The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-09-18

earthly, terrifying There, ike gorgon. Law
his body IN its accustomed place, and I. trans
: lnuted To stfH'le Kith eEsS riEated and unwinli-
faple upon IT. | could make no effort-nly Tin bs
were bound, and my will was powerless-could
! ! live in such horror? Thank heaven! three
preparatory taps, with which the drummers
usher in the reveiue, sound sharp and clear.
and | spring with shrek from my recumbent
J posture; but no. the illusion is not yet dis
PEELED. Such was its power, that while one
could count ten, sa7o his body, habited as in
life, but rigid in death, his fair, almost wo-
manish hand pierced through, and his head
bleeding and discoloured from the mortal wound
moment more, and it was goue-and falling
/ back upon my blankets, was shivering with an
ague. Sick at heart, sick in body, I was paving
little insta!meht II the coin Of health, for the
honour Of assisting at Churubusco. What nat
ter? others had paid dearer
4 burning fever succeeded, and in that new
climate it was judged advisable for me to leave
the camp and find a ROOM thick roof for
shelter, a good bed, and such other attendance
as marching soldiers never get. Sick as was.
sailed forth ike a Pordiossro, = and stopped
at every decent house to ask for room.
No, SeHor, no hay aq4i, hone here, sir
said one grum-looking host.
s.. Son toaos oceupqdos, all full-said ano-
ther; . reTdad Juan cito'-isn't it true John :?
turning to Juan for corroboration.
''Lo sianto mueiisinao' sorry-said
woman, more humane than the rest; sst1
ustsE s7.fsrzno ?'-are you sick:
=. C9si musrto" I repIied-most dead.
At one house / was ushered unceremoniously
into the parlour, where family party and their
visiters were seated in grand reception. They
were the upper ten of Mexico. and one of the
ladies was young-end oh, how beautiful!
Fair as Yala, and blue-eyed-beautifuly ar
rayed and as graceful as Euphrosyna-she
was tie only good-looking woman l had seen
for year, and my pulse-at a hundred and
twenty by the watch before from febrile ac-
-quickened its speed like an engine They
looked, and looked, until, as Paul Courier says:
.. Ceia dsgsHa<t embarrassment pour moi ct pour
tout L n.gnas." Dispense 10 ustsd .Ss1ori-
tas,' I al length stammered-excuse me, ladies
- vas locking for quarters and attendance,
but did not mean TO intrude upon your circle.
Permit me TO look elsewhere
The regretted more than they could express,
that -.c~ had no room. Nothing could afford
them rreater pleasure than to make me pre-
sent -r heir house; but it was crowded-even
the ladies were incommoded.
STUFF ;" said I 70 myself; but putting my
hand upon my heart, and bowing low, told
them that American officers were the devoted
slaves and champions of the ladies-and then I
beat retreat. Now, all this while, the pretty
girI-she looked like an angel-was smiling
with varied expression, and putting a look
of intense sympathy for me. All, woman ! wo-
man, why should not Indulge in thy praise !?
Is it that since the days of Homer every poet
has rhapsodized thy loveliness, and every his
torian recorded thy attractions and thy worth,
and that the subject is worthy of only the pen
of genius? Be it so. At least, | may be per
mitted, here and elsewhere, to lend my truthful
( tribute of testimony TO the loveliness of women
! in Mexico. They are better than men every
where-they are infinitely better there. OF
beautiful form, lovely face, piercing eyes,
sweet mouths, white teeth, Iuxuriant and CLOS
! sy hair, pretty hands, tiny feet, well-shaPed
ankles. of proper height, nature has been Law
ish souls capable of the most exalted ard
( holy devotion; hearts whose ardent love needs
only a worthy object upon which to centre,
| and then it burns brightly through our human
forever! Most of the ladies of the capital
are fair, and many rght-haired; but those, too,
/ who are darker, lose nothing Of their charms.
! Her glance how wildly beautiful! how much
| Hath Phobus wooed in vain TO spoil her cheek,
Which glows yet smoother from his amorous
clutch
! But 1 shall never find my quarters if stop
to blarney the ladies; so promising to ''do
/ better next time, / arrive, in the continuation
/ of my search, at the large entrance portal Of a
fine house; and when the Portero opens, de-
mand to see eI ano-the proprietor. 1t length
Don Manuel appears.
.'Sir," said l, in the language, and as much
as possible in the style of Gil Bias, i am in
search of what you above all others can best
provide me, and of what l more than all others
absolutely need. 1 am sick, and in want OF a
room and bed" He looked blank.
- am an officer de los permanentes, and II
you receive me- can and VIII protect your
house; If not, the voI,ntarios will soon be here,
and they are terrible fellows for a billet-they
| themselves"
Por Dios-For Gods sake-hence the beg
gars are called Pordtoseros.