The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-05-31
Miracle Worship in Rome.
Mrs Stowe, in her last contribution to
the Independent has the folloRinr:

Mrs Stowe, in her last contribution to
the Independent. has the following:
| Yesterday afternoon We went to the
Church of the Ava Coeli, to see the mi.
racle working Bsmbino. The priest Put
on vestments and lit candles, and unlock
ed with solemn reverence a little coffin a
foot and halflong, lined with white gold.
embroidered silk, and there lay the ugliest
little wooden doll that eyes ever rested
on. Said doll is said to have been car
we'd from olive wood on the Mount of o.
ives, and painted By St. Luke, and is eov-
cred from head to foot with jewels which
attest the miracles it has wrought-dia-
monds, emeralds, rubies, saphires, from
various princesses and royal personsges
to whom it has been sent For the pay
ment of certain sum, the BambiDo is
carried in state through the street to the
relief of any sick person, psalms being
cbanted in its honor.
An American gentleman. while look
ing at it the other day, inquired if it could
cure weak eyes. The priest answered in
the affirmative. The gentleman then
said he should like to try it for his, which
were ailing. How long will the benefit
probably lastl' he added. "Are you a
Protestantel'' said the Priest Yes
The priest Immediately began to laugh,
and had quite little time joking over
the whole affair.
1n the church when we entered was
large congregation of the very poorest
people. with their rough sblack hands,
shabby, dusty clothes, and that peculiar
air of dilapidated gently which marks the
lower CLASSES here. They were listening
with profound seriousness to Franciscan
friar, who, in his rough. brown wool gown,
tied round his waist, and With little black
cap on his head, preaching with the ut
most earnestuess.
AS | looked at hin | could not but
think what capacities for eloquence afe
yet ip this people and this language All
bis movements were the most coma and
ing and graceful that could be conceived,
as iu mellow tones he pourd forth his
sweet, round, broad Italian, to which one
listened as to music.
After this, as bambines appeared to be
in the ssceDdent, our guide proposed to
show US another; which he gravely infor
med US was the richest in Rome. We
went, therefore, to the church of St. A
gusta, where we found an image of the
Madonna and Child, completely covered
With watches. seals, chains. rings jewels
of all shapes, sizes and settings the whole
inside of the church being in like manner
covered with offerings, among which large
silver hearts appeared to be the most IA
vorite article. Pictures on the wall ex
pressed various miracles wrought By this
image-a child preserved from being run
over by horse, people rescued from
drowning. fire, and other accidents-
were portrayed with more or less Vigor,
each picture being a representation Of
some votary-memorial of the event
chronicled. The whole church was flied
with murmur of prayers, which mul-
titude of people on their knees were heard
reciting.
Drawn up in hollow squares round the
side aisles of the church were classes of
children with priest instructiDg them to
repeat the Credo, the Ava Maria, and the
Paternoster in. Latin. A class of these
little fellows surrounding grey-haired
old monk, particularly struck me-rag-
ged, unkept, upwasbed, they we're yet SO
bright and intelligent looking; and all
with such dark, sof. eyes, and many of
them SO handsome, that one could not
help wishing there we're some saint in the
Romish Calendar who presided over soap
and water.