The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-03-29
R Il Il A y Y L Y | A.
BY TIE AUTHOR OF
" TALES OF THE PACKOLETTE."

b1 HE ~ lli'k ot
"TALES OF THE PACKOLETTE. "
Three tourths Of a century had claps
ed from the establishment in Rome.
by the Sabine Numa, Of the order of
the Vcstals, when his grand son Ancus
Martinus was called to the throne
Nnna the inspired-,hc loved Of the
GODDESS Eegiria, had long been gather
cd to his fathers but the sacred fire of
tho temple still burned on the affairs
first erected by himself The Vcstal
order had preserved it's purity and
it's vigilance from suspicion. 1t still
retained its popularity with the people
and its votaries were held in the high.
est estimation and vcneration.
Great and various were the p,ivle
ges and powers of The holy maidens,
who, proud in their humility, seldom
walked the streets OF Rome, umatlcnd
cd by their guards, supporting the
.tnces, cmbIcms of their rank AMI sacred
office. The lghtcSt and the n"blrst
of Romc's noble danes gladly devoted
their offspring to the service of the
temple of Fcsta, and eagerly intrigued
for the honors OF the Novlate for their
favorite daughters. Seldom had The
seniors OF the temple awaited them
selves of the privilege "i the law, Of
again returning to the world after hav.
ing served out the requisite time, rs
novces, tricstcsscs, aud teachers oi
sacred mysteries. Yet the occurrence
was not SO uncommoil us to excite in.
dignation, though it might surprise,
when Gegania the eldest OF the Vest.
ais upon the promotion of CanuIeiu to
the rank of priestess, announced her
determination to quit the temple, and,
at. the age OF forty take back her vow
OF cellbacy. An application 10 The
Pontifex Alaximus, to supply the va
cancy among the Novices, became
necessary by the withdrawal of &c.
CANA, and the diSagrccablc duty of
making selection, dev"lvcd upon
4Ancus MartinuS, who blended With
his office Of King that Of Sovereign
Pontiff.
The solicitations Of the Roman mat.
rons were too embarrassing to allow
the vacancy to be easily filed owing to
the fact that the applicants were most
numerous. Ancus Martinus still hcsi.
tated IN his decision when an urgent
appeal from the mothers OF Ncstal
showed him the necessity of IL prompt
compliance with their demands, if he
would ~ old the anger Of the powerful
Virgins, whose influence was sufficient.
ly controlling to excite all Rome in
their cause. 1t was no uncommon
practice in ANGUS to stroll through the
royal city in disguise, unattended by
''his guards, or other insignia of power.
And more than once had he found the
bchetit ot'this practice during the tour.
teen years he had already rciyncd, in
the discovery and defeat of lrcasonabIc
plots against the stability Of his gov
crnment. 1t is at this period our tale
commences, ard on the very day
which the monarch had promised to
make known his final determination
respecting the new VcstaI.
Within the walls of Rome a few DAYS
previous to tho period we have desig-
mated, Tarquinius Priscus, q wealthy
citizen of Corinth, had taken up his
residence. He was accompanied by
his o"ly child q daughter, about nine
years OF age, Tarqunus was wild.
ower-the early betrothcd Of the YES
tai Gcgania. and to receive her hand
was his principal business at Rome.
10 dreams of aspiring ambition for
himself or his daughter had ever inllu.
enced the philosophical Priscus. Sat.
isiied with his immense wealth and
patrie'an rank, he sought happiness and
quiet in unpretcnding retirement
Ills unbuunded bcncvolcncc--bis
varied requirements and solid virtues
coupled with transformations picty. had
rendered his name well known in
Rome, and secured him great and
lasting popularity.
~ he daughtcrof Priscus was all that
. father could wish. She was a sur.
prtsFsIg lnsply ohild, with q n.ind, 50
iafsas developed, h'lly equal to the
promise r'. y her person, and E,ndIy did
that father .I,,le upon tae Young nlrl
bran'i!uI girl wIm Jcvotrlly returned