late in the evening, the brother 1eturned, and declared that he had not seen his sister, the mother wrung her hands, and cried,

"Oh! Thomaso, my good son, some dreadful misfortune has certainly happened to Paola ! Go and hunt for her everywhere, and do not return until you have found her."

Thomaso ran off like a mad-man; his alarm was, lest his lovely sister should have fallen into the hands of those accursed Freemasons, who have often been known at their secret feasts to drink the blood of a pure virgin.

Have any of you ever seen a Freemason? they go about under the human form, but are in fact horrible monsters disguised as men. It is a wicked race that descends from Babylon, and they are as black internally as charcoalburners are externally. It is for this reason that they have, in our times, been turned into charcoal-burners, and Heaven grant that these plotters and rebels shall be thoroughly annihilated!-Against Carbonari and Calderari, "Kirie Eleison!"

Whilst Thomaso was running about, and the poor mother was praying, the painter had pounced upon his prey, and conveyed it into his lodgings. He first looked his chamber door, and then cried, whilst his eyes sparkled with delight; "Now, my life, we are alone, no one can disturb us, and we are safe as long as you choose to remain with me! How lovely you look, you are a masterpiece of the Creator, and formed not for the arts alone, but for love! Be not alarmed, my child, but seat yourself with me on this sofa-and, oh! loveliest model that artist ever possessed! I implore you to be mine, and to confide in my love, and in my discretion."

The maiden appeared surprised and frightened, as she sighed forth,

"Amiable stranger, think for a moment on what you are proposing to me. The last stroke of the Ave Maria bell is still sounding in my ears, how can I then think of crime? Purpose not my ruin, for such a sin would bring destruction upon you. You have deceived me as to your object in bringing me here, and even if I returned your love, this hour would be fatal to you.”

These words embarrassed the young profligate; and some good feeling entered his heart, for even heretics have occasional qualms of conscience, only unfortunately they do not last long. Theobaldo seated himself at his pallet, opposite the lovely Paola, and began drawing, but his pulses raged, and his senses became inflamed as he gazed at the loveliness before him. He threw aside his pencil, and rushed into the maiden's arms. But a thrill passed through him, as it were the cold stab of a sword, and his blood curdled, as he perceived, on pressing a burning kiss to her lips, that Paola was icy cold! Her features became distorted, and her eyes opened wide-they were fixed and glassy as those of the dead; he attempted to spring on his feet, but was fast held by the arms of the corpse! It was in vain that he endeavoured to set himself free; he shouted for help, but his voice died away, and no one approached the door which he had so carefully locked.

Then, do not be too much alarmed my good friends, for this is a true story, and not a mere work of the imagination-Paola opened her mouth, and a voice like a trumpet sounded in his ear;

"Your hour is come, vile sinner! you purposed to rob

a maiden of her honor, a mother of her daughter, and the church of its bride. This attempt will have cost you your life!"

Theobaldo in his agony looked at Paola's mouth, which opened wider and wider, and still wider. At length a head with horns and a beard issued from it. It had fiery eyes, and fire sprouted from its nostrils! Paola's clothes fell to dust, and Satan himself, under his most hideous form, appeared in her place; he seized the painter by his throat, and cried:

"Your victim is safe! the bell sounding the 'Ave Maria' attracted her into a church, and the merciful Virgin cast her into a sudden slumber, and sent me here for your punishment."

Satan then tore the painter in pieces, and scattered his limbs about the room; traces of his brains may be seen on the walls to this day.

Thomaso, after a long search, found his sister asleep in a corner of the church, before an altar of the Madonna, just as the sacristan was going to close the doors.

Thus, ended this wonderful adventure, intended as a warning to all seducers, as well as to those light women, who are not averse from being seduced.

Paola became a nun, and they do say, that our Holy Father intends to canonize her, and as she is now in Heaven, we will pray to her, not only for ourselves, but, also for the souls of all those good catholic women who may have been led astray! It would be of no use for us to trouble ourselves about heretical souls, for they must be damned at all events.

There, my friends, now throw another mite into my

N

cap, that you may send me home rejoicing, to think of another story for your benefit!

Heaven reward your charity, repaying it a thousand fold to your children, and may our Holy Father's blessing descend upon you with double efficacy!

The Improvisatore returned home to his dirty lodging near the "Monte Testaccio." His wife had a good mess ready for his supper, and set before him a pitcher of wine to moisten his throat. After he had refreshed himself, he placed himself at his ease, and said to her,

Here, Signora Margaretta, is to the amount of three dollars, that my wit has earned me. What has your rag

sale brought you in?"

"Per Bacco! my old fellow, confounded little; five Paolis at most."

"And what has little Nicolino done, begging?"

"That child is a mine, he has brought home this very day, a dollar and a half.”

"Indeed! blessings on the child, he will turn out as fine a fellow as his elder brother, who is making his fortune under Giovani, on the Calabrian roads.

"And what has Teresina done?"

"Little good-the painters say that she has lost a good deal of her freshness, and it is only the poor ones who take her as a model."

"Confound them!—But after all it is natural enough! youth will not last for ever. We must think of sending out the little Claudia; with her fourteen years of age, and her beautiful eyes she will be worth money to us. We must see what can be done with Teresina,—with religion and a little management, no one need starve."