantly.
Giuseppe tried to laugh at this jest, and thus
still plopitiato him; but the old man, fastening
TO shut the doar, anrily cried
"Aye. cat, dog antall, and the cottage be-
sides, with Maria's dowry along with it; and
then you may come again-and not till then"
And so saying he banged the door and giving
a furious look at poor Maria, went into another
room to scrawl a note to the young citizen.
The young citizen came in vain and Anto-
MO grew sulkier and angrer, every day till at
last be turned his bitter Jest into vow; excloiu
ing, with an oath, that Giuseppe should never
have his daughter. till he, (the father,) daughter
dog, cat, cottage, bee. hives, and all, with the
dowv of almond trees to boot, sot out some fine
morning to beg the young vine dresser to accep
them.
Poor Moria grew thin and pale, and Giuseppe
looked little better, turning his wonted jests init
sfghs, and often interupting work to sit and lool
towards the said almond trees, which formed
/ beautiful clump on an ascent, upon the othe
r side Of the glen, sheitoring the best of Antonio
bee hives, and composing pretty dowry tc
! the pretty Maria, which the father longcd to Sc
in the hands of the hashy young citizen.
! One morning, after a very sultry night, tn
= youth sat cndeavoring to catch glimpse of he
:, in this direction, he observed that the clout
- gathered in very unusual manner over the coul
try, and then hung low in the air, heavy and in
movable. Towards Messina the sky looked $
bad, that at first he thought the city Oh fire, ii
- an unusual heat affecting him, and a smell
sulphur arising, ard the little river at his feet a
" suming tinge of muddy ash color, he knc
= that some CONFUSION of the earth was near
T hand. His first impulse was to cross the broo
u and with mingled anguish and delight to fir
=, himself again in the cottage OF Antonio, gvin
>, the father and daughter all the help in his pos
ns er.
\ A tremendous burst of thunder and lightnn
% startled him for a moment; but he was procee
A. ing to cross, his ears tinglod, his head turnt
~ giddy, and while the earth heayed beneath h
"A feet, he saw the oppise side Of the glen lift,
,c up with u horrible deaeuing noise, and then Il
q cottage itself, with all around it, cast, as he su
bv posed, to the ground, and buried forever. ~
sturdy youth, for the first time in his life, fainIt
ny away.
IN When his senses returned, he found hims
e. hitched back into his own premises, but not
he jured, the blow having been broken by the vim
MS But on looking in horror towards the site of
of cottage up the hill, what did he not see Their
ed And what did he see, forming new mound, f
u longs down the side of the hill, almost at
ny, bottom of the glen, and in his own homestea
'er Antonio's cottage -Antonio's cottage with
he almond trees and bee-hives, and the very cat O
ny dog, and the old man himself and tho daurh
las beth senseless) all come as if, in the fatht
me words, to bee him to accept them.
pss Such awful pleasantries, so to speak, sor
see times take PLACE in the midst of Natures de