Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-06-24
An Extraordinary Scene


among the native South Americans which made
deep impression upon Inc. On returning home
rather late, after accompanying some captains o
my acquaintance to the landing where their boa
was waiting for them, ! passed a low rooted
house, in whose well lighted room .mnsic and
dancing were going on. tried to get q look
through the curtained window, but did not sue.
ceed, and was just passing on when the door o.
pened, and two men came out. A third one
was just going to shut the door again when be
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, followed his kind invitation, and
found myself the next minute III perfect flood
of light, but in very small room, crowded with
people. Taking in the whole at the first glance,
the room seemed rather poorly fnrnished, with
white-washed walls, only here and there orna-
mented with small and colored pictures of saints
and martyrs. The tables and chairs were made
of pine wood-the latter with. eane.abottoms ;
and one corner of the room, and greatpart OF
the whole space, in fact, %as'taken up by q large
bed covered with fiowered curtains, instead OF a
musquito net; but the curtains thrown back at
present to offer room for those guests who would
not dance themselves. Aqua ardiente and d.
loes were handed round while all, men and wo-
men, the dancers excepted, smoked their cigar
ios. But the most remarkable thing in the
room seemed to me large kind of scaffold,
which occupied the other corner opposite the
bed, and consisting of light framework, orna-
mented all over with artificial flowers, little pic
lures of saints, and quantity of small, lighted
wax candles. On the top of it, most extraor-
dinary weli-made wax figure ola little child was
seated on low wooden chair, dressed in q
snow white lady trock-the eyes were closed
the pale cheeks tnged by a soft rosy hue, and
the whole figure perfectly strewn with flowers
1t might have been about seven feet high, and
the figure was so deceptive, that when | drew
near at first, thought it a real child, while o
young woman below it, pale, and with tears in
her eyes, might very we'll have been the moth
er. But that was most certainly mistake ; for
at this moment one of the men stepped up to
her, invited her to the dance, and few minutes
afterward she was one of the merriest in the
crowd. But it must really be child-no sculp-
tor could have formed that little face so exquis-
itely and now one light went out, close TO the
little head, and the cheek lost its rosy hue. My
neighbors at last remarked the attention with
which looked upon the figure or child, which
ever it was and the nearest one now informed
me, as far as could understand him, that the
little thing up there was the child of the woman
with the pale face, who was dancing then so
merry the whole festivity taking place, in
fact only on account of that little angel. shook
my head doubtfully, and my neighbor, to con-
vince me,took my arm and led me to the frame,
where had to step upon the chair and nearest
table, and touch the cheek and hand of the child.
1t was corpse; and the mother, seeing l had
doubted, but was now convinced, came up to
me, and smilingly told me that it had been her
child, and was now little angel in heaven. The
guitars and cacaes commenced wildly again, and
She had to return to the dance. left the house
as in dream, but afterwards heard the explain
alton of this ceremony. If little child, l be-
leve up to four years of age, dies in Chill, it is
thought to go straight to heaven and become
little angel the mother being prouder of that
before the eyes of the world at least-than if
she had raised her child to happy man or wo-
manhood The little corpse is exhibited then,
as had seen it; and they often continue dan
cling around it till it displays signs of purefac-
ton. But the mother, whatever the feelings of
her heart may be, must laugh, and sing, and
dance she dare not give way to any selfish
wishes, for is not the happiness of her child Sc
cured2 Poor mother! !-Gerstas&er's Voyage
Round the World.