The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-07-14
FRO. Diekias' HssssAe,s Words.
A GREEK GIRL. M -,

But she is dressed to-day Il il 81. Some
body's least, aud everybody l. idling away
their time ia consequence. II was 81.
What's. his.name's day the day before yes,er.
day, aud il will be 81. Who's it's day the
day ailer Tomorrow. Though our balloon
clad young acquaintance is idIing. il is with
busy idleness Tor she has been occupied
ever since eight O'Clock tins morninglin
c',rrying about fruit, jellies aud swseimeals,
with strong raw spiliis in gilded glasses,
and little cups Of unsirained cudee. A very
singular and amusing picture she makes
As she stands bolt upriyhi, tray in hand be-
fore her fathers gnests. She is pretty
Yes, there is no doubt Of that; bu: she Inns
done almost everything possible to dis6gure
herseli. Though certainly no, seventeen,
with the rich clear com .,lexion Of tbs
Greeks, she is roogel up 10 The very eyes.
Where she is not rouged, she is wiiiened.
Her eyebrows are painted and SHE has even
found means 10 Introduce some black aboini-
nation under her eyelids TO make The eyes
look larger Her hair would he almost 4
marvel IL LEFT 10 itself; bui she has twisted
II, aud plated IL, woven gold ccins into IL,
and tied it up with dirty handkerchieis and
gummed aud honied il, I'LL every lress has
gown distorted and angry. Her ears are in
themselves rs sly and coque,ish n pair Of
ears as need be; aud they peep out beneath
her tortured locks rs il ihsy would rather
like 10 have game al bo.peep than oihei-
wise bu, they are literally tom balian inch
longer ihan they should be by an enormous
pair OF Mosaic ear rings bought oi n pedlar.
Her hands might have been nice once, for
they are still small but they are as Tough
rs horn and as red as chaps can make Them,
with sheer hard work, scIubbing aud wash
ing about The house. AZ Greek women, |
think, have been mere housewives, since
The time Of Andromache. Her figure Is, II
possible, more generally baggy than her
trousers. II bulges out in the most exiraor.
dinary bumps and iulness. A short jacket
-as much loo small for her rs The brigand
attire Of Mr.. Keely Of The Theatre Royal
Adelphi, does not make this general plump.
ness less remarkable; and she has super.
fluffy OF clothes which reminds one OF the
late King Chrisiophe's idea Of full dress.-
Numerous, however, rs are the articles OF
wearing apparel she has put on, they all
terminate with The trousers, which aie loop.
ed up just below The knee. The rest OF Tho
leg aud feet are bare, and hard, and plump,
aud chapped almost beyond belief, even in
the fine piercing cold Of a Greek February.
Her mind is mele blank. Her idea Of
life is, love making, cleaning the house,
serving coffee, aud rouging herself on iesli.
val days. She cannot read or write, or play
on the piano; but she can sing and dance.
She can talk too, though never before COM
pany. No diplomalisl can touch her in in.
irigue or invention. Not even Captain
Abosoluie's groom could tell falsehood
with mole composnre. She does not know
what il is 10 speak the truth and, TO use 4
Greek saying, she is literally kneaded up
with tricks. The Greek girl has no heari,
no affections. She is mere lump o! flesh
and calculation. Her marriage is quite an
affair Of buying and selling. II is arranged
by her friends. They offer 10 give house
THAT is Indispensable and go much 10 who.
ever will take her of their hands. By and
by, somebody comes 10 do SO; The priests
are called, there is q quaint, strange cere.
mony, and he is bound, by fine, 10 perform
his promise. This fine Is usually len per
cent. on the fortune which was offered him
with the lady.
have said she can talk, but she cai'only
talk Of and 10 her neighbors /; and she spends
her evenings chiefly in sitting IN the door.
way aud watching Them. This she does
herself; but she has a lille ally Ia chit Of
girl about seven years old, aud looking
forty, that you meet in The houses OF all The
islanders,) who is on The lookout all day
No one ever enters Greek house but the
neighb0rhood knows il. All down The street,
and ~ The next, aud everywhere, those lille
girls are watching and filling about on
cunning errandS us sleallhily aud swift rs
cats. Her father and mother will tell you
that her own cousins never saw her alone
or spoke dozen consecutive words 10 her,
but lalher fancy she has some acquain-
lance of her own and she is generally on
terms of rather startling friendship with the
Young man servant, who forms almost part
Of the family in all Greek houses. On sum
mer nights TOO, when good people should be
asleep, you will see closely hooded figures
fitting about noiselessly, like black ghosts.
They are Creek girls. What they are about
nobody knows. Perhaps, looking for the
moon, which will not Use for some hours.
Al every dark corner Of wall. also, you
will see young gentlemen sitting in the
deep shadow with wonderful perseverance,.
n you 20 very near and they do no. see you,
you may hear them singing songs, but low
as The humming Of bee: 50 low that they
10 not disturb even The iimid owl who sits
cooling among The ruins OF the last fire over
The way. The Greek girl knows an amazing
quantity Of songs, and all ol the same kind.
They are about equal in point OF compost.
lion 10 the worst OF our street ballads full
of the same coarse wit and low trickery.-
They are sung 10 dreary mosoonOus airs;
and always through The nose. Never had
The national songs Of people 80 lillle charm
or distinctive character. You seek The
strong swee, language Of the heart in vain
among them. They have neither grace nor
fancy.
With all this, the Greek girl is pious.-
She would no, break any 81 the severe fasls
OF her church, even for money; though
they condemn her 10 dry bread aud olives
for six weeks nj time nor would she neg
leci going to church on certain days OH
any account. She has faith ia ceremo-
nies, and in charms, relics and sainis, al'
most touching but there her belief ends.-
She would not trust The word OF her own
father or the archbishop. She cannot sup.
po.e II possible that any Que would speak
ibe truth unless he was obliged; and she
;nJyes correctly. according 10 her owr,ex
ner;snce. She herself would promise, and
lake an unmixed delight in rdeceiyipg her
own mother. on a 'quoslion about a pins
head but shs would sorupulously avoid
doing anything she had promised; aud The
only way 10 prevent her accepting -,hus.
band, would be 10 make her say she would
have him beforehand. From that moment
her fertile wits would toll day and night 10
find means OF escape. And find them che
would, 10 change her mind ,he d 'ailer