LINES FOR A BRIDAL PARTY.-LIGHT AND FLOWERS. BY MRS. H. G. PERRY. Bring flowers, fresh flowers, for the fair young bride! For the brow of the beautiful! but for the heart Bring flowers, fresh flowers, for the dear young bride! O crown your rich offering with light and with flowers! God help you to trust in the blessing of love; Its strength and its tenderness O, may he prove, * Had he asked for your home, 'twere a trifle to this; Not knowing but sometime his love may grow dim ;— A sacrifice this, no affection can make But that born with life, and which cannot forsake. * Bring flowers, fresh flowers, for your darling bride, Bring flowers, ye who may, for the gentle young bride! May those two lives in harmony evermore blend! ACROSTIC.-IN MEMORIAM. And thou hast vanished in thy manhood's prime Thy hands which wrought in patience and in trust- Safe, safe and blest beyond the wrecks of time! C. M. S. TRUE LOVELINESS.. "She is a lovely woman, too." I spoke this by way of parenthesis to the young friend who sat beside me. He was a stranger in the place, and I was mentioning to him the names of the different guests, as they entered the parlor. He smiled quietly, and then shrugging his shoulders a little, said to me, 66 You must look at her through the eyes of affection for to me she is anything but lovelv. Just notice her figure-it has more than an inclination to be dumpish; it is dumpish, and nothing else, and see her hands her fingers are regular stubs, and red, too, as a lobster's claw; and her face, gracious heavens! she's as freckled as a ploughboy, her nose a complete turnup, and her eyes as green as the grass in May. Lovely!" and he shook his head, while a queer grimace distorted his hand some countenance. "Yes, lovely," I said, emphatically. "I'll introduce you to her after a while, and, mark my words, before you've talked with her an hour, you will forget all about her figure, fingers, and freckles, and more than that, feel inclined to say, if she wasn't married, I'd Hold on there, C-!" he exclaimed, "you're piling it on too thick entirely; but hist, here she comes. Lovely! yes, a duck on land!" Don't; don't recall those hasty words. I blush only to think of them. You were right, all right when you said she was a lovely woman, and yet, till now, I never thought one could be lovely without grace of figure or beauty of face. Lovely, yes, as an angel.' He did not seem inclined to talk further, and I let him think on in silence, for I knew meditation would do him good. He was learning a lesson that I had learned years ago, that woman's loveliness is not wrought out of a fair complexion, a beautiful face, a graceful person, or the jewels and satins that make brilliant her apparel-that it is not the glance of her eyes, the smile of her lips, the delicate I introduced them. He was too truly touch of her fingers. Nay, nay; but as polite to act otherwise than gentlemanly, another has truly said, "her pleasing desat beside them till the conversation had portment, her chaste conversation, the taken a literary turn, and then I with sensibility and purity of her thoughts, her drew to another part of the room, furtive- affable and open disposition, her sympathy ly watching them though. He did not with those in adversity, and, above all, the leave her side for a moment, though there humbleness of her soul that constitutes true were beautiful and brilliant loveliness.' young girls about him, and dancing and waltzing in each spacious room. When a lively march on the piano announced that the supper room was opened, he politely escorted her thither, and I saw no fair belle receive as delicate attention as that little homely wo man. "I shall have to look to you for some supper, if I get away to-night," I said, jocosely, to her husband, taking his arm at the time, "for your wife has made a conquest of my gallant." "As she does of everybody," said he, One of the most beautiful women I ever knew, excelling, too, in all feminine accomplishments, was the most unlovely one-a false-hearted friend, a treacherous wife, and an inhuman mother. I have often thought, while gazing on her countenance, so radiant with the tints and forms of beauty, that if there were such things as fallen angels, she was one; for I felt, aye, knew, that for every smile that dimpled her lips, an unholy thought had birth within her heart. On the contrary, one of the homeliest women I ever knew, unlettered, ignorant of art in any form, or * Go darling child! another claims thee now, That constant joy and faithful love attend A tangled maze thy weary feet may tread, It may be thine to cull the fairest flowers, But life is glorious in darkest hours, 'Acquaint thyself with Him," and peace al way, And good-beyond thy prayers-shall come to thee; For God--thy mother's God-doth surely say, "The children's God and Father, will I be." Norwich, Conn. THITHERSIDE SKETCHES. NO. XX. Death among the Flowers-Manufactures of Naples Churches- Leave Taking- Strada Ferrata to Capua-By Vettura to RomeOf the Journey Thither- Arrival and Settlement. Returning with some friends from an excursion in the vicinity of Naples, our attention was attracted by a procession of priests and monks, which, in the distance, looked like a festal train. Upon a nearer approach, the most prominent object appeared to be a large waxen doll, tastefully arrayed, lying upon an open litter, profusely strewn with fresh flowers of every hue. Supposing it to be one of those street parades in honor of some saint, or miracle, which are so common in Southern Italy, we examined the pageant with curious eyes, thinking possibly, half amused and half pityingly, how much an ignorant and superstitious people were dependent upon these senseless shows for their enjoyment; when, looking upon the little painted figure lying upon its bed of flowers, as the procession swept slowly past our carriage, the truth suddenly flushed upon us with a strange thrill. This was no idle, meaningless pageant, but a funeral train! And that little, sleeping image, with painted cheeks and lips, made so life-like by art, was, in truth, death the flowers! among What a touching pathos this discovery gave to the scene, which, but a moment before, was gazed upon with merely curious eyes! Instantly brought into sympathy with that stranger band, (for there we recognized a common sorrow and common need,) how beautifully significant was the sight! The chanting priests and consecrated banners, the flower-strewn couch, and the lovely little one, arrayed in festal garments, lying there, borne along in the open air and bright sunlight, to its place of rest-all, all combined to render the effect one of deep and tender interest. Was it because in Italy, the land of beauty and sweetness, that we were made to feel the peculiar grace and appropriateness of this arrangement, because it harmonized so perfectly with the character of the climate and the people? or, whether (notwithstanding the many absurd and even shocking superstitions connected with papal rites,) there was manifested, in this instance before us, that true, Christian idea, in thus throwing around the departure of children such pleasant and beautiful influences, which the soul recognized at once as fitting and satisfactory! Possibly the remembrance of our first acquaintance with death, when a timid, shrinking child, and the mysterious terror inspired by the ghastly accompaniments then deemed proper upon funeral occasions, might have rendered the contrast more striking in favor of the higher Christian idea pervading the ceremonial of this scene before us. It is both astonishing and amusing to see how many means these cunning, idle Neapolitans resort to for picking up coppers sufficient to supply their limited wants, without the trouble of labor, which seems to be both against their constitution and determination. Standing one afternoon with a gentleman and lady, leaning over the iron railing which divided the "Giardino Reale" from the waters of the harbor below, our quiet enjoyment of gazing upon the pleasant view before us, the musical plash of the waves beneath us, keeping time, as it were, to the half dreamy song which went murmuring along through the heart's corridors, was suddenly interrupted by the voice of one of the young Lazaroni who swarm the shore, intent upon turning every favorable opportunity of gaining a copper, to account. Himself an companions had been drawn towards our group, which they • quickly recognized as strangers, and with animated voice and gestures, commenced entreating the gentleman with us to throw him some "picciole monie" into the water, intimating, by a succession of most eloquent pantomimes, quite indescribable, how he would astonish" Il Signore" by diving into the sea for it. Don't give it him, suggested the lady; but her husband, amused at the young rogue's good natured persistency, and desiring to see what would come of the affair, as well as to test how much of the amphibious there might be in this "genus," decided to invest the coveted picciole in the speculation, and laughingly tossed a silver coin into the waves below. To the dismay of Mrs. M. and ourself (who were watching this little scene with some degree of interest,) the grinning scamp commenced divesting himself of his raiment, (which, at most, was by no means superfluous,) while after a quick exchange of glances, half tragic, half comic, accompanied by a certain tingling of blood in the face, we were on the point of beating a hasty retreat when the young heathen, stopping short of actual nudity, deliberately waded out from the shore, and coolly picking up the money, held it up with such a good natured, knowing look of cunning, as though fully appreciating the ludicrousness of the trick, that we all laughed heartily at the "sell,' and returned to our lodgings quite merrily, when we related the little incident to F., who was quite edified by this proof of our genuine verdancy, albeit he would have been hoaxed in the same way had he been present upon a similar occasion. We were much interested in examining the beautiful coral shell, and lava ornaments, here manufactured so extensively as to have become a speciality among the Neapolitan business. Large quantities are annually exported-the coral being the most expensive. Probably the sale of this article alone reaches a heavy sum yearly, as it is considered quite desirable, and finds a ready market. The kid gloves of Naples are celebrated for their cheapness, and form a considerable article of trade, affording employment to hundreds of women; but the work must be pitfully remunerated, judging from the cheapness of these articles of wear. They are, how ever, inferior in quality to the French gloves, with prices usually corresponding to the difference. Large quantities of polished tile for flooring, chimney ornaments, &c., are here made; they are, usually, gaily painted and glazed, by a process similar to that employed in the manufacture of ordinary crockery ware; but there is no great degree of artistic skill displayed either in the design or finish of them, though as an article of utility, they are of much value where wood is scarce, and the heat of the climate renders these cool, earthen floors, both comfortable and pleasant to the eye. Of this material, though varying in quality, are made the large supply of vases in imitation of the antique found in Naples. Etruscan, Grecian and Pompeiian vases and jars are imitated with such fidelity that a casual observer could scarce distinguish them from their originals. The churches of Naples are more showy than artistic, and weary one with their profusion of paint and gilding. They number three hundred, and embrace a great variety of style, and date from the thirteenth down to the present century. One of the most conspicuous and spacious is one of the latter class, that of "San Francesco and Paulo," a circular edifice, built somewhat after the model of the Pantheon, faced with a wide portico, support ed by lofty Ionic columns. We were much struck with a painting in the interior" The baptism of Christ," which interested us not more from its being the first delineation of this subject which we had noticed, than by the exquisite rendering of that sublime scene. The Saviour is represented as just emerging from the water, one foot immersed in the crystal stream, and shining with that peculiar lustre natural to objects seen beneath the surface of limpid water. The whole attitude is majestic yet graceful, and the upturned face is one of sweetness and benignity, rarely excelled. This is one of the few paintings seen at Naples, which strongly impressed us, and still lives, a beautiful memory in our heart. The church of San Severo" possesses some remarkable specimens of statuary; a veiled figure, and a group called Virtue and Vice," the former represented as shielding by its wings, a child from the influence of the latter, who is endeavoring to throw a net around its desired victim. The open work cut into the solid marble is a curiosity of its kind, but partakes per haps, more of mechanical skill than of high artistic merit. .. At length the morning for our departure came, and we felt that we were leaving much of interest unvisited, after our ten day's stay; but Rome lay before us in the distance, and time pressed. To the rainy weather (for which we had made no calculation in planning our tarry in Naples) we must attribute our disappointment in losing several pleasant excursions, and as whatever else may be properly said to go wrong in this changefuf world, the weather must be right, because under the immediate supervision of Divine power, we contented ourselves with the thought that in this case, all was for ihe best! 66 Taking an affectionate leave of the pleasant party left behind, we started in fine spirits on our journey, by "Strada Ferrata,' to Capua, where we were to meet our vetturino," who had preceded us to that place the night before, where we found him in waiting with the carriage. After some delay, during which, as was our wont, we strayed into a church near at hand, the luggage was adjnsted, and our party of four snugly settled in the comfortable conveyance were rolling briskly along the excellent road through a region of fertility and beauty. The whole day's drive was crowded by a succession of lovely scenes, quite enchanting in their variety, and the many interesting associations connected with this classical region. A fine suspension bridge spans the river "Gavigliano," over which we passed. This utilitarian piece of work contrasted' singularly with the fossilized towns and ruins of past times on our route, and was hailed by young America as one hopeful sign for the future of these Neapolitans. It was still light when we reached our stopping place for the night,-"Mola di Gaeta," that stronghold so beautifully situated on the Mediterranean, and which, not long after, was destined to be the place of refuge for the detested Bomba," whom we had left in his palace at Naples, guarded by his armed soldiery and blackthroated cannon (always the supporters of despotism.) Here, too, the Pope had fled during the revolution of Rome, in 1858, remaining here until re-installed once more in his papal chair by the aid of French bayonets and hither again, if the wheels of progress so tend,-it may be that the white haired old man shall come to escape the destruction which threatens the pretended infallible! Rain fell in copious showers during the night, adding freshness |