mpanied her relation to London, and
had resided there some years, when she was introduced to and captivated
Signor Anastasio, and after a long courtship, and considerable
reluctance on the part of the lady, because the lover was at least
nominally a Catholic, she became his wife. They lived long and happily
together, for whether Anastasio's religious opinions had undergone any
change or not, by associating so many years with Protestants, he never
interfered with his wife's religious creed or devotions, and permitted
her to educate, in the Protestant faith, their only child Isabella.

I would advise all husbands to do likewise, in some measure; that is, if
the wife thinks proper to perform her devotions in a Pagan temple, a
Mahometan mosque, a Jewish synagogue, or a Christian church, why, let
her, and welcome, unless the husband is particularly anxious to get into
hot water, and commit suicide upon his domestic happiness; for nothing
so effectually disturbs the tranquillity of a family, as open opposition
of religious creeds. Women become religious, in the every-day
acceptation of the word, from any motive rather than a conviction of the
truth or reasonableness of any particular creed. It would be difficult,
perhaps impossible, to define the motive that carries women into the
pale of any particular church. I have heard of an old lady, who was very
anxious to be permitted to carry her knitting-work to meeting, "because
it was such a _steadiment_ to the mind." Perhaps joining the church has
the same effect upon women in general. I have seen so much discomfort in
families from conflicting religious opinions, that I cannot help hoping
that the destinies will so contrive it, that my wife, if they ever mean
to send me one at all, shall be a member of the Episcopal church. There
is about that church, what attaches to no other sect, a sort of
dignified reserve, that never breaks out in four-day meetings, revivals,
or any other similar ebullition of fanaticism and absurdity.

When Isabella was in her fourteenth year, her father returned to his
native country, taking his family with him, having given up his
mercantile business, and retiring from it very wealthy. The priests, as
might have been expected, were soon around him, like sharks around a
slave-ship, all eager to discover, in his conversation and manners, the
contamination of heresy, with which they took it for granted he was
infected, from having dwelt so long among those