The Kennebecker
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THE KENNEBECKER. BY HENRY KNOX BAKER. ’ N O . 9 7 ORIGINAL ESSAY. LADIES’ D PAHTM ENT. No. 1.— The subject of introducing “ manu Story o f a Nun.— Reader, if your whim, or al labor” in o seminaries of learning, has of your necessities should lead you to Madeira, late v ars engaged the attention of many in go, for my sake, to the nunnery of Santa Clara. telligent and enterprising individuals in diffe.- It is at the western end of Funchal, and you ent parts of our country, the results of which may buy there the prettiest flowers for your have be. n attended with very happy consequen sweetheart’s hair, and the most ingenious toys ces on the minds of the rising generation, in in wax that are in the world. The nuns sell several important particulars. And this sub them very cheap, and all they get from you ject is gradually becoming more useful. I goes in real charity to themselves or their pen think this method of exercise decidedly superi sioners. Perhaps also, you may see poor Ma or to any other in which students are engaged, ria, if she be not dead; if she comes, speak to in these points, v iz .: Health, literary progress, her very kindly, and give my love to her;— happy state of mind, clear conscience, inde bnt you do not know me, or poor Maria either. pendence of feeling, and at all times a com Maria Clementina, the youngest child of fortable purse.— First, then, I will speak of Pedro Agostinho, was born in Madeira. Her health, which is all-important to the ambitious parents had an unusually large family, and scholar, who would excel and feast on the sub were laboring under some embarrassment, lime truths of knowledge and science. A reg from the unfavorable termination of an im ular plan being adopted by the student, he portant law-suit. What unfortunate event co knows the duty of every hour, and prepares incided with her birth 1 know not,’ but Maria himself accordingly ; for instance, he rises in was disliked by her father and mother from the morning to Ins studies, which he pursues the first years of her infancy. Her brothers with little relaxation till noon; he has accom neglected, in obedience to their parents; and plished much for the time, and needs rest and her sisters, who were ugly, hated her for her refreshment; he partakes o f a good dinner, beauty. Every one else in Funchal and the and soon enters the mechanical shop. Here neighborhood loved her, and she hud many of his mind is calmed by a change from study to fers of marriage at thirteen years o f age; labor ; liis physical (lowers are strengthened, which the little maiden Idughed at, and for and the bustle of machinery is good music to warded to her elder sisters.' The more she him. After spending a few hours in this em was petted abroad, the more was she persecu ploy he possesses a good appetite for food ; he ted at home. She was treated at length like resumes his studies with delightful feelings. Cinderella, with no chance of a fairy to help When he retires from these busy scenes, he her. Amongst other arrangements for the pur sleeps sweetly, his dreams are pleasant, he ri chase of commissions for two of his sons, and ses again betimes, refreshed and strengthened.; for giving portions to two of his daughters, He secures to himself good health, and many) Pedro Agostinho determined to sacrifice his blessings attend him. Consumption has not', best and sweetest child, Maria. At eighteen marked his countenance with the pale-] she was placed a novice in this nunnery ; at ness o f death ; incessant thinking has not! nineteen she took the veil, and renounced the thrown him into a fever, nor deranged his men-; world forever. At this time she was the most tal powers; indolence has not checked the cir-j beautiful girl in the Island ; and, what is re dilation of the vital fluid, nor left him dull and; markable in a Portuguese, of a fair complex without an appetite; a sleepless night has not] ion, with a brilliant color, blue eyes, and very disqualified him for the duties of the day. He long and glossy brown hair. has power to do much in his daily studies ; and A year after this, the constitutional govern why 1— He labors regularly. S ig m a . ment was established in Portugal, and one of llcadjicld 31. TV. Seminary. the first and wisest acts of the Cortes was to _______■________ ‘ _____ ____ order the doors of all religious houses to be thrown open. Santa Clara was visited by As length of life is denied us, we should at friends and strangers ; some to see the church, least do something do show that we have lived. — Cicero. and some to see the nuns. Amongst others a Portuguese officer, at that time quartered in lie who postpones the hour of living rightly, Funchal, saw and fell in love with M aria; he is like the rustic who waited until the river was a handsome youth of a good family, and should have flowed past him.— Horace. Maria returned his love with an earnestness T o risk one’s life is no small matter; but to which perhaps had as much a desire of liberty risk one’s reputation and glory is the last effort as female passion in it. A nun is emancipated o f intrepidity. from her parents, and the law declared the vow 66 THE KENNEBECKER. No. 9, o f celibacy null and void. The marriage was stand. “ She does not understand,” said I.— determined on, her hair permitted to grow “ Yes, yes, I understand well ; speak.” “ Are again, her clothes prepared, and the wedding you happy, lady ?” The abbess, who was en day fixed. Maria fell ill, and the physicians gaged with my companion, turned her head, enjoined perfect quiet .for some time. The and Maria answered with an air of gaiety, “ O wedding was fatally postponed to another day ; yes, very happy.” I shook my head as in and before that day arrived, his faithful maj doubt. A minute elapsed, and the abbess was esty had dissolved his parliament, and fearful occupied again. Maria put her hands through lest heaven should lose one more of its daugh the grating, took one o f mine, and made me ters, had revoked the Jaw of the Cortes, and feel a thin gold ring on her little finger, and despatched an express to notify as much to his then pressing my hand closely, said, in an ac subjects in Madeira. Maria arose from heri cent I still hear, “ No n o; 1 have the hearts bed of sickness to return to her cell and heri jache.” * rosary; her lengthening ringlets were again! The service began ; the old nuns croaked mercilessly shorn ; the mob cap, the leathern like frogs, and the young ones paced up and corset, the serge gown, were laid before her; down, round about in strange and fanciful fig and some old Egyptians, who could not better j ures, chanting as sweetly as caged canary themselves elsewhere, bade her return thanks| birds. I gazed at them for a long time with to God that she had so narrowly escaped mix feelings that cannot be told, and when it was ing again in the vanities of the world. time to go, 1 caught Maria’s eye, and made her On the fifth of January, a few hours before a slight but earnest bow. She dropped a court we sailed from Madeira, l walked with a hand esy, which seemed a genufiuction to her neigh some and very agreeable English woman to! bor, raised a violet behind her service book visit Santa Clara. I was very anxious to see to her mouth, held it, looked at it, and kissed Maria, whose storv I knew. After a little hes-j it in token of an eternal farewell. itation on the part of two or three venerable', I wish to know whether there would have ladies, who first presented themselves at the I been any harm in accepting the captain’s oiler great door of the house, Maria was summoned. of his coxswain and gig’s crew, and running She came to us with a smiling countenance,: I away with Maria Clementina. The thing was and kissed my companion repeatedly. Her perfectly easy, as we all agreed at the time ; color was gone; but she was still beautifully at the principal door there was nograting, and fair, and the exquisite shape of her neck, and in the court none but maimed or decrepit per the nobleness of her forehead, were visible un sons ; three men should stand at the outer gate der the disadvantage of a dress as ungraceful and prevent any egress till we had brought our as was ever invented for the purpose of mor prize down to the Loo Rock ; in a quarter of tifying female vanity, She spoke her language an hour we should be on board a man of war, with that pretty lisp which, I believe, the crit and even if they had taken the alarm and ics of Lisbon pronounce to be a vicious pecu fired from the battery, it is perfectly well known liarity of the natives of Madeira, but also with that the Portuguese government never allows a correctness and an energy that indicated a more than one half of the due charge of pow powerful and ingenious mind.