Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/381

Rh They are here cheats in trifles, and quite too greedy of carlini and grani. But I ask myself whether this is not natural in a state of things where people are continually struggling for daily bread for themselves and their children, and where they know no other object in life. We have always found them kind and good-natured, and faithful in keeping any engagement which is orally made with them. The fishermen on these shores, are in this respect, as trustworthy as the drivers in Rome, and when one employs any amongst them constantly, and treats them kindly, they become actually one's friends.

We celebrated in the house, two days ago, the betrothal of our host Luigi with a handsome young girl, of particularly good and respectable appearance. It took place in the presence of il curato, a nice, humorous clergymen, who asked the young people if they would have one another, after which the written contract was drawn up between them. Ices, wine, confectionary, and other things, were then handed round by Rafael, the young brother of the host, a handsome youth and our daily attendant.

I cannot sufficiently express how satisfied we are with the way of life and the arrangements of this house, or how well-pleased we are, in every respect, with our host and hostess. We feel ourselves here to be, as it were, amongst friends and connections. We never lock our room-doors, even when we are absent for a day and night; we leave our small properties lying about, and have never had reason to suppose that they have even been touched. We can believe every thing which has been said, of the reliance which may