Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 19, 1874, Page 4

THE CHICAGO DAILY ‘TRIBUNE: SATURDAY., DECEMBER 19, 1874- TWELVE PAGES, A ROMAN MYSTERY. DY TROSPER MERIMEE, I was 24 yoars of ngo when T started for Romo, My fathor gave o o dozon lotters of rocommendation, only ono of which was soaled ; this one could 1ot have boon lows than four poges fu length, and waa nddressodt “To tho Marquise Aldobrandh." You must writo mn,” onld my fathor, *if the Marquiae is atill beautirl.” Now, from my ehildhood, I bad noon havglug over the flreplace of my father's study o minla- turo of n very handsomo woman, with hior bair powderad, and crownod with ivy, and o tiger's tkiu thrown ovor her shoulder, On Lhe portrait was tho word, *Itoma, 18— Tho costumo stricl mo 08 vory singular; I-had ofton ssked who tho lady was, Tho suswor had alvays beeut “Itisapleturo of a bacchanto," But s roply did not satisfy mo; T wuspoctad that thoro was noerab connocted with tho watter, for whon thia simplo question was out wy mothor appenrad to bita bor lips, aud my fathor fnstantly became serlous, Whon tny father gavo e this wonlod lottor ho cast o stealthy planco at the minteture. I iu- voluutarily did tho samo, and tho thought struck mo that tho bacehanto might bo tho Marquigo Aldobiandi, Ao I was just begianing o understand tho ways of tho world, I drow all sorts of conclusions from my mothor's demoanor aud my father's chango of countenance. When I arrived In Rlomo tho first Jotter 1 pro- gentod was that intonded for tho Marquise. Sbo dwelt in » handsoma palace noarilio Pmaza San Mareco. 1 bunded my letter and enrd o n sorvant n yollow livery, who ushored mo Into n lurgo par- Jor, whticl was dark, gloomy, aud indilforontly furmsbed. But thoro nro picturce by tho mas- tors in ail the palaces of Romo, and thero was quito @ number In ihls one, and somo very fino, The first ono I rematKed was a portrait of woman, whieh I took far a Loonardo da Vinel. Iy thio richness of the frame, and the rosewood casel on which it was placod, it conld not bo doubted that it was tha gem of tho calloction. As the Marquise did not Laston, I' had nmplo time to esamine it. I ovon carriod it oo win- dov, in order to sorutimzo it in o moro favor- wblo'light. 1t nas ovidently w portrait, and uob ney picturo, Tor such coantonances aro wot ?n'\z‘cnfm‘i. Tt was tho likevors of n fine- lookinge woman, with rothor thick lipas tho pyobrowa nlmost mot, and tho oxprossion way linughty, and withal mild, On tha background was a blszon, surmounted by n dueal crown. But what struck mo mort forcibly was that tho tostume, with the oxception of tha powder, was bxnetly fhat of my frihior's bacchanto, T Lt tho portruit still in hend when tho Mar- ise apponred. flu"J\l;{).lm(o Dis father1® eha exclaimed, as sho advanced toward mo. ‘*Ahl Frenchmanl Frenchman! b no roonor arrives thau ho takes posgesslon of Madame Lucrezin” I hnstened to apologize for my indiscrotion, snd praised in oxiravagant torma tho mastor- ioco of Lieonardo, which I had had tho boliness o displace. ¥ lé is, in truth, o Leonnrdo," maf tho Mar- quieo, “'aud tha portrait of the oo fumons Lit- Srozin Borgin, Of all my paintings this is tho fno your father most sdmired. But, good 1 what o rosomblanca ! I cou imngino i 1+ hor b 25 yonra of nge, Iow ia R "g“not 80mo of thewo W e [CRR It “GHambdy Cwquee o no powderon hor sRiy 30 1 bigor'a skin, at a brat gl 101 tho_mysterions = yenrs had not snf- .1es of raro boanty. «' dress nlono had k, and her triplo mn and radiant ko had becomo o aailz, v vearsed me s 1 20, how =3 -osb affectionately. rit «hn of'eri i me ber houso, her « viondy, ame © whom 8ho oited povaral Unidron By idar mb, shu, ** 48 your mothor,"” wofiv-tly Last down B ayes, liew aski 1327 el over you, and o v ~ 3306 ta me t imn.ehurely Lt Janein 10 W her chargo waa no on to caution mo b Rlome menaced 1 conn, mas of v azo, und ndvised mo to avoid iheta! 1 Aas v stam Yt conpany, and espe- daliy than tata, g1 anl to associato with e wodld destgnate to mo. In avs anime sormon. I 'd- with becoming A it rorpecttully, TVi Towe to tske my Jenvn, T regrot,” said “hiat rag enon, the M1, is, in_at presont ear eatote in Lomay; £ 1 wish to presont 1 som, Don O* avio; howill soon Tor you are about . and steady young Don_Ottavio, I . - b a molancholy ox- ®, 1 already betraying a to speak, the Mar- -l sorts of amiable 0 +:'@ ench sontence by a foep buw, and it was .+ rd that tho following 1ay ho should eall for wuo; wo should stroll about «ihe town, and then raturn to dine ‘at tho Aldo- srandi painco, 1 ad acarcely walked twenty pnees in the streot, shon a voleo behtnd mo eallod out in an imperi- s tonp s “\Whero are you going nlonoe at this hour, Don Ditavio? " I turned, and paw o stout abbo, who scanned me from Lend to foot. # | am not Don Ottavio,” T replied. + Tho abhe bowed to the ground, made a great many apologies, and L #rw . him & moment aftar suter the Aldobraundi palace. I kept on my way, ot preatly flattered by being taken for o Mon- signore in'ombryo. Notwithstanding tho Marquire’s warnings, and maybo on thut very nccount, my ilrst stop way to dixcover the nddress. of an ‘artist I was ne- guainted with, I passed an hour in his studio talking ovor the menna of amuscment, lawful or roverso, which Roma supplied. I then touched on the Aldobrandis. Tl Marquire, ho told me, aftor having led a vory morry life, had become very dovout when shio beeanio aware that tha time for conquests bLind gono by, ller eldest son was a brute, wha pansed his tima huuting and taking in thomoney the furmers brought from thoir vast estates, Thoy were now engaged in making on idiol of the gecond son, 1 the hopo that ho would soma day be a Cardinn), Meanwhilo ho was in tho hands of the Jesuite, o nover went out alono. Ho was particulurly cautioned agninst looking ot n waman or malking one step without having at his heels an able who had educated him, aud who, rfter having boon the latest amico of the Mar- quise, uow ruled hor household with almost daspotic autitority, Ihe noxt duy, Don Ottavio, followed by tho Abbo Negroul, tho same individual who, the duy boforo, hind mistakeu mo for lus pupil, callod for me In o carriago, nud offered 1ue bis sorvices ns e e o 1 T'he {hist place wo stopped at was s churoh, Don Ottavio, follawing the example of tha Abbo, Lnelt, stnck bis breast, and mado smunberless signa of tho crogs, After rising, ho pointed ont to me tha frescocs ond statuary, and spoke of Lirem in tho sirain to bo oxpectod Of & man of good wense aud taste, Thin surpricod mo agreoably, Wo chatted, aud bis couvorsation ploased mo. For #omo time wo bud bocn tatkingin Ttallan,” Buddenly, bo ad- droseed mo In Fronch: * My tutor does not understand ona word of ¥our lauguage. Lot us talk rench ; wa shaltbo roer. Ouo would have supponed tit the chango of Jauguage had trausfornied Lhe young man com- letoly. Nothiug in N conversation betokened ho priost, 1 conld huva imuined that T wan Yigtoning to o Liborul from the provinces, T ro- muarked that he said everything i tho samo mounotanous tone of voico, aud that vory often thin toro contraptad stiangoly with the vivacity of his oxpressions, This wea o bubit apparontly adopled to decerve Negroni, who from timo to time requestod that what wo were saying should bo explainod to Lim. Do it undoratood that ouy traniation wan not absolatoly litor), A youug man pussod us, wouring purplo atock- ingy, % boro,” eald Don Ottavio, I patelcinn of the oresont duy. Infumous livery! Aud to tignk that 1t will bo mine In o fow months! What fappincss,” lio udded after o brief pauso ¢ what huppiness to jive ju a country like yours }\)Iurotllu Trenchmon I might some day bo o eputy " This noblo ambition gave mo a very strong in- clination to laugth, nud #s our abho noticed this, I wan obligod to explin to bim that wo wore talking of tha blunder of an urchwologist who had mistuken o sbatue of Bernini for an antiquo. Wao raturnod to dine ub the Aldobrandi Prlace, Immediatuly after the coffes was #orved, tho Aarquise apologized for bor gon, who' was obliged, for the pertormanco of some plous du- tiee. 1 rotiro to bl npnctment, I ramaiied slena with hor and the Abbe Nageoul, who, reclinin {i:n Invgo arm-chalr, was steeping tho slumbor o 0 just, Tll\n Murquiso naked all partioulnra condorning my father, Uarls, my last lifo, and ty projacty, 8lio appeared to mo omiable and good, but rathor 100 Inguisitive, aud, above all, too much fntorested in iy salyntion. Bho, howover, spoko tntian adinirably, and T toole o valuabto lekson in pronutointion. 1 visitod hor froquontlv., Nonrly ovory morn- g 1 viowed soma autiquifion with et son nud th porenninl Nogroui, and in thu ovoning I dinod with thom at the palace. The Marquiso reoelved but fow visitors, and thoy waro prinol- pally clorgymon, Ono night, after s lon{flmucd conversation on 1105 Blorius, tho pacty brake up & thoughts ?ul mood on thusu\\’ur of tho ovil ono. 1 pro- covdod homeward nlons, and to rench tho Via dob Corso I onfered o narrow stract, througl wiich 1 hiad not proviously pussed. 1t was quito dos gertod, 'Uho ey only rested onltong garden walla and misorablo houses, not ono of which was Tighted np. Tho clocks had fust struck 12: the nyjrht was dark, T was waikiig quita fagt, keap- ing i the middle of the street, whun I honrd slight noiso ovor my boad, o st/ aud simultano- ously with the ell o roso foll ag my foot. .I laokiod up, and, in spito of tho dacknoss, st B woman, drossed in whito, at & windaw, with hor arm oxtonded towad me. Wo Frenohwoen aro vuty solf-concoited in foroign parts, aud our Zathors, the conquatars of Burape, haveindulgad us with traditions vory flattoring to our nntonal prido, 1 plonsly bolieved in the intlnmmubility f Gorman, Spanish, nud Itatisn ladlos, at tho moto sight of o Freuchman, Lo bo briof, at that time I was o goutive Frauchman, sud, besides, did not thio rous spoatt plain enough? " Madame,” suid 1 in au undertono, poking up tho raso, ** you haya droppad your bouquet.” Thut thie woman had aiveady disappouared from 4o window, which had beon voivoloasly closod. 1.did ag avy othor porson would havo dono, gougght for tho nonrcst door; it way almost un- dar tho window; I found it, and waited for it to opon, Fivo minutos olapsed amtd profound el Jonco, Icoughod, and thon I lightly scrutchod A ins gars b it 0id ot open. T examined it Thoro attontivoly, hoping to find & koy or o latch ; to ny great urpriso L found a pudlock, ‘Iio_jonlons swnin tiad not yet roturned, I theught, o Iplcked up n stono and throw it waint tho window, It'struck a wooden shutter and fell back at my feet. Conlound it! I grumbled, do the Roman Iadies sueposa that men earry laddors in their pockots ? I huve nevor beon told of the osistenco of such & cuntom. T waited & fow minutes longer, but in vain. Ouly it seomed to wo once orgwico tha I saw tho shutter move slightly, aa fhough somo ovo Ihad tried to open it from fuside, i order to sco mto tho streot, Aftor a quarter of an honr my pntioneo wos oxbaustod; I it & olgar, oud r swned my way homowaed, not, however, with- out having studied carefully tho loeation of the Liousa with tho padiock. "he next morning. refleoting on this advon~ turs, I eamo to tho following conclusion: A jouog Toman lady, probably of grout bonuty, aving mot we dusing somo of 1wy porcgrina-. tions i the city, has beeome eunmored of my slight otiractions, It sho only oxprossed hor adimiration Ly the gift ol n fluwor, 1t was mod- esty which dotetred hev from doing wore, or olso the prosence of o gaveruess—inuy bo o cursed tutor ke Royini's Barlolo. I decided, thorofore, upon watching tho houso regularly, With this deternuuation Ilefé my d\vellh\pfi after Liaving givon my bair a brusbing whiol was Lo rondor mo frresistiblo. I donned wy new ovorcont and_yellow gloves. Iu this attirc, witl my hat placod on ono kide, and the faded xoso wmy button-holo, I dirceted my stops toward tho streat, tho name of which I was still ignorant of, sithough I did uot huvo tha loast diffloulty 1 finding it. A ling above o madonun intormed mo that 1t waa called 2l vicevlo di Madama Lu- crezia. This name surprised me. I immediately rocol- lected tho portrait by Loonardo, and tho slories of prosentimonts snd devils which Lad beou wold tho provious ovouiug in tho Murquiso's salon. Itben (bought that somo love-adveutures wero plavued by heaven, Wy shiould not tho object of my adoration bo named Lucrezia? Why should sho not resomble the Lucrazia in tho Aldobrandi gullery ? 1t wap Lroad doylight, I was within a fow yords of & chorming person, snd no siuistor tuought was minglod with the omotion I ex- pericneed. 1stood bofore the house, It bors tho num- bor, 1. A bad nugury. -Alaal its nir did not {ustify tho idea I had formed of it by night. 1t wag by 10 means & palace, I beheld an inclos- 1ro of walls blackoned by age, and covorad with wmoss, from bohind which projectod tha hranches of tome noglected fruit-trocs. In o coruor of tho inclosura stood n house, ouo story high, with two windows looking on tho streot, and both sacured by old shutters with iron bwms ou the outsido. I'ho door was low, surmounted by an offaced coat of aums, and closed, ay on the pre- vious wight, by o Inrge padlock with & chain at- tached to it. On thv door was wrilten incbatlk : + This house for sale or to lot." I could not bo miscaken, ‘Tho houses on that nido of the stroot wero too few to atlow of MIY error. Thoro wag my padloek, aud, botter still, two rose leaves ou tha pavemont, near the door, indicating tho preciso placo whero I hiad roctived by sizns the docluration from my lady-lovo, and praving thut the pavewment in front of tho Kouso ‘van 1ot often swopt, Tinquired of somo paverty-stricken noighbors whaore the keeper ot this mysterious houss Lived. “Not hero,” way the rough roply. It seomed ny though my quostion disploared thoee to whom it wne nddronscd, and s excited my ouriosity. After going from dgor to door I finnlly entered & kind of obscure cellar, in whicl was tin old woman, swhom one might rend'ily hiave aceused of sorcery, for alio had n black cat, and way cooking, T know not what, in a kettlo. *You wish to seo tho houso of Andama L erezia?" sho inguired, *I have tho koy to +Well, thon, shoy it to me,” “#Wonld yon like to hire it ?" sho askod, smil- 1ng doubtfally. Yen, if it suits mo." “ It will not st you, Tut como, will you give mo & paul it L show it to you 2 *Wilhngly." On that ussurance sho hastily roso from her bench, taok a rusty koy which was_hanging aganst tho wall, and conducted mo to No. 13, *\Why," Einquired, “is this houso eallod the Dionse of Madawia Lucrezia ™ Tho old womun unewerod, chuckling ¢ 4\Why do thoy eall you a stranger? Isit not DLeentse you are s strangor ?* “lng s yory well; but who was this Madoma. Lucrezin? Was sho & loman lady # “What! havo you come to Romo without hav- ing henrd of Mudama Lucrozia? When wo uro within X will relatoto you her story. Mere In anothor triok of tho demon! 1 canuot imagine wlat uils this koy; it will not turn. Pry for yoursoir.? * I'hio fuck i, the padlock and tho loy had not met for & long time. Ilowever, by means of thren oaths, nud considernblo guashing of teoth, 1 suceeeded in making tho key worlk; but in so Qoing I toro my yotlow gloves, aud burt tho palin of my hand, Wo enterod an obourc passago- way, which conducted to soveral rooms with low ccillgs. (Lt walls wore covered with cobwebs, bonoath which it was hard to doteot s fow trneos of gild- ing. Ly the odor of dampnoss which- porvaded tha stmosphere it wus evidout that iho spart- ments liad not boon inkiabited for » long timo, “Iliovo wag not o Ringle picco of furniture. Somo scraps of old leathor hung frowm tho wall.” Judg- fug from tho carving of somo of tho hrackots, and the form of somo of tho firoplnces, I conclud- e thut the construction of tho houso duted from the siffoenth contury, and it soomed prolabla that formerly it lad boon decorated with oxcoptionnt efogatico. Lo windows, with small pinen, tho gieater number of which wero broken, oat upon the garden, whore I perceived o rase-bush, with roscs in fall bloom, #ome fruit- trees, and'n quuntity of cabbage-snronts, After having examined all the lower tloor, I wont to thio uppor story whora I had woon my incoguila. o old womah Lrid to preveus mo from doing 0 by anying thut thero was _nothing to seo, aud that tho stuireaso was in very bad coudition, T3ut observing that T waa obstinate, ahe followed with murked ropugnauco, ‘Tho roows an this floor resambled thoso ou the lower onw, only thoy were not 50 dump, and_tho tlooring and windows were tn botter ordor. In tho last room I eutored way o lurgo, black-leather arm-chamw, which, strango to un\f)' was not covored with dust. I soatad mysulf dn it, aud finding it a comforcable seat to lioar o stury itt, asked the old womau to roluto to mo that of Maduma Luerezin, = To ro- fresh ber moomory I prewonted her with some pauis, Bho coughed, used her handkorehiof, aud commonced in tho followlng muunor **In tho time of the Pagany, Aloxander, who wos Eiporor, had a deughter 88 beautin) oy tho day ; her name way Madama Lucrozia, Boa —thero sho sl " I turned quickly. Fho old woman_ potnted to » bravket which sustainod tho maln boam of the room, 1t ropresented o mermaid, very coapscly oxncutod, " Blia liked plenhuro,” continued tho old woms an, *Aud, wn hor fither might liave found Tault with Jior, she hud thi houso huilb Tor her own uke, Every ovening wlie camo down from thig Guirinl, and prococded Lioro to enjoy hors solf, Bho pluced hergelf ot (hiy window, snd whon o handsome gentloman, Wka yourself, assod by sho would eall him,—vyou oan "bo mirs o wns courteously reccived, Unluckily, men aro gosips, o, nt all events, somoe are, wnd thoy wiiight havo comvromized ber he talldng, Qho therofora toole muitablo mensures to rrnmnt then from so dolug, Whon sho_lind bld good- b{n to hor guoat, hor valots stood on tho ataira which wo nscondod. Thoy put an _ond tn_lim and thon buriod lim {n’ tho cabbago-Feds, T assuro yon o lgo bumber of bones wore found in that gardon. *'Theus proceodings lnated somo timo. DBut ono ovonlt her brother, whoso namo was Blato ‘Parquinio, passed under her window, Bho did not rocognizo him, Kho summonod hint. o aboyod tho call, It farad with him ay with all others, - Iluwover, lio had forgatton his handkor- ohief, on which his namo was marked. ** When shio discovored tho Lruth slio was ovors como with dowpair. Sho loosed lor garlor and hangad horsel Lo this beam. This 14 an oxamplo for tha youth of tho ago. Whilo tho old wotnan was_mixing up nll the postods, aud confustug tho Tarquiun and_ tho Dorgias, my ovey wero fixed upon the floor. Thoy lind Just hghtod on sowmo rose-potaly which wero utill frost, *Who cares for this gardon 2 I domanded, My son, glr, tho gardonor of Signor Vanozzl, tho gontlomon to_whom the noxt-door garden belongs. Bignor Vanozzl i always In tho Ma- ramo, and Kearcoly ovor gomon to tomo, That 14 tho renson why tho garden is not well kopt. Ay son Is with him. 1 am vory much nftaid ho will uot roturn very soon,” sbo addod, pighing, “8o Lo s much ocouplod with Signor Ya- nozzi " “Ah! he fan smgulsrman; ho omploys my son for tao many purposes. 1 fear that temiblo things will bappon, Al my poor son |™ Sho thou wmudea move towards tho dooras though shio wantod to tormiuato tho couvorsn- tion, 8o nobody llves hero ?” X said, stopplug hor. No one,” Aud why 5 Bha sbrugged bar shoulders. Ligton,’ vald 1, giving hor a plaatro; * tell mo tho truth, A womnau comes horo 2" A woman! Graclons hoavons!” . ,\"eu; T unw hor last ovoning, and spoko to " Holy Virgin |" cried the old woman, running tothe stairs, “It must Lavo boeu Madumn Lugcrazin! Let us go, lot us go, good sir! I Tad beon fold who comea bero at night, hut would not say 8o to you for fear of injuring tho proporty, as I thought you propokod to hire v T couid not hold lior bacl, Kho was in n hur- 1y to lenva tho boudo, ag 8ho maid (hat sho want- ol to pluco a taper in tho neareat chureh, 1 followed her, despaning of leuralng any moro, . 1t will bo supposed that I did not relate my atory at tho Aldobrandi palaca; the N way tao prudish and Don Ottavio too busy with olitics to givo nuy good advice fi Jovo affairs. uc 1 wout to visit my arhist friend, who know ovorything in Lomo, sud geked bim what e thotight of Lho oage. *1 think," anid be, ** that yon hoave soen tho play of * Lucrezia Borgia,' What awful dungor you have boen in ! Wihon sho was o terrible during her life, how mtch more terriblo sho must bo n'[wr donth ! Tho thought mukey mo trem- o, * Jesting asido, what can it mean ?” Jinslst- ed. * It meana that you are an atheist and a phi- losopher, snd do not boliovo intho most respot- ablo things. Very well; thou what say you to another fypothesls? Lot ua supposc that tho old woman reuts her housa to persons eapablo of calling in passers-by, Old womonlayo beou found who wera depraved ouough to do 0. ¢ Excellont,” sald I'5 *“but havo I, then, tho appenranco of o saint, that tho old wemau should not haye offerod mo her gorvices? This iden is not to bo entortained, Bosldes, bear iu_mind, the fuenituro in tho house. Ono must bo Old Nick in porsou to bo gatisfied with this soiu- tion,” » No doubt, then, it is o ghost. Stay, nlust supposition : You may havo mistakon tho Lhouso, By Jovel uow thag L thinlkof It ; near & gardon ? Asmall, low door? Why, it must bo tho dyvoll~ iug of my f1iond Lo Rosiun, 1tis not cightecn mouths tince ehie becawmo tho ornamont ol that streot. Itiaust bosaid that sho hay lost tho sight of onooyc, but Lhat s a moro detall: sbo 1ias #till o very fino profile.” All theso oxplanations did not conyinco me- When evening cume I pussed elowly bofore Lut- crozin's loust. Lsaw uothing. Ipassed by it again; no result, Tiroo or lour ovoniugs in suecossion T kept. watoh uuder the window as I returued from tho Aldobraudi Lalaco, bug ul- wuys uusuccessfully. 1 was about to fovget tho mysterious place, whon ono night, au I walked througlh tho_ticcolo, at about 13 o'clock, I din- tinetly Licard » woman's Inugh bohind tio shut- ter of tho window whero tho thrower of the flowor appeared. Twico Ihoord this langh. I could not avoid o corwin feoling of terror whon at that moment I saw cowming from tho othier end of the atrect o number of povitonts with hoods aud tapews in thow bands, who wero going to Diaey o corpso, When thoy bad passod I station- ed mysolf undor tho window, but I heard nothin, wore. 1tried to tbrow stones; Iovon eallet out more or loss distinotly; noono appeared, and o showor baving coma’ up suddonly, I was obligad to retreat. 4 1w nehamed to acknowledge bow many times T atovpod beforo that wratched house, without munaging to solve tho mystory which tormented mo. Onco only 1 passed.through tho viccolo with Don Ottavio and tho porpetusl Abbe. “i'hero,” enid I, '* In Lmcrozin'y houso.” T saw that ho changed color, * Yes,” said g, g popular tradiuon, which is fav from trust- worthy, wills It that Lucrezia Borgia had hero ler patite maison. If theso walls could talig, what liorrore thoy wonld revenl ! Notwitbstand- ing, friond, when T compare thosd tuney with our own, I4nd T regrat them. Duting the reign cf Alexandor VI, thore wore still sone Romaus loft, Now thero are nono. Ciesar Dorgia wus a mon- stor, but & groutman, He wantod to drivo tho barbariang out of Italy, and, perhaps, bad bhis futher lived e would have accomplished that grand schomo, O ! Xenven soud us s tyrant liko Borgin, and deliver us from thoso human despots who raduce ns to idiacy 1" ‘When Don Ottavio touchad on tho subject of politica it was_imposaibla to stop him, Wo lad reached tho Piazza dol Papolo, and bis culog: ou enlightonod duugmium_wuu sot yot atau end. Tut wo wore o huudrod miles sway from my Lu- erozin, Ono ovoning on which I lind gono quite lato to pay my rospects to the Marquiso, sho told mo that Jior Hon was not well, and rognestod mo to go to bis_room. I found him inbed, drossed, and reading a T bim in the morning, and which he carefully coucenlod in & book of o roligions charae Tor some tima past this stratagem had worved to doceivo the Abbo and tho Marquiso, On mail days I wos brought un in-folio. I gave onoin voturu, aud sippod in i o papor lout mo by tho’ Atnbussador’s sccretary. Lhis guvo tho Marquise and tho Abbo a vory oxnltod obinion of y pioty, and thoy oecasionally nttompied to gob o on tho topic of theology. After Loving cous vorsed for somo time with Don Ottavio, and re- marking that he was vory much excited, and that ovan politica could not arrest his attontion, 1 advisad him to undress, aud tookmiy loave, It s cold, und L hed no cloak. Don Ottavio urgod me to accopt his own, and T consented aud took n Yesson ju tho diftenit art of drapiug the garment i the roal Romau utyle, Wrappiug up tu the oyas I 1uft tho palace, T bnd ouly walked & fow paces on tho Piazzn Saiut Mure when s working man, whom I had remarked sonted on n beuch at the dour of the palaco, upproachod and hauded mo & crumblod papor. my For hoayon's gako,” gaid hae, “read this."” Sayiug this ho ran off a8 fast'ss kis logs could beay L, I had tnkon the papor, and was secking alight by which to reud it. - By tho aid of a lamp which was burping bofore » madonun, Iaaw that it was & noto written with ngolmll, and seemingly with « trombling hond, I deeiphiorad with grout difi- ety to following words Do nov como this ovening, or wo are un- done; all is kuown, with tho oxeoption of your "lm“'m Nothing can soparato ny, Your facroe zhn," “ Lucrozia ! I_oxclaimod, “Tnciozin again! what o singular docoption! what can bo at the bottom of ull this? * Do not como' Dlray, my gu\r one, what roud can ouo follow to go to you " ‘Winle pondering over this noto I mechanieally took the rond leading to tho Viceolo di Madama Lucrozin, and soon found smysolf standing be- fore No, 13, ‘Tlio straot was as desorted ns ever, and tho doap silonco of the vicluity ouly disturboi by the wound of my footateps, L halted and rufd my eyes to tho well-known window, ‘This timoI wus nat mistakien ; tho shultor was oponing, ‘The window was now wide open. 1 Tanciod T saw & humun form stunding forth from tho dark Lackuround of the yom, “ Lugcrozia, I8 ityou " eald], in au undar- tono. 1 obtained no answer, but honrd n slight nolse, the t;umm ot which 1.did nob at firsb under- stand, *+ Luorozla, {8 it you #" X ropoated, In a loudor ono. Au T uttered tho last word, X rocoived a torrl- Vlo Llow in the breast, .1 honrd an ozplosion, and tound myself lying full longth on the pave- mont. A hoarso voleo eried # From signots Lucrozia 1 Then the shutter wus nolsclossly olosed, 1 pleliod mynolf up, Btawgoring, my flest act be- injz to ascortain whathor { bad 4 furgo bolo in the lnt of my stomach, Thoro was, indecd, a holo n my cloak and anothor lu my coat, but the ofs foct af tho ball was %0 much ‘attonuated by $he folds of tho oloth that I escnpnd with n sovoro Lruloa, ‘I'ho idoa immadintely oceurred to mo that a socond shol might not e romote, snd I dragged mysoll to the side of tho lnhospitable houue, re- mnining clogo to tho walls in order not to bo nimed at, T was walking awny nu quiokly an posaibla, and was stlll mneh out of broath, when 5 man be- ki mo Inquired, with Intorest, If Iway lnjured, 1 rocognizod Don Otbavio by his volco, 1t was, howover, no tima to quostion him, surpriged anl AvaA Lo w00 bim alono in tho strook at that hour, In few words I informed him thet I Liad boon firad At from a window, aud that I was only bruised, 4Thin oo mistake " ho oxolaimod. ‘Bt I hoar some ono coming, Can you walk? 1 shonld bo douo far if wo word séon togethor, 1 will not abandon you, though.” lla tuok ma by the arm, and led “mo rapialy away. Wo walked, or mathor ron, s long nw I conld; bub I was soon obligod to loan nyaiust & post to rocover breath, Tortunntaly wo wore near a largo louso whoro thoy woro giving a bnll, ‘Fhero woro & number of carslages nt tho door. Don Ottayio called ouo of them, placad mo iu it, aud oscortod mo to my hotel, A glass of waler having completoly re- wtored mo, 1 rainted to bim iu dotail ol thut had happonod to we {n front of tho fatal houso, from tho gift of tho rodo to that of tho' bullot. o listenod to mo with hanging head, and hig faco half-buried in ono of hin hands, Whon I showed him tho noto I had received, ho solzod upon it, and read it oagerly, nxvlnlmiup again s “'Chiy is & misiake! u sad mistako ! * You must nckoawlodizo,” said I, *that it is an oxcocdingly disagrosable one for both of us, T was almost Iilled, aud ton or twolve holes havo bocu made in your fino cloak, Whata jeatous poaplo your countrymen are.” Don Ottavio prossod my hands in a most dia- consolato manmor, and road the voto over with- uswering mo. ¢y aud give mo Eomo oxplnantion of all thie,” T euggostod; * for douco tako wa £ T wue derstand anything about iti" 1{e shruggod hik sbonldora. 5 %91l me, nt least, whnt I am to do, To whom am I to apply In your uninted town to wroak Jus- tico on tho man who pelts tho pausera-by without ovon nsking thelr bamos? 1 ackuowlodge that I should Iiiso to soo him bung." **1Jo not eny sol” Lo exclaimed, *You donot know this country. You must not say & word to anybody about what ling bofulion you. You would oxposn yoursolf to norious yioril by so doing.” « lixposo myself] I am dotormined to havo my rovengo, 1iad I offended tho rageal, 1 should not complain; but for picklug up a roso, can- didly, I hardly desorvo o bullot.” “.eava it fo mo," said Don Ottavio; “ I will endeavor to solve tho mystery, Dut I roquest, oA a favor and us & nigual proof of your triena- alip, ot to mentjon the aifair to any one. Will you promize mo this?” At ip besought my silence, ho appoarad go sad that 1 had not tho heart to refuno ; and I prom- jsod il ho osked. Ilo thunked me warwly, prossed my baad, und bade ma good-day. + 13y tho way,” I asked of lin Just as lio was opening tho door, *explain to mo bow it was that yon just happoned Lo bo on the spot in timo to como fu my nesistance.” G T peard tho report,” he replied, conaiderably embarrassed, *and immediately loft tho houue, Teariug that romelbing had Lnppoucd Lo you.* Ho then hurriedly quitted me. ho following nurning s Burgeon, probably sent by Don Oténvio, owmo to soa ma, 1o pre- kevibed o poultico, but asked no }uuu:inun con- corning tho bruiso on my body. 'Thoy ara vory dincroot in Rome, and I tried to confora to tho eustom of the couutry, ‘Somo day pasted by, and I fonnd su_oppor- tunity to convorso froely with Don Ottavio. " 1lo was thoughtful, and oven Leavier than usual, nud, besidoe, ho roomed desivous of avoiding m; questions, During tho.occasiounl duwl hdurs epont with him, ho breathed not o word ou tho subjoct of tho inmates of the Viccolo di Madama Lucrezin, ‘I'bo timo wag spproacking for thn coramony of his ordination, and I attributed his melancuoly to tho repugnance he folt for tho profession thoy wers obliging him to embraco. 1 was proparing to Jeavo }omo for Floronce. When I nnnouncod sy intontion to the Marquise Aldobrandi, Don Ottnvio begged mo, under gomo protoxt or other, to accompuny him to his room. Onco thero, grasping both my hends: »3v dear friend,” said lio, **if you do not grant mo thio favor I am nbout to asik of you, I shall ecor- tainly blow my benius ont, for I do not know any other menus of escape from this dilemma. Iam resolved nover to wear tho lorrid gown which tuey wish to impose upou mo, What I want to ank of you is that you tako mo with you. 1 wish 10 fleo from thie plnco. You can pass mo off for your domestie, Ono word addod to your pass- port makes my flight casy.” T attompted at first to turn him fram his pur- pose by reprosenting to him tho griel bo would causo his mother ;_but, finding bim dotormined in his rosolution, I ended by promising to take Titm with mo, aud to have my passport medo out accordingly. iy 18 not o1, esid ko, “ My doparture depends altogothor on tho success of an opera- tion in which I am engaged. You lenve day after to-morrow, Day after to-morrow I muy lmvti ux'l,ccomlnd, aud thon I sball bo at your gorvico, K “Could yon have been mad enough,” T nsked, not without somoe misgivings, **to take part in soma conspitacy “No,” Lo retorted; ‘‘thero aro less sorious intorests at stako than tho fato of my country. Thoy are important enough, howover, for my life aud buppinoss to dopend on them. Ican toll you no moro ot present. In two days you shall know tho wholo story.” I was bocoming necustomod to mystery, so T didl not protost. 1t was sottied that wo should start at 8 o'clock in the morning, and only stop on renching Tuecan territory. Tersuaded that it was usoloss for mo to retire, it beiug necowsavy to leave 5o early tho next morning, I employed the laut oventtg of my xo- Jjourn in Rome viaiting tho different louses ab ‘which 1 bad been received. I took leave of tho Marquiso, and, for the wako of appoatances, of horson. As Ileld his hand in mino I folt it tramble. losmd to me goftly, At this mo- ment my lite iu at atake. Wheu you reach your hotel you will tind taore a lotter from mo.” f, at 8 o'elock precisoly, I awm not with you, do not awnit mo." 3 'he chungo I hia cxpression struck me, but T attributed it to the emotion which he would nut- urally oxperienca on tha ove of parting, perheps forover, from his fanuly, One hour Iator £ wis st my houss, T wished to pass onco wmora through the Viccolo di Ma- dana, Luresia, Somethiug whito i duugling from tho window, at which 1 had seon two such different appatitions. I eontionslyappronched. It wan n knobled vope, Was this un mvitation to tako loavo of tho Signora ? 1t scemu vor, like it, and tho tomptation was great, I however, yicld to it, remombering the protmise [ hrd made'to Don_Ottavio, and also, I must nc- Kowledie, the disugreenblo recoption which a much slighter provocation hiad causod me to bo tho abject of. I pursued my routo but slowly, grieved at Toaing tho st opportunity I sbould evar liave of solyitig the mystery of tho houko-No, 18, At euch atop £ turned, “ospecting every minute to g0e o human form ascending or desconding tho rope. Nothing, howover, upponred, 1 at longth ronched tho estromity ot the viceolo, and was about to enter the Corso, HTgrawall, Mudama Lmerozis,” said T, lifting my bLut to the house, whicli was still in_sight, “Liook, It you please, for somo other perdon to AVeNEo YOur Wrongs on the jeulous wrotch who Treeps yon captive.” ; 1t s 2 o'cloek whon I arrived at my hotel. Tho earrlage wad i the courlyard, with the luggago. Ona of #ho hotel boys handod mo & lettey, It wag Don Ottavio's, und, sy it scemod ta bo long, 1 thoupht it bettor to read it lu my room. [ told the lad to light mo up-ataies. +Bir," snid hio, * tho sorvant you oxpeoted, tho ono who i to travel with you--—" 4 Well, hug ho arrived 77" +No, pir,” 4110 mugt bo at the stavle, and will como with the Liorsos.” “Hir, n Indy camo hiero & fow minutes ago and nsked for your servant. Sho inslsted on going to your room, and told me to gay o your sor- yant, when ho arrived, thot Madsme™ Luorezia T exclaimed, holdiog tightly the balustors, WYen, gir. Tt sooms that sho, too, in on tho poiut of foaviug, for sho guve mo b umul paok- #go; I put it in tho boot of the earringo,” My hoart beat violoutly. I cannob deacriba tha combinntion of tarror, eupeystition, and onrlouity which nroso withiu mo. Whon I had yonched the tirat landing—I livod on tha socond Toio Ind who procedud mo mado o misstop, aud the candle which lis held dropped nud wout ont, Ho begged tou thousand pardons, and went Qown to dight it, . T continned ascendiug, T nlvasdy had my handon the ley of y raom, T besitated. What new vislon wae abous to pro- boub itwolf to my sight 7 More than ones, in darknouy, the story of ~the bleoding nun had on- 1ored my mind, _ Wae I possosted of & deman, liko Don Alonzo ? 1t soomod pu though tho lug ould neyer oturn. w! opened tho doar, Thank heavon | there was light in my bedroom. I orossod the smallpar- Jor whioh prafaced it, rapldly. I aaw ata glanco thst there was uo one tho bodroom, Lut I heard behind me a light stop, and tho_ruatlin -t:t [y d.\::n.b I lfiunvn that my Laix stood on en turned bruptly. A \oman d.rpamd in white, her head govered with a biack mantil arma, * Horo you aco at last, my boloved," sho orled, soizing my hand, 1lors was foy cold, and hior countouanca was &3 palo ns death, I drow bacl to tho wall. (5 flnlyvlrlghxl it {4 not he. Ol air, aro you Don Ottavio's friand " At thoso worda all was ozplalnod, Tho young wotan, notwithstanding hor axcorsiva pallor, did not look 1u the lonst like a ghost, Bhe cast down hor oyen, o thing which ghoats never do, and hor genaral attitude was modoest and maldonly. "o bo preciuo, howaver, 1t wan high timo for Don Ottavio to clope with Lucrozfi:, and, untortunatoly, tho rals of confldant was thoonly ono allotted to mo In tho adventuro, A minuto lator Don Ottavio appeared in dis- guise, 'Tho horaes woro broughit, and wo slort~ ed. Lucrozin had no passport, but & protiy womnn nover oxcitos susptolon, Wo hnd, howa over, omio trouble with & wondntmo, I told bim that ho waa n_good ofticer, nnd muat cortalnly linvo sorved under Napoloon the Oreat. 1o as- sontod, I presented him with o goldon portrait of tho wondorful mau, und told him that I was acoustomed to trayel with an aniica to koop me compan, and, as I changed vory often, I did not find it nucossary to havo tho naino piacod on the pasaport., Pt lady will anawor until I rorch the noxt town. I hnvo beon told I should find many as fascinating o8 ako,” 1 romarked. *You wonld do wroug to change,” said the ondarmo, respocifully, closing tuo earrlago oor, 1t i nocessary to mention that that rascal, Don Ottavio, bnd formed the scquaintance of this awiablo person, who wag tho siator of o cortuiu ‘Vuuozzl, o rich farmer, but a man hold in rathor bad ropiite. Don Otinvio know right well that, ovon had his family not intended him for tho Ghurch, tusy would navor Liave consontod to his marringo with a gitl whose soolal position was ko far bouoath his own, Lovo, fortunatoly; 18 invontive. Tho pupil of the Abbe Negroni™ sucecaded {n _carrying on n necret corrzApondonco with his lady love. Xvory ‘night_ ho eseapod from the palaco, and, ay it would have boon unsafo Lo eunter Vanozzl's liouse. ''ho lovors mob in Madama Lucrozia's houso, tho ovil namo of which protected thom, A smnll door, concenlod by n fig-troe, counceled the two gardena, ‘Ouo ovening, expecting Don Ottavie, Lucrezia mistook mo for him, and mado mwe tha prosent Nrst olluded to. It 1y truo tuat Don Oliavio and mysolf woro aliko {n_fignre, ud sono ma~ liclous goxpips, who had known my father, pro- tended that thero wore goud ronsons for the ro- wamblanco. 'The ‘cursed brothes, Vanozzi, dis- covered tho livison, but all his threats conld not mnko Lucrezia revonl tho idontity of her lover, Ifow hio revouged bimsolf, and how I suffored for Don Ottavio, I8 known, Nor noed I recount Liow tho tovers cscaped. ‘Cho conclusion can be thus sumarized : Wo ull throo reachad Floreuce in safety ; Don Ottavio married Lucrczia, aud 1mmnd|ntul{ startod ' with her for Paris. My fathor recolvod thom with the samo cordiality with which I had boen grestod by tho Marquiso. ITo undortook o bring wbout a reconcilintion, and puccooded, but not without conmderuble troublo, Tho Muquis Aldobrandi caught, just ot tho right time, 8 fover, from tho cifocts of which bo died. _Ottavlo lobierited hia itlo and faortune, and I am tho godfather of Ins fivst ollnm. l1‘y-nnnlaled_fi-aml the French for the New 'ork Times, —_— HALF AN HOUR BEFORE SUPPER. , advancod with outatrotchad 4o aho's here, your unknown Dulclnos— Tho ludy you met on the train, And you veally bolfeva slio would know you it Yot wero to meot ber again 7" #0f conrae,"hio roplied, “ sho would know me, “Thers nover wus onnukind you Forgot thoofTect #ho fuspired ; #ho oxcusss ut docs ot forget,! B 4 Then son told her your Iove 2" asked the older; “Ig younger looked up with o smilo; 4 gat by hor aldo Lulf uh hour—what ‘Was I dolug the whils [ “1What, sit by tho side of @ woman as fair as The sun In the sky, And look somowliero'also lest the dazalo From your awn to hor eyo 7 #Xos 1 iold that the spooch of tho tongus b As franl cudas boid as the look ; And 1 y1eld up myselt 0 horsell—that was Mora thaa she got from her book," # Young blood I" Iughed the eldor; 1o doub) Your aro voluing tho mods of To-Day ;. But thon we old Fogles at least glvo the lady omo chanco for delay, 4 Therc’s my wife—(sou must know)--rvo Arst mob Gn tho journey (rom Floronco o Rot 1t t00k o threo wouks Lo discover who wa ‘Slio and whiro Wos Lier Lowo #Threo moro to bo duly prosentod; tires more Ero I saw her agaiu; And a yeur cro my romanco egan whoro yours Ended thet dey ou tho train? “0n1 that was tho atyle of tho atage-coach We travel to-day by oxpress, Forty mitles to tho hiowr,” Lo avawered, “Wou's admit of a possion that's Josw” # Dt what if you make a mintake? quoth thy Elder, The younger Lalf uighod; .0 4 What happens when uignals aro wropd, be HBwitchies mispluced 7' hie roplied, # Why, you do not, at best, know her nama And what I I iry your deal With something, if 1ot quite ko falr, At lrant movo en reple und roalt # Lot mo find you o partnor. Nay, come; T Tnsiat—yot sliall follow—this way, | 3y dewr, will you not add your graca o+ ‘Lintreat Mr, Hapld to atay? “ My wife, My, Rapid, Eb, what? Why, he?! Gonol' Yot ho enid Liowvould comie; How rudo! T don't wonder, my dest, Yon ura properly erlingon and dumii] —DBret Hurto, —_— Meligion Among the Alabama No« grocs. Huntavitle Correspondence of the New York Times. Soon after the War censod, it was remarled that tho negrooy of tho South had changed in many respeots, sud that nmoug otber thiuga thoy bad given up daneing aud singiug. Now, their priucipal smusoment confsta in going to church sud sbouting themwelves hoarso in what they call *the holy dunge.” lere, in Huntsville, uoarly avery nogro in tho placo boy * 'sperienced religion,” us he will toll you with o ely allecta- tion of moeknoas that is” truly laughablo. Hav- ing axporievced seligion doos not wonn with (hom, however, that they skl try to live pure, ood lives, or that thoy shall sacrifico anythung for tho salo of their falth, Religlons necgroos sleal ng much, aud got drank quito 2 often, as do tho very fow who aro not In tho Churcly, sud I am iuformad, o the very beat suthority, that lack mon and womou, aftor pasawg half tha night in o protrnctod or ravival meoting, will loavo tho houso of God to ongago i scones of d‘iunipnliou that are too disgusting for doserip- tlon, Iu » former lottor I triad to convey an idea of how terribl, woral the country negroes wore. At this time it is only necessary to aud tiint sov- oral colored preachera in North Alabama are known to hava more than ono wife, aud that tho leading sister in the Mothodiyt Church in this placo ls the kooper of & don frequonted a;xly by negro thioves rud women of the lowont olngs, In Church mattera the colored people aro vory exclugivo; at tho samo timo they aro oxcessivel: proud of tho particular denominntion to whicl thoy bolong, nud loud in thelr denunciation of thosio who join other churches, In Iluntsville the so-callod Hard-Sholl Baptist congregatlon s by far tho largost, nuinbering upward of 3,000 mombors., A day or two Bhuco I ssled an old durkoy, who ia 8 prominont Lldor in tho Moth- odist Church, how it was that the Baptists were 80 unumorous, ** Lor', sah,” snid he, ' dat's ensy 'nough 'splained, ~ Niggora is siuful fond of shiow, aud the Baptists givek it o 'om sure ; no nutural niggor ean't resint tho fascinationa of o publio Daptizin’," dor the Rol New York Correspowdence qf the Hoston Jorraul, Tow faces wora maore familiar to New England mon than tbat of Mr. Marsh, who rosided for over thirty yoars nt the Antor Howso. Ior yosre hio was Vico-U'rosident of tho Erio flond, and wan forn timo ity Prosidont. 1lo was an unmarrivd man, Ho hud a vory largo proporty. e died withont & will, and the various Liolsy sro muking things livoly in regerd to tho diatribution of hiy proporty. 110 wa vory caraloss about his monoy mottord. Tor yours thoro had besn under his boda box full of old papors and musty doon~ monts, whiols more than ounco (ho servaut hud heon towpted to throw into thoaah-barrel, On overhnuling this box aftor lis death, bondt to the amount of §:10,000 were found among the old papora and pamphlets, A New EFrecs neh Dodoe, A now dodgo, aays tho 'Torro Iauw Erpress, wos practiced at a Malh atroot rostauraunt o few nights ginco, At a lnate hour two Luugry mon wout down and called for k. good squaro moal, and aftor oating overything up clonn, one wat down by the stovea momont, then sudionly nln‘)mnx his band on his distended howols, eonl- plained of holng vory sick, In a momont moro hio tuened {0 biy companion and remarked he must reach tho u}mn ir, Bo wag mo deathly sick, His companion, in woll-foigned alarm followed hie sick friond up-atairs, and a8 soon as thoy zeaohod the sldawalk thay Lt out in @ bury, \ving thelr bill, of courso, unpaht, TIE FARM AND GARDIEN. Plans for. tho Checkes ories—Abonut Eollow Walls 1 Cari-iaildings, nnd tho Way to finke ‘Fhem—tlorsc- Stublev—The Stnto kHorticuiturat Sos chety—Going Souths Lrout Our Agrieultural torraspondent, Cuanratar, 1), Dea, 17, 1874, DUILDING CRERREFAGTOMN v Towa ¥ars, In., Doc, 7, 1874, M, # RumAL =S s Tui aboit bilfiding & socond chewte-factory, 1t in of {he utmoat jmpariatico to guard againut our oxccasivo anmimor-hoats, I Lavo in mnind two plans ¢ l"lrul-—’l'n‘yut upa cominon frame § brick on tho ontslda of atudding, 4 fnchiess lino tho 1nk}0 with buflding-paper; fur ont ono Incl 3 and ath and plnater, or coll with' lumber, Hocond—Ent up frume & paper on 4o oubsiio of stadding s fur out bnit au el ;- wud claphoard~Anish tho fnside, na in {lo firat platt, Would tho fired plan Lo muterially coolor tun tho second 7 Pleaso reply through Tiny: Thinuxe and ablige, yours truly, N. Erone, I huvo intonded to bave had moro to eay in rogard to farm-buildings, but othor toples have crowded It asido. As regards tho two plans pro- pored, I ean givo o mnch botter one than elther. A huilding sheetod witls brick is only sultablo fn the suburbs of = city, whera pattics are am- bitious to have a cheap brick house, It will an- Bwer a vory good purposo for s oheap cottage. A chicoso-house mmst he mado strong; for tho choosa-vata aro hoavy, and the choeso in tho curing-room will weigh many tons, The walla must not only bo stroug, but & non-conductor of hione; aud brick la the best for thus purposa, pro- viding that it in proporly laid up; but I would not let tho Job by contract, bus supervise it my- solf, aud havo all tho work douo by tho day. Tu no other way {8 it possiblo fo got good brick- worl, at least in this pact of the Stato, whero the bricklnyers lhavo n vory bad habit of putting mortar on the oulgide of the courso of the Urick, iustoad of bedding it down and fill- ing all {ho intorstices,. ns it should bo. ‘fhom, nzain, it s cheaper to do tho work by he day than by tho job at what i colled bricklayory’ mensuro. I hevo tried both plang, and know from practical experiouce. On wall 8 Inchos thick of » building 24 by 40 feot, with walls 20 feet high, tho musons’ moasire would Lo 2,600 runuing feet, on wiuch thoy would count 16 brick to tho foof, makivg 98,460 briek. Now, if tho wall had o opemngs, and way loid solid, the actusl nmbor of brick would 212 810 to tha runntug foot, after doducting ho thickness of the wall at turning the cornor, or 81,585 nctual count. 'This makes n difference ‘betwoen fiction and fact of 6,875, or an oxcean of ohowt 24 per cont. Now, this charging 22 per cont excess on eolid work is pretty steep ; but, when wa 1dd the openings, it i BOIPLY AN OUTRAGT. But, says Lho contractor, wo do tho work choap. Yory trio that brick is ofton laid in tho nall at about tho cost of tho brick at the kiln, but thigis no_excuse for the practico, A briok wall 12 inches thick, 4 of which {aa hollow apace, and handed overy third brick, will makea wall capable of holding avy desived weight for a choese-houso, ov oven a cider aud vinegar house ; in fact, it is nlmost a8 strong; ag aoolil 12-inch wnll, eapecinlly if tho bottom courses ara Iaid solid for & foot, und at the floors solid for tres or four coureca. This so bandg tho wall that it bas all tho ndvantage of o solid wall, and yet hsa tho edventage of ou mir-spacs, At tho pointsof tho band-brick no mortar is used, a5 that might convey tho moistiro from tho outsido throngh tho wall, This allows of o continuons mir-span throughont; while, ot tho epruer, it i8 built up solid, ~ Cho plastor may bo put on such & wall without Jathing. When stone is not at firnd, that part of tho waoll bolow ground should bo made of arch brick, burned so hard that timo will nover change theia, Inputting up walls of this kind, the bricklayers chargo for 18 brick to the run- ning foot whero specinl contracis are mado, or otherwiso 223 brick to tha cubla foot, including tho hollow pitce, as thoy ofnin that it 8 no moro work to lay solid thau bollow wall,—the saving being mainly in brick, limo, and send. A wall Iaid up ve desatibed will requira 14 brick to tho foot of wall, and will take 300 pounds, or Bmlf o barrol of lime, and halt o yard of sand, to tho 2,000 brick ns counted at thio kiln, A fair avorago duy's work iy 4,000 brick for » bricklayer aud tonder, I have mado duo diligonco to scortain iho quantily of Lrick, lime, sand, and Jabor to lay up o given bullding, nomguting the brick ot tho kiln; but not ono fiaa been cither ublo- or willing to answer the question, and the abovo estimaio is mnde from wetusl work umder my porsonsl supervie- ion, In conversation with —u mason, ho osprosred a pgrayo doubt that 19 briok would lay a cwbio foot of wall, and wo measurod 4 seetion of wall, and found that ib was n small fraction less,—the mortar making up tho remainder. Fnrmers who enn pob brick go an to baul them in the winter, and haul the rand and Hme, wonld fiud & brivi building, constructed on tho plan abovo ses forth, nuich chiorpor and A GREAT DDAT BEYTER o than {8 gonerally supposed. Lighty thougand briok will make o pretty good-sized houso, ns it would ropresont 5,700° fuet of wall. The cost of brick vurios in many'parls of tho Wesl, fun- ning from €6 to £10 por 1,000 at ths kiln, and the same may o said of limo and sand ; bt the 208t of Inylnir is more uniform, At this point, brick oont at tho kiln €8 per 1,000; limne, &1 por harzel of 200 pounds, 1u bulk ; and uand, nt tho bank, $1 & cubio yard. At @fa day for ma- 801, n&t[l’ &4 for the tender, the work would be 3 peor 1,000, A 'fromo sa proposed, shested with brick, wonld cost mora tnn this plun of afl-brick, rud bo in the end Jess valuablo, I havo n collar-wall of brick, Imd in 1857, of common hard brisk, and not ono a8 yot shows any sighs of fafluro, altbangh tho clay for brick-makivg in this part of tho Ktate is not ns goed ns desired,and raquiras groat onro in burning, Somo of the first bulldings mado of this elay have had to bo roplaced, as the weathier orumblod them badly; b now n fair articlo is made, but at an increased cost, for which our briok-malkore cuargo tho oxtra price. At Onarga, 50 milos noxth, bottor brick ean bo Lind at 86 por 1,000, 1 “A houso 28 by 40 teot, with collar 754 feot, firat floor 10 foet, and secoud floor 9 foot, would moasuro for ontside wallp about 4,080 foet ; and tho saving on oponinge would nuppli tho ohime neys and cross-wall in tho collar, " ¥rowm thenn Higuros, I think sy farmer may bo ablo to mala il eetimato for choose-houso or dwelling, 'Thig is tho kind of information that farwers noed, for thoy Liave put too much rellance on the estimntes and plans of ill-educated mochanies. Our Stato hns paid out o largo wum on furin buildings, for snmples of ugo aud oconomy; bub it would be difiicult to turn out MORE ABORTIVE ATTENPTS in that diroctiou. ‘Cho firut {mpression of thone buildings is that of & chapel; but, on a closo cxamination, oue {4 {n wonder liow to much money could have boon turned to 5o Jittlo uo, and u0 ono would sukpect that the farmer wiy oxpocted to be benoited by tho lewson. Wo hava prohitects for the planniug of city buildings ; but those samo mon make o failure in farm- Lousos and farm-buildings, sa may be soen wherovor thio attompt bas boen mado, here ia o noed for reform in this rospoct, and tho remedy ia to como from tho farmors thomselves, who will givo tho subject & practical, common-sonso consideration. I havo looked ovor sevoral volumos of plans of country-hiouses, aud must gy that I am compollod to lny thowm aside with feolinga of doop disappointmont. Amang all the ohcose-factories that I have goen, cither Enst or West, not_ono of them hes como up to my idon of having bion plannod with 8 viow to the ceouomy of Jubor. A farmor of Jows, who liad coustructed & chicesa-house, has spent all of tho paut summer in looking through the choeso-factorios of Now York and the Now Englaud States, for tho purposo of gotting the bost plans for n small-sizod olicoso-houso, havoe not tearnod tlte rosult of his {nvostigntions, further thau that tho moat or all of the cheesos fuctorios aro moro or less foulty in both plaus and construction, In our country of bad roads, at leaat at timos, wo noed [MODERATE-81ZED IACTORICS, 88 n genora! rulo; und togot at tho best plan will require no small amount of practical oxpe- riouce. 1t 8 probuble thut o houso with & baso- went and twoatorios, and suppliod with a good haud-oiovator und tramways to carry tho chooaed to thelr placo of curing, Wil bo ua goud a8 any, snd in sona rospects tho most aconomical. The ouring-room must bo of good sizo ; dry) woll ventiluted, oud oasily wuermed in coul woathor, uud cooled during the heat of summer. ‘fho hollow brick walls, ng suggostad, wili no doubt supply the best conditions Lor rll of these purposos, ag they ara froat-proof, and nou.con- duetora of hoat, A largo chimuoy through tho contra, with thimblo-hole ou cuch sido, will gorve | for ventilating, nnd poduco etrrent of coal afe through tho room sl uight; ood the finos aud windows conld ho elosed during the day, and thus muiu- {ain o eool temporature throuzhout tho twouly- four hours, Wire-cloth In tue windowy will gorvo fo ndmit the air at uight, and st all tnow to oxolnde lusocty, In our ebunging chmato, and ity Jong hot pummeors, more attuntion must noeds bo puld to the plan’ of the buildiugy than to tho cost, I Liave a plan boforo o of & MODEL CIDER-AND-VINEOATOUAY, which haaaujrrastod soma idan of what {a wanted In o cheoso-and-lutter-factory, In tho firnt placn, thero mmat bo 000l Flaco foroldor, o Work-roouk for rorting and making up the mpples, and o warin_room for tho atving of vinogar. 1 thin plan thero s o basement that {4 well supphed with windows for fice vantilation, n floor for eidor. muliug awd for sorting and packlug frult, and ¢ floor ahove for vibvgar. Now, theso answer for tho buttor-collay, tho ohosaa-maks ing, ond the ourlog room. Thoro o & ohitanoy In tho oantro, with g flue, 1 by 3 teot, Into this, m each story, are four G-inoh thimbles, with their stopa to bo” openad or clésed s re. quired, Nenr ono ond Is to ho an ployator with a 4-foot platform, for tho ralsing nud lowering of goods to tho cellnr, and_to the vimogar.roont above. It is maora than probuble that oxperionce may odd emall tnmways for distributing the Jondn ovor tho floor ; wiid, i £ho ense of ohionr, such Improvemonts would bo useful iu distribute ing tho cheeses to tho euring racks, aud iu delive oriug thom for shtpmont, HIHL-BTATLE, To ey that not more than one horae-stable in ton in snitablo for tho farmer's Lorses, is por- Tinpn not stating it too strongy and yot ko touth Btablo may not bo & very expengive one, bt ong adapted to the burses that are to ocenpy it. Na atablo should bo o cold that water would freere in ik, if thin can bo svolded. Tho room should ba 8 or 8 feol high, ®o ns to supply al aud light, nod roomy onough for ihe froo uso of aneh horso. Mangors ara bottor than racks, an 1t {a move natural for the horse o pus lns bond down than up for his food. Withina faw years, n Inrge number of small stables huvo hoow raised up, and good brick baseniouts pus under thom, This has modo room for thoe liay above, sud given tho hotacs much betier quarters, A stublo 16x20 foot, with 18- foot posts, mmust necersarily have s low room for {he team and cow, aa thera muat be rocm for hay sbove. Now, put a geod basoment under it, nud altacli o lnan'to shad for tho cow, and the chango It radieal, 'Tha cow will do far Dotter under tho shed than contined to the atall, und the team will havo plenty of rdom, tresh air, and light ; nud, what 15 of 1o amall importauco, tharo will bo plonty of storage for tho hoy. Htables of tho size stated oro vory common on small farms and i our villnges, and fow of them aro properly lighted, 08 wany people bavo an idan that a darl stablo for o hoiso is a8 good ag I'heto is groat noed of o Byatem of COUNIRY ARCHITICTURE, that sholl givo uy plain sud useful buildinga, When u [avmor beging to build, unicss Lo lute tho work by contract, ho lis litlo juen of tho roul nitimuato cost ; and often, whon the worl i comploted, 1t iy not suitable, and has cost him double what it was estimated ab the beginning. ¢ carpoutors and masons aro uuablo to make tho proper estimales, n farmer may bo oxousod in makiug blunders, At tho last mecting of the BTATE JORTICULTURAL BOUIETY, ‘most of tho timo was veeupiod in tho reading of woll-coneidared paposs ou tho subjoct of tho 4 vt that doth mend Naturo,” and giving vory little time for discussion. In fact, “very littlo diseuesion would bo roquired to elnoidato tho papers read, Thia shows n wonderful chango 1 tho ncéion of tho Socioly, noy aud in tho past. At the enrly mootings, it was all tall, as oach porson had somo pot thoory to sob forth, oo root-grafting, blight,” ingeci-doprodn- tions, efc, uatil, nt lnat, thoso who camo to listen wore loot In o fog, and wondered whoro this wonld all end. In the 1menutime, culture was chunging the conditions, and giving us now exporieuces, aud sondlng in tho patn of tho pioneor an army of invects proviously unknown in tho Wast, I'ean woll recoliect whea all of our plum-thickots wero loaded with fine, hoalthy plutny, without & mark of the curcolio or other muect; but all theso followed in tho ouvard wmrch of _ompiro. Thon eome also poriods _ of drought, of extramo cold, snd sudden storws ; aod the lorie culturist hay had many noew losscng to learn, nud thus thoory bas had o glvoplaco to fack; for all things cried to show ono great load- ing truth: that thoro is seiouco in overy depart« mant of rural oconomny, sud that wo must rofor olt things to regular laws; and it is tho study of thoso tuat brs brought forth so many valuable papers, and that ubolishes tho mero theoriat. t 18 not long sinco the iead of ono of our Agri~ cultural Colleges very solomuly ntatod that all tho oparations of tho farm were mnora empiricism, aud thut tho scieuco of Agriculture find yob to be svoked. 'I'bat man wmy know o groat deal about_thaology, but ko is ot a it persou to teach our farmora’ kons how host to manage the soil in order to have it produco the mostproductg for tho lonat labor. Naturo NOES ALL THINGS LY REGULAR LAWE. Tho drought bis its uso ne woll as frost ; and the moisturo not only dampony the soil, but carrics plant-food with it. Ono uew condition begots nuother, nud theeo changes may become pormo~ nent, Forty yonrs ngo, Mr, Knight ‘undors tool to demoustrato that specios ond varioties run out nud become lost. e mudo ont such & plausiblo case that it lod to tho propagation of new varioties on a Inrge scale; but ins facts woro not roliablo, o1 could bo roforred to somo other cause, and latey investigations havo shown that tho theory wat not to bo rolied upon. That very mony variotiea of plauts and families of snimals have bocome enfeebled by vavious causos, is quite apparent 3 and that those and others hnve beon eot asida for botter snmples, is quito true also. At ona time, tho Yeunack or Big Romazito applo wns o greet favorito in tho contral “and soutborn part of this Stato; but, ab this time, it is vory lightly prized. Thero ara tyio raazous for this,—ono of thew from a bitter fungus thab attacks the skin, and grostly injures tho flavor of the fuait, aud induces decay; aud, sm‘.nndlf—, tho introdaction of yictier aud moro wlatnblo apples, such as Winesap, Smith'a lider, Roman Boauly, and othors, It would be Dotling surprising to suo this once popular applo dinapponr from tho orchards,—uot from tho facs that 1t hes run ont, but that divoaso and poor quality huvo set it nside, “I'io anvual acasions of such o Socioty aro of practical value, for tho reason that practical in- vestigators impart to ib tho result of their pains- (aking ivvestigntions, It Js Lo bo Lopod that the Secrotary will nko o delay iu Liaving tho transs nctions publishod. QOING HOUTH, Beforo this lotter roaches tho roaders’ of Trx ThmusE, tho writor oxpeals to bo wmong the Bugar, rica, and conon plantations of the South, Tho intontion s ta be obrout Bome two months, in’ ordor to stady tho routino of farm-lnbor, tho habits of tho rural populstion, and the relations that the Soutliorn pluntors bave to thoir brathren of the prairie, Bugar, rice, cotton, jute, wud tho small er crops, will havo attontion, Ko far s the timo will parmib, Tt appoura to mo that just now thovo is u wido field for the small farmer, who 17 bound to o somovwhors, to go South snd avail himsolf of ehenp land, & mill climsto, aud good muckots, Bus of thedo things whou thoy are met and fully investigyed, in ilio mnenne timao, Tavors of corrospondonts will of cottrso be nogicotod for tho timo boing; but I shall Lono to tutercst thom in Southern roral matters, Tho coudition of the South Las beou writton up from all politieal standpoints, sud that will nood no further attontion, What our puople wish to kuaw iu of tho o, climato, productions, condi- tion of Inbor, markets, aml what erops may bo growiy, and what wo Lad benb t0 growto ox- chango for thom. Of tho now progucts, thoro is juto, rumio, Spanisb grass, aud tew. Bofore tho War, we sent vast quantitios or pork, Gorn, onis, sud other produats, fram this Stato to thio Bouth ; bus, sinco thon, thin trado has not Dboou resumod, Thoro hnve boon groat ohanges in tho agriculturo of that regiou, no doubt, and of thoso chauges tho publio need {o Lo woro fally advised, 'ha Southorn market 18 no doubt faily supplied with Northoru politicana; but it i poasibi that thoro i8 an oponing for inon of business, tact, sud hxduat?, to utilizo the vasé awount of cruda Iabor roady for use, Rumit ———————— A CHRISTMAS HYMN. w0 ol 43 stll o'er Tiothlotiom's pla T:\l §f thin rrent night Leld its brum‘,n. Whon Lite Eternal eame to reigu P Ovor i world of Deatl, o Pygan at his midniyht bosrd Let £all bis brinuning onp of Enld: . . A Lelt Uy yeosonco of M Lard " Tafors 113y Dirth waw told, g Tho tomplos trembled to thiolr buesy “Iho ldol shuddorod sy fn palu 3 A pricatlona [n I yowur o place ult to Ity godi in valn, Al Naturo felt n thrill divino When burst that metcor on the nighl Whioh, polutiuy to tho Savior's shirlug, Proclifmed thio now-born lighé— Light to tho shiephorda! aud tho staz G5 thete shout midnlubt fold= Light to the Wiss Mun roni afar suaring thels glits of gold— Light ta o restm of 8in and Qrief— ;.mm tv .0 world in ull 118 noudies Tl Light of 1ifu—i now bellet Risivg v'or fallen crvods— ht on a tangled path of thorn, i tosiug b n tarlyvs (hronpek A light Tu guide till Obilat Yoturoa i glory to 1Lle own, o tiL 1t hinos, While fur abroad o Clirlstmay CHOIF wlgs Dow, 48 (bes, s e it to mgn v i Jood Chiretinas, Buomnwrnm ) Rour, , 1871, e=Tinpfieol] tpan i e Januage .i\ 4