Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-09-21
From Goiey's Lady's Boot Of Ju~e
The Ifaliah Flower Girl.

On returning, after an absence OF sOr1
! years from my fiative city, met amon.
, other well remembered and cherished
) friends. my old school mate and colleg.
companion, Herbert Berose. Most cor
daily did he grasp my hand, showing tina
) the fire Of early friendship still burned
} brightly in his bosom.
"You must come home and take tea will
me, said he, as he stood holding my hant
tightly In his.
"I'hen you are married ?" I returned.
"Oh, yes, j belong to the sober stay.at
horne class Of citizens. So you must ac.
cept my invitation. will call for you as
leave my couiiting-roo this afternoon. Il
will be delightful to have good chat abou,
old times.
Iassented, well pleased with the arrange
ment, and, at the same time agreed upon,
Belrose called for me. On being presented
to his wife, was surprised to ineet young
and exguisitely beautiful woman, with for
eign accent and features. There was some
thing very striking in her whole aspect.
Once seen you could never forget her, yo,
seemed to be gazing ON some pictured
form, painters dream of oveliness. But,
if her face was my instant admiration, how
much more charmed was /, after the re-
serve of our first meeting wore away, to
note the simple but true grace of every
motion, and to listen to the music Of her
voire, as she joined, with more than ordin-
ary intelligence, in the conversation that
| followed
"Where did you meet with this lovely
woman = said | to Berese, at our next
meeting ITO me, she stood forth the enl-
bodiment of some beautiful ideal, long
dwelling in the regions of fancy
"The story is romantic one,' replied
my friend, smiling.
"Will you relate it :"
"Oh, certainly, if you think you will feel
interest enough to listen"
''Let me hear it by all means," said l.
| Ny friend then related the following
story:
"Three years ago, / went to Europe
and passed through Italy On the day Of
my arrival at Naples. as was passing
along one Of the streets, a lovely young
pirl, with a basket of flowers ON her arm,
approaching with smile, presented
handsome bouquet, and in her musical Ita-
ian, asked me to accept it. Such favor
from fair young stranger was not. Of
course. to be declined. In taking it look
ed earnestly into her sweet face, and her
eyes fingered for moment or two in
mine then che turned, aud was lost in the
crowd of people that filled the streets.
'In relating this incident to young
Englishman at the hotel, he did not seem
much surprised. His remark was-'one
OF tie cunning flower girls. Itew natsoit
did your bouquet cost you e
"'Nothing, replied. why should itF
"Ah. perceive you don't understand
these Italian girls. You are fne-looking
young fellow, and stranger with p'enty
of money to spend. You are gallant too.
All this pair of Italian eyes can see at
rlance. The girl was simply flower
Girl, and by her little rose expected to re-
ceive about ten prices for her bouquet
".Aha said /, in return. That's the
meaning of !! wish had known it be-
FORE"
"'You will see her again
".Think so?'
".Without doubt. She will never lose
sight of YOU Walk out tomorrow, and
ere YOU are i'm the street twenty minutes,
you will receive another aud still richer
bouquet from her hands.
aAnd he was right. / received, soon
after appearing abroad on the next morn.
jnu. another bunch of flowers from the
same fair hand, and the girl was rewarded
with d gold coin She took the money,
md as her eye fell upon it and she saw its
value. deep flush passed over her face,
and dropping me low courtesy, while
her eyes expressed thankftness, she turn
ed and was, in few minutes, lost to my
view. On the day following. the next aud
the next, / looked for my beautiful flower
girl, but saw her nowhere upon the streets
One day, week after my arrival in Ma
pies, rode ont to enjoy the charming
views every where presenting themselves
A few miles from the city, stopped to
look through the grounds attached TO All
old and princely residence, the property OF
decayed Italian nobleman. Ruin was
upon every hand. The fine portlco OF
e,alorately wrought marble had suffered
much from time and violence. Statues
were overthrown and broken, fountains
choked up, and rank weeds were towering
over delicate garden flowers, half hiding
their beauty and destroying their perfume.
While wandering amid these fading ev-
dences of former wealth and grandeur, !
came suddenly upon my beautiful flower
girl, sleeping upon green bank. Ihe
noise of my feet awakened her. and she
started M with look Of fear. In a mo-
ment she recognized me, and recovered, III
measure, her seif-possession. She was
much changed. Her face looked anxious,
and there was humidity about her eyes.
as if the tears were just ready to gush
| forth. / spoke to her in her own Ian
puare, and the real kindness and sympathy
| felt were understood in an instant. l
soon learned that she was nearly the last
member of an old and nob.e family reduced
TO poverty. In one Of the apartments OF
this ancient ruin, she was living with her
AGED father; and she remained his sole
support and comforter. As flower girl,
she obtained the means of support for her
parent. But he was now very i'll. For
three days and nights she had watched
over him, unwearied in spirits, though her
body had suffered from fatigue. The
money had given her had enabled her to
remit her efforts to procure the means OF
sustenance for few days /; but it was now
all gone, and while gathering flowers for
another visit to the city, she had recllned
upon the soft grass, and there fallen asleep
| AFFECTED by her story, so artlessIy told
4 asked to see her father, and she took me
- tho anartrnent where Law venerable old