Page:The Decameron of the West (1839).djvu/164

 more interesting object of attraction suddenly engaged his attention, in the person of a very beautiful young female.

The landlord of Francis informed him that Meta (for such was the girl’s name) earned a subsistence by spinning, her mother also living by the same humble occupation. Neither of the fair spinners was born to indigence. The father of Meta was a wealthy citizen, who traded annually to Antwerp; but, alas! on one of these occasions, the merchant himself, and all the crew on board his vessel, perished, (man and mouse;) his own fortune, as well as money borrowed from others, was expended on a speculation of goods; now for ever sunk in the fathomless ocean. His widow yielded every thing, without reserve, to her late husband’s creditors, and with true independence of spirit, she positively refused all succour from rich relatives; her daughter and she both preferring to maintain themselves by laudable industry. Nevertheless, Mother Brigitta fondly anticipated the day when the sun of prosperity should again arise upon her, and all her hopes of future greatness were founded upon the thought, that the surpassing beauty and amiable virtues of her beloved child would attract the notice of a wealthy suitor, who would forthwith become her son-in-law,