Southern Christian Advocate

AN EXCURSION IN THE CAMPAGNA OF ROME.
Translated from the Geneva La Feuille Religieuse for the New York Observer.

Five or six young Englishmen, of good family and true piety, meeting at Rome, last Summer, resolved to make an excursion together in the neighboring mountains. They provided themselves with fire-arms, less perhaps for their pleasure than for safety and also in order to give to their trip the air of a simple pastime.

Being surprised by night in the bosom of the mountain, and moreover desirous of seeing close by the manners and customs of the mountaineers, they entered into one of the best looking of the cottages, to seek a shelter. They met with a hospitable reception. The old man who inhabited it pressed them to partake of all the refreshment he could offer; after which he brought a bottle of good wine, of which they drank but sparingly. In vain the good peasant urged them to drink more. They persisted in their refusal, and to put an end to his importunity, they replied that their religious principles would permit them no excess.

At these words the astonishment of their host changed into acclamation. "What," he cried, "you are English and you refuse from principle to drink wine. You belong to that class of English whom I love, then, because they love this book."

At the same time he drew from its accustomed hiding place under the floor of the room, an Italian Bible, the appearance of which was manifestly awaited with impatience by the whole family, children and grand children.

The patriarch then read to them with solemnity and attention, two or three chapters from one of the Gospels.

Expressing their surprise, the young Englishmen asked him how he dared thus to read the Bible; for even if he had nothing to fear from themselves, or from any Protestant, he was surrounded by neighbors who could enter unexpectedly, and report him to the authorities. "I have nothing to fear from my neighbors," replied the old man with a smile. "Climb the nearest hill to-morrow morning; it is not very high; and from it you will have an extended view. Well, from that height you cannot discover a single cottage which does not possess the book of God."

"Then you are in fact Protestant," said one of the visitors.

"Without doubt," replied the old man with energy, "we are, but we dare not avow it. That is to say in the country we are Protestants, but those in the city (may God pardon and convert them) are nothing in religion."

The same travellers went on to Rome to Naples, and there they also found the inhabitants of the country inclining strongly towards Protestantism, and those of the city are generally tainted with infidelity. As to real Romanism, they have found it in no part of Italy, except under the cloak of the priest.