Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-04-08
The American Duchess.
BIZ FRANK LEE BENEDICT.

| anu stTahHPrS ana natlVes tad huTfleu 10
Shelley'S famous retreat on the Serchio,
The quaint old palaces of the city
looked gloomy and deserted the Cas-
cine was empty as flower garden in the
the late autumn, and | decided that |
might as well follow the rest of the world,
and prehaps, somebody in particular /;
that will not be anybody's business, for
am not going to give you an experience
of my own.
should like to describe to you the
beautiful drive from the dear old town Of
Lucca down to the Baths, amongst the
green fields and chestnut trees, but in the
travelling age it would be new to nobody.
Each of you have your special reminis-
censes of that little journey-call them
up To give interest to my story.
But first, stop. long enough to laugh at
the recollection of the fat cuSt1de who
showed you the quaint, grey cathedral,
and the three black cats, with tails longer
than ever feline appendage were before,
that haunted the place, and looked sus-
PciousIy at you, finally beginning a slow
dance and chant about the alter, which
fairly made ou nervous, as if you had
intrUded upon a congregation Of witches
instead OF having entered Christian
church.
Then remember the sudden turn the
road takes, just at the foot of the first
hill, the lovely water fall, and the group
of cottages with the handsome children !;
shut your eyes and drink in the moon
! light, and the entire ecstasy of the dream,
and rouse yourself with desolate feel>
ing to RENE nber the scene has passed
out of sight, perhaps forever.
Now let Us 60 on.
The three little mountain villages
teemed with the Florentine world. The
beautiful Englishwomen, who had taken
up their residence in Tuscany, each one
with some story of husbands cruelty
as long a her titled pedigree suspic-
ious Parliamentary Germans-the
charming little Polish countess VINO set
| fire to her husbands bed curtains, (and
served him right, verdict OF the men,)
they were all there, reckless and gay as
ever.
Oh dear, yes, dare say there was a
twist in almost every body's morality, but
it was very very pleasant, that bright
Italian summer. If any person extremely
wise or dolefully good reads this sketch,
don't let him be too much borrfed-il
was seasons enough ago--I have kept
Lent sufficiently long to atone for the sin
Of having enjoyed my carnival. Bui it
was pleasant in spite of any wiseacre Of
them all /; and, let such say what they
please, it is good to be nearer eighteen
Than thirty, to go rambling about Italy
undisturbed by guardians or friends, with
frequent arrivals of letters from the dear
old ones at home, who are so certain you
are as good as gold, il not better.
The season passes quickly enough
nobody need reproach himself with hav-
ing enjoyed it. / don't care if you do
away with few thorns in your breast
that hurts for great while after; their
very pain reminds you that you have en-
joyfd, and suffering becomes endurable
on that account. don't believe Tenny-
son told the truth when he said that;
Sorrows crown of sorrow is remembering
happier things"
When one has had no summer dream
at all, the soul, in addition to the rest,
feels bitter and sore because it has been
defrauded of that which every human
being. has a right TO expect, or it drifts
slowly along in Polar sea of monotony,
with no great memories or events to stir
the waves; | would rather burn to death.
any time, than be frozen.
You remember what Byron says. !
suppose he is not person to quote, but
he had way, occasionally, of touching
things to the very quick. wonder if
that is one great reason why he is not
proper?'
Do you ever get tired of that word
and IFS restraints? hope you are good
aud do not. Oh! yes, let US slander our
friends let US put the worst construc-
ton upon ones actions, bate our neigh
bors, despise our relatives, but do it de-
corously. Oh! let us be properl
You recollect that very naughty wo-
man, Becky Sbarp5 But suppose you
are too proper to understand the feeling
she expressed when she was at the
height Of her golden year, her character
sPotless to all appearance, lovers and
friends plenty, but she so tired Of re-