Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-09-21

size, and wretchedly, or rather not Mt all
ventilated
AN SCENE.
1 witnessed this same night most sin
gular cnstom among the Native South
Americans, which made deep impress
ion upon me. On returning home rather
late, after accompanying some captains
of my acquaintance TO the landing where
their boat was waiting for them, passed
low rooted house, in whose well-hghted
room music and dancing vera going on.
l tried 10 get look through the curtain
ed window, but but did not succeed, aud
was just passing on when the door open
ed, and two men came out. A third one
was just going TO shut to door again when
he saw me, and addressing me, asked me
in the most friendly way TO come in and
be welcome. Always ready TO see what
could wherever got chance. fol-
lowed his kind invitation, and found my
self the next minute in a perfect flood of
light, but in very small room crowded
with people. Taking in the whole at the
FIRST glance, the room seemed rather poor
ly furnished, with white ewashed walls.
only here apd there Orn9mented with
small and colored pictures of saints and
martyrs. The table and chairs were made
OF pine wood-the latter with cane bot
toms and one corner of the room, and Il
great part of the whole space, in fact,
was taken up by q large bed covered with
lowered curtains, instead of mosquito
net /; but the curtains thrown back at pre-
sent to offer room for those guests who
flar,e.l,.ag-
diente and duloes were handed round
while all, men and women, the dancers
excepted, smoked their cigarilloS. But
the most remarkable thing in the room
seemed TO me large kind of a scafiold,
which occupied the other corner op-
posi!e the bed. and consisting of a light
frame work, ornamentcd all over with ar
tilcial flowers. little pictures Of saints,
and quantity Of small. lighted wax can
dies, On the top of it, most eXLraor-
dinary well-made wax figure of little child
was seated on n low wooden chair, dress
ed in snow white lady frock-the eyes
were closcd-,he pale checks tinged with
> soft rosy hue, and the whole figure per-
feclly streMn with flowers. 1t might
have been about seven feet high. and the
figure was so deceptive, that when L drew
near at first, thought it real child,
while young woman below it pale, and
with tears in her eyes, might very we'll
have been the mother. But that was most
certainly d mistake !; for at this moment
one of the men stepped up TO her, invited
her to the dance, and few minutes af-
terwards she was one of tho merriest in
the crowd. BUTT must really be child
no sculptor could have formed that lit
tie face SO eXquisitely and ROW one light
went out, close to the little head, and the
check lost its rosy hue. My neighbors az
last remarked the attention with which
looked upon the figure or child, which
ever it was and the nearest one now in
formed me, as far as l could understand
him, that the little thing up there was the
child OF the woman with the pale face,
who MAS dancing then so merrily f.; the
Whole festiyily taking place. in fact. only
on account of that little angel. l shook
my head doubtfully, and my neighbour,
to convince me, took my arm and led me
to theframe, had 10 step, upon the chair
and nearest table, and touch the check
and hand of the child. IL was corpse !;
and the mother seeing had doubted it,
put was now convinced, came up 10 me anu
smilingly told me that it had been her
child, and Was now a little angel
in heaven. The guitars and cacaes
commenced wildly again. and she
had TO return to the dance. l left the
house as in Il dream but afteTward heard
the explanations Of this ceremony. If a
little child, believe up to four years Of
age dies in Chili,itis thought TO 60 straight
to heaven and become little angel /; the
mother being Prouder of thut-before the
eyes Of the world, at least-than if she
had reared her child 10 happy man or wo-
man hood. The little oTpse is exhibit
ted then, as l had seen it and they Of
ten continue dancing AMI singing around
it till it displays signs Of putrefaction.-
But the mother, whatever the feeling Of
her heart may be. must laugh and sing,
and dance she dare not give way 10 any
sefsh whises, for is not the happiness Of
her child secured Poor mother
A Ep=r T1aur CoIloviDo, IA n ia