Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-10-26
1flisfellaueons.
THE GoaDoLIER OF VENICE.
BY FRANCIS C. DURIvAGE.

It was the season of carnival and nowhere
else in italy where the holidays celebrated
with such zest and magnifcence. BY night
millions of lamps burned in the palace win
dows, rivaling the splendors cf the armament
and reflected in the still waters of the lagu-
mes like myraids of STAYS. Night and day
music was resounding There were regattas,
balls and festss, and the entire population
seemed to have gone mad with gaity, and to
have lost sll thought of the Council of Ten.
the Bridge of Signs, aud the poinards Of the
bravoes
On bright morning of this holiday sea-
son group of young gondolers, eaitired in
their gayest costume, were sitting at the head
Of fight of marble steps that led up from
one of the canals, waiting for their fears. A
cavalier and lady, both gaily attircd had just
alighted from gondola aud passed the boat
man on their way to some rsadevous.
The gondoller who had conducted them,
an old, gray-headed, hard d-looking fellow,
had pocketed his fee, nodded his thanks, and
pushed off again from the landing.
There goes old Beppo," said one of the
gondoliers on shore ''He will make good
days work of it. can swear I saw the gilt
ter of gold in his hand just now"
Eyes, yes" said another, ''ler him alone
for making money. And what he makes he
keeps. He's close -fsted old hunks"
And what is be scrimping and saving
for?" asked third. sHe is unmarried-he
has 10 children
'No, but he is to be married." said the
| first
How? the mans past sixty"
Yes, comrade, but he will not be the frsi
old fellow who has tsken young wife in his
! tbat ha has
a Young ward, beautiful as an angel. whom
he keeps cooped up as tenderIy as broodine
dove in hi. old tumble down house on the "a
nal Orfano? Nobody but himself has eve
set eyes on her to my knowledge.
"There you are mistaken. Stefano," salc
a young man who had not hitherto spoken
He was fine, dashing. handsome young fel
low of twenty-six, in holiday suit of Grim
son gold, with fiery eye. long curling locks
with mustauche as black as jet.
Lets hear what Antonio Giraldi has Il
say about the matter" cried his companions
Simply this," said the young man; g
have seen the imprisoned fair one, the peer
less Zanetta. for such is her name She il
lovely as the day, and her voice, why, Cor
DO di AraccOi La GAMMA the prima donna
is screech-owl compared to my nightin
gale"
"Tor nightingale! Bravo!" cried Stefa
no, in a tone of mocking irony. What cal
you know about her voice?"
"Simply this, Master Stefano," replied th
Young gondolier: "When floating beneat
her window in my gondola. have addresse
her in such rude strain. Of melody as bes
knew how to frame. She has replied in tone
so liquid and pure that the angels migt
have listened"
"By heaven, the fellows in love" erie
Stefano.
Long live music and lover said Antoni'
..What we're life worth without them?"
You're in excellent spirits" said Stef'
no.
"And Why shouldn't man be on his WEI
ding-day?"
.Mad as a march hare?" cried Stefan
MARX me-" said Antonio. ''That q
shall never marry old Beppo-my word f
it. She hates him.
"She'll elope with some noble. then
To be cast off and wither when he is tir
n of her. No! The bridegroom for Zanetta
a gondalier
with all my heart said Stefano 'B
: come. comrades, it is of no use waiting her
Let us to our gondolas and row TO St. MARI
:. You'll come with us, Antonio7