Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-10

listen to me, will make it as plain as day
Mark me, 1 have only little to say. The fact of
it is, the cloister is poor; the Holy Lucy is in
want of a new velvet robe and golden mantle
much money is necessary, and they have inven-
ted way to draw it from the pockets Of the
suPerstitious people They have had machine
built at Rome, a clock in the figure of this girl
which sings-a wax puppet, tell you. tits
no child, it is no nun, which sings so up there
so strange and SO loud it is nothing more nor less
than an ingenious automaton -
The excited people gazed, shuddered, crossed
themselves, listened, debated one with another,
mused, and-.fnally believed "Certainly, by
the holy St. Giovanni, Matthew is right %
thundered Hercules in a wild tone, clenching
his fists; "the sing-song is priescraft and moth
ing more Who ever heard of singing child
with voice Of such gigantic powers Deceive
yourselves no longer the wonder is nothing
but wooden puppet, with wax face. 1t is
wound up like clock, and then sings all sorts
OF things. | saw just such figure more than
once at the house of an old and celebrated Pro-
fessor i'll Rome. ."-"Yes and it was not without
cause that we felt cold shudder come over us
when the clear, loud, fute-like tones filed our
ears; it was foreboding Of the diabolical ilu-
son," added another excited person, with flash
ing eyes.-"Ths unworthy fraud is disgrace
to the Holy Lucy; we must not bear it any Ion
ger; we must annihilate, destroy it, and all saints
will protect us in such work !" exclaimed
third.
Wild excitement agitated the sed multi
tude. The women pictured to themselves the
fixed, immovabe wax-face Of the automation,
and understood not syllable of the sacred text.
Many had also distinctly heard strange rattling
sound at the end of the "Gloria" "The clock
bsI tbo,, ,,b; % ol
other. The men became more and more heated
by their own excited conversation, and the gent
lest of women glowed at the flaming glances of
their husbands, lovers, brothers; a general pill
grimage to the coistcr was decided upon, in or
der to demand the delivery of the flute-clock, the
Ideceitful singing puppet.
As the twilight faded away, orange flowers
perfumed the atmosphere, and the large night
butterflies bathed themselves in the balsamic air;
the stars looking like little moonbeams, decked
the boundess heavens:-the countless multitude
marched noisily and in great agitation to the
quiet co:s.c- thundered at its uncovered gates,
and demanded instant admission. The fright
ened Abbess hurried to meet the impatient
crowd with a cry of terror, the nuns flew to
their cells.
Amazement and increduity were visible In
the features Of the serious, earnest Abbess.
MY CIlluTGn. sic eNCldlncu, rs IL poSslOle
that you believe your mother Theresa capable
of such deception? Is it possible that you have
SO abased yourselves by your suspicious, thus
unutterably to grieve me? Go-repent and
atone for your sins for that voice which has
50 powerfully affected and excited you, it came
from the breast of blessed child from the in
, nooent lips of young girl from Sinigag, who
is being educated in this cloister."
"We want to see the child" exclaimed sew
Ieral wild voices.
The people became inhamed anew at the
sound:
"Yes, yes; we must see the little witch; we
must hear her talk; touch her face and hands
and feel her warm breath u
: And still more threatening were their looks
still louder the confused cries. The eXhorta-
ltons of the holy Abbess were set at naught
and the usually so quiet oloister-yard was now
filled with rough voices.
Mother Theresa suddenly vanished;-she
= quickly returned, however, leading gentle
pale, trembling little girl, who stepped forward
in front of the restless multitude. AS though
formed of purest wax, beamed the regular, color
less countenance Of the child, under the black
smoe!hly parted hair, and anXiouslY gazed he
= wide opened, dark eyes at the strange express
i've countenances before her. "Angelica," soft
: help thy mother Theresa, and this erring people
lift up thy voice, and sing greeting to the Queer
: Of Heaven!"
Angelica opened her little lips, and com
: menced an old and simple "Salve Regina" bu
with such power, such purity and exaltaton
Il with such sureness and tranquility, that III
n mute assembly bent unconsciously the knee
Such earnest peace of mind, such perfect limo
d cence as pervaded those tones, could truly fiov
c from only one breast, one which had not yet ex
,perienced life's sweet pains and bitter joys. il
Q thorns and its roses. The crystalline, clea
tones penetrated deep into the beautiful nigh
: and blooming earth. The stars shOne bright
e on every head, on the youthful forehead Of th
IS singer, and on the earnest, serious countenanc
e of the agitated Abbess. As Angelica ended
e the PROSTATE men and women arose and crowd
% ed with powerful and true enthusiasm, the pc
d eular property of all southern nations, aroun
J. the child. Sobbng aloud, they kissed the sma
1t hands of the smiling girl, her rosy cheeks, he
n tiny feet her robe even-praised her with tear
Is - delight, showered blessings upon her; and
: evaaimous shout rang through the air:
i'm "EvpiSa angelica Catalanii"
apa
g. rf
J. derful little ohid-singer away from the conyer
le she could not bear the powerful diEurbano
le of her quiet asylum. But she must have bitter
il " Tepened It, foy out Of the little Angelica be
r came-the whole world knows it--in a shol
5, time, the great Catalan, Earopa lay on il
er knees before herr and what treasure of spler
ed ldid robes necklaces, and glitteTing5 crown