CONFRATERNITIES.

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room, were men, women, and children, engaged at faro ormusic (principally the former), remained till abouteleven at night. One night, that I happened to be at theCassino alone, I stayed until its breaking-up. The road Ihad to traverse homewards led through a cemetery, whichwas approached between two dead walls, overhung by ad-hering fig-trees, ivy, and capers. The folding gates of thecemetery were always open, and it was used as a commonthoroughfare. In most parts of Italy there used to existi certain societies, or charitable brotherhoods, which made it! their especial duty to bury the dead, assist malefactors inprison, and at the place of execution, and perform otheroffices of charity “in extremis.” The dress of these con--fraternities was singular and hideous. A garment cut tothe person, including a close pointed hood, bound at thewaist with a thick rope, and reaching to the ground, all ofone colour, red, black, or white, completely concealed theindividual. Holes for the eyes and mouth, in the headpiece, were the only apertures. Now, on my approachingthe open gates of the cemetery, the night being clear, I wassurprised at seeing one of such hideous figures half con-cealed on each side of the gate, the folds of which had beena little moved the better to conceal them. My first impres-sion was, to retrace my steps, and gain my lodging by ano-ther street, a little lower down the hill. But then, it flashedacross my mind, that possibly the young sons of my worthyhost had got up some trick to try my metal. This thoughtdetermined me; so unsheathing my poignard, I walked withhasty steps between the figures, keeping as near the middleof the road as possible, and prepared to strike with-convul-sive energy the first object that moved within my reach.The figures surely must be statues, thought I to myself, asI passed between them, so still and statue-like did theyappear. I wonder that I never before remarked them!

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