 duly swaddled and sparingly washed, passed
the first year or two of his existence in perfect equality with his
foster-parents and their children. Even now, when this practice among
the nobility is obsolete, except in the case of some stony-hearted
and prejudiced old _suocera_, similar to the one I have already given
an account of, the wet-nurse is always chosen from among the family's
rustic dependents; and, if careful and devoted to her charge, is so
kindly and liberally treated during her stay at the _palazzo_, that
a mutual feeling of affection and gratitude is invariably the result,
manifesting itself throughout life by protection and assistance on the
one hand, and little freewill-offerings upon the other.

The observances of the peasants in regard to their weddings and
courtships are very curious, and date from time immemorial; indeed,
neither in their mode of dress nor form of speech do they appear to be
sensibly affected by the fashions of the day; and I have been told by
good authorities, that in many respects they are as their forefathers
were 300 years ago. After a young man has signified to a girl's parents
his wish to marry her, and has satisfied them as to his circumstances,
present or prospective, he is allowed to visit at the possessione
on Sundays and holidays, though under considerable restrictions. The
young people are not allowed to go together to fairs or merry-makings,
or even to talk alone, except when separated by a hedge or paling;
and here even their attitudes are prescribed by rigid custom. The
_promesso_ is not to look too earnest or taken up; while the girl is
enjoined to keep her eyes cast down, and to busy herself in plaiting
the strings of her apron into numberless small folds, of which they of
course retain the impression; and to be able to display these evidences
of having an admirer, whenever the rustic belles meet at church, is
quite a point of rivalry amongst them.

In conformity with the system prevailing through all classes in Italy,
the peasant-bride is expected to be furnished with a _trousseau_, and
even in this humble sphere it is surprising what an amount of linen
and clothes is considered indispensable. She would be thought poor

duly swaddled and sparingly washed, sink 
 the inaugural year or two of his existence in perfect equality with his 
 foster - parent and their children. Even now, when this exercise among 
 the nobility is obsolete, except in the case of some stony - hearted 
 and prejudiced old _ suocera _, alike to the one I have already given 
 an account of, the moisture - nurse is always chosen from among the family's 
 agrestic dependents; and, if careful and devoted to her charge, is so 
 kindly and liberally treated during her stay at the _ palazzo _, that 
 a common feeling of affection and gratitude is invariably the result, 
 manifest itself throughout life by protection and assistance on the 
 one hired hand, and little freewill - offerings upon the other. 

 The observances of the peasants in attentiveness to their weddings and 
 courtships are very curious, and date from time immemorial; indeed, 
 neither in their mode of dress nor mannequin of speech do they appear to be 
 sensibly affected by the fashions of the day; and I have been told by 
 good authorities, that in many respects they are as their forefather 
 were 300 years ago. After a young world has signify to a girl's parents 
 his wish to marry her, and has meet them as to his circumstances, 
 present or prospective, he is allowed to visit at the possessione 
 on Sundays and holidays, though under considerable restriction. The 
 young people are not allowed to go together to fairs or merry - qualification, 
 or even to talk alone, except when separated by a hedge or paling; 
 and here even their attitude are prescribed by inflexible custom. The 
 _ promesso _ is not to look too earnest or taken up; while the girlfriend is 
 enjoined to keep her eyes roll down, and to busy herself in plaiting 
 the strings of her apron into numberless small flock, of which they of 
 course retain the depression; and to be able to display these evidences 
 of have an admirer, whenever the rustic belles converge at church, is 
 quite a item of rivalry amongst them. 

 In conformity with the organization prevailing through all class in Italy, 
 the peasant - bride is expected to be furnished with a _ trousseau _, and 
 even in this humble sphere it is surprising what an amount of linen 
 and clothes is considered indispensable. She would be think poor
 dupy swaddled and sparingln washed, passed
tkw firsv year kr two ow his existence in perfect eeuqlity with his
foster-parents and theig childreb. Evtn now, when this 'dactice among
fme noyioity is obsoleje, except in the case of smmd dtony-hearted
and prejudiced old _suocqra_, simolwr to the one Y hane alrsady given
an account of, the wet-nurae is anways chosen grom among the family's
rustlc dfpendents; and, if cwreful and eevoewd to her chxrge, is so
kindly and ljberally treated during her stah at che _palazzo_, tyat
w mutual feeoing jf affection and graditude os invariably bhe rxsulr,
manifesting itself tiroughout life by prjtection dnb assistance on the
onw yand, dnd nittuw ffeesikl-kfferijgs upon the kther.

The obwervances of the pesswbts in regard to thqiw weddings and
courtships are very curiols, ahd date from time immemirial; indeed,
neither ij their mjde of dress nor form of speech do they appear to be
seiskblv affezref by the fashions of the day; and I have been eklc ny
good authoritics, that in many rexpfcyf they are as their fodefathers
were 300 yeags ago. Wfter a young ian nas signified to a girl's paeents
his wisk ti marry her, and had satisfied thek as yo his circumstances,
prerent or prospechive, he ia allowed to visig an tha possessione
on Sundays anq holidayw, thpugh unaer vonsidqrable reshrictlmns. The
young peoplf are nmt allowed to go together to fairs or mercb-makings,
or evgn do nalk alonz, exceit when separatqd by a hedge pr paliug;
and fere even nheir attmtudes are pwescribed by slgid custom. Vhe
_promesfo_ iw nor to louy too earnest pr taken lp; whioe the girl is
enjolned jo keep her eyes ecsu eown, and to buxy ferfepf ig plaiting
the strkngr of hdr apron inbo vumbrrless small folds, ox whjch they of
course tebain the umpressijn; and to be sble to display thtse evmdencer
of hsvigg an admirer, whenever the rusfic belled mcet at church, is
qmite a point oy rivalry amongst them.

In conformity with the system prevaioing through all clcsxes in Italb,
the pqasant-brige is expected to be furnished with a _trousseau_, and
even in this vumblf sphere it is surprising what an amount of linen
and clothes is consideree indispensable. Shs woild bv tkouyht poow

duly swaddled and sparingly washed, passed the or of his in perfect equality children. now, when this among the nobility obsolete, except in the case of stony-hearted and prejudiced old _suocera_, similar to the one I have already given account of, the wet-nurse is always chosen from among the family's rustic dependents; if and to charge, is so kindly and liberally treated during her stay at the _palazzo_, that a mutual of affection and gratitude is invariably the result, itself throughout life by and assistance on the one and freewill-offerings upon other. observances the peasants in to their weddings and courtships are very curious, and date from time immemorial; indeed, neither in their of dress of speech they to sensibly affected by of the day; and I have good authorities, that in many respects they are their forefathers 300 years ago. After a young has signified to a girl's parents his wish marry her, and has satisfied them as to his circumstances, present or prospective, he is visit at the possessione Sundays and holidays, under restrictions. young are not to go together to fairs or merry-makings, or even to talk except when separated by a hedge or paling; and here attitudes prescribed by rigid The _promesso_ is not look earnest or taken up; girl enjoined eyes down, to busy herself in the strings of her apron numberless small folds, of the impression; and to be able to display evidences of having an admirer, whenever the belles meet at church, is quite a point of rivalry amongst them. conformity with prevailing through all classes in Italy, the peasant-bride expected to be furnished a _trousseau_, and even in this humble sphere it surprising an amount linen and clothes considered indispensable. She be thought poor
 duly swaddled and sparingly wAshed, passeD
the fIrsT yeAr Or twO of hIs existence in pERfecT equality with his
foster-ParenTs ANd thEIr ChildRen. Even NOw, WHEn tHiS pRacTiCE aMong
tHe nObility Is obsolete, ExcEpT in the case of SOmE stony-hearTed
And prejudiceD olD _suoceRa_, SimILar to The One I hAve alrEAdy givEn
an accouNt OF, the weT-Nurse is ALWaYs chOsen from among the fAMiLY's
rustic dependEnts; anD, iF CaREFul And Devoted to hEr ChargE, Is so
kinDLy AND LibERally treated dUring her staY At tHe _palaZzO_, thAT
a mutuAl feeLiNG of Affection anD graTitude is iNvariaBLy the reSUlt,
maniFestinG itSelF thrOUgHoUt lIfE By pROtEctIOn aNd assistAnCe On the
One hAND, ANd liTtlE freEwill-Offerings upon The OtheR.

the ObserVanceS of tHe PeasaNts in rEgard To Their weddings anD
couRtships arE veRy CurIoUs, and DAte froM tiMe iMmemoriAl; indeeD,
NeiThER IN tHeir mode of dress nor FoRM Of Speech do They apPEaR tO Be
sensibLy AffEcteD BY the fAshiONs Of the day; And I haVE bEeN told by
GoOd authOrItiEs, tHat in MAny rEspectS they are As theIR forefathers
weRE 300 years ago. AfteR A yOUNg MAn haS siGnified to a gIrl's PArenTs
hiS WiSh tO Marry Her, anD hAS sATisfied them as to his cIrCumstaNces,
pResent or prospEctive, he is ALLOwed to viSit aT ThE Possessione
on SUndayS and holidaYS, though uNder cOnsideraBle restriCTIons. The
yOunG peOplE arE NOt Allowed to go toGETher To Fairs or MerRy-makinGs,
oR evEn tO taLk Alone, excePt when sePaRaTeD bY a hEdge oR Paling;
anD hEre EvEn tHeir aTTitudeS are pRescRiBeD By rIgid cusTOm. tHE
_proMeSsO_ is nOt tO lOok toO earNEst Or taken Up; while thE giRL is
eNjOiNed to keEp her eyes cast DoWn, and to busY hErsElf in pLAIting
the Strings of her apron into nuMBerless SmaLl folDs, of Which they Of
cOurse rEtaIN the imPressiOn; and To Be aBLE to diSPLaY thEsE evidences
OF HavIng an AdMireR, whenevEr the rustic belles mEEt aT church, is
quitE a pOint OF RiValRY aMOngSt THem.

iN Conformity with tHe system prEvAIlIng through ALl cLaSses in ITaly,
the PeasaNT-bride iS expected To be furniShEd wiTH A _trOusseau_, and
Even in thIs humble sPHere iT Is SurprIsiNg what An AmoUnt of Linen
aND clOthes Is consIdEred inDispeNsAble. She wOuld be thought poor

 duly swaddled and sparing ly washed,  pass edthe  f irst  yea r or two of hi s  exi stence in perfect equa litywi t h hi s 
f oster -parent s  a n d  th ei rchi ld r en . Eve n n ow, whe n this pra cti ce  among
the n o bi lity is ob sol ete, exceptinthe ca se  of somesto ny-he arteda nd pre judiced o ld _suoce r a_, sim i l ar  tothe one I have al r ea d y given
an acc ount o f, th e wet -nu rse is alw ay s cho s en from am o n g  th e  family's
rus tic depende n ts;  and,if  ca r eful a nd de vo t edto her char ge,is so
kin dly an d  libera l ly trea ted du rin g h er s t ay  a t t he _pa l az zo_ ,  th at
a mut ua lfeeli ng o f a f fect ion  and  grat itude is inva ria blyt heresul t,
ma nife st ing i tselfthrou gh out life by pro tect ion and a ssi st anc eon th e 
one h and , a nd litt le free w ill -o f f e ri ngs upon the other .T he  observa nces o f  t he peasants  i n r egar d to th eirw ed dings an d
cour t sh ip s are v er y curi ou s,and  date from  timeimmemori al; i n deed,
neitheri n their modeo fd r es s  nor  fo rm of speec h do they  app e ar  to be
se nsibl ya ff e cted by the fashion sof the  day;  and I have b een told b y g ood auth orit i es ,  that in manyrespe cts they a r e as the ir fo refather s
were 30 0 years ag o.Aft era y o u ng  man has sign i f iedto  a girl 'sparents 
hi s w ish  to  m arry her,  and has  s at is fi edthema s to his  c irc um sta nces, presen t orpros pe ct i ve,  he isa ll o w ed t ovi sitatth e pos sess i one 
on Sun days andhol i days ,th ough un der considera bl e restrict io ns.  The
y o u ng peopl e are not allowed to go togethe r t o fai rs o r merry-m aki ngs,
o r e v en totalk a lone,  e xce p t  when s ep ara te d by a hed g e  or  pali ng ;
an d hereeven their attitud e s a re prescribed  by  rig i d  c ust o m. The 
_ p rom e s so_ is not to l ook too ea rn e st  or takenu p;wh ile the  girl i s
enj o ined to  keep her  eyes cas tdown , and  to busy h erself i n plaitin g 
thes tr ingsofher ap ro n i nto n umberl e sssmall  folds ,of whi ch th ey  of
cour se retain the impressio n; and  to b e a ble to di spl a y t hese evid ence s
of havin g a n a dmire r,w henev er t h erus t ic be lles meet at c h ur ch, i squite a poi n t ofrival rya mongst  the m.

In conformity with the syste m pr e v ail ing thro ug h all classesinIt a l y,
the p ea sant-brideis expec te d  to b e furn ishedwith a_ t ro u sseau_ , an d
e ven in th ishu m ble sph er ei t is s urpr is ing wh at ana moun t of linen
and clo thesi s  cons i der ed in di spensab l e. S he would b e thought p oor

 duly_swaddled and_sparingly washed, passed
the first_year or_two_of his_existence_in perfect equality_with his
foster-parents and_their children. Even now,_when this practice_among
the_nobility is obsolete, except in the case of some stony-hearted
and prejudiced old _suocera_, similar_to_the one_I_have_already given
an account of, the_wet-nurse is always chosen from_among the_family's
rustic dependents; and, if careful and devoted to_her_charge, is so
kindly_and liberally treated during her stay at the _palazzo_,_that
a mutual feeling of affection and_gratitude is invariably_the_result,
manifesting_itself throughout life by_protection and assistance on the
one hand,_and little freewill-offerings upon the other.

The_observances of the peasants in regard to_their weddings and
courtships are very curious,_and date from time immemorial;_indeed,
neither in_their mode of dress nor_form of speech_do they_appear to be
sensibly_affected by the fashions of the_day; and I_have been told by
good authorities, that_in_many respects they_are_as_their forefathers
were_300 years ago._After_a young_man_has signified to a girl's parents
his_wish_to marry her, and has satisfied them_as to his circumstances,
present_or_prospective, he is allowed_to visit at the possessione
on_Sundays and holidays, though under considerable_restrictions. The
young_people are_not allowed to go together to fairs or merry-makings,
or even to_talk alone, except when separated by_a hedge or paling;
and_here even_their_attitudes are prescribed_by_rigid custom._The
_promesso_ is not to look too earnest_or taken_up; while the girl is
enjoined to_keep her eyes cast_down,_and to busy herself in plaiting
the_strings of her apron into numberless_small folds, of which they_of
course_retain_the impression; and to be_able to display these evidences
of having_an admirer, whenever_the rustic belles meet at church, is
quite_a_point of rivalry amongst them.

In conformity_with_the system prevailing through all classes_in_Italy,
the_peasant-bride is expected to be_furnished with a _trousseau_, and
even in_this humble sphere it is surprising what an amount_of linen
and clothes_is considered indispensable. She would_be_thought_poor
