“See,” said the old prelate, jokingly, “how angry she is, because I made her a nun, (Monaca)!”
We went into the refectory. The nuns invited us kindly to stay and take some refreshments; this consisted of extremely good ices and wafers, and every one who came in hither from the church, was entertained in the same way. Each person was also presented with a copy of printed verses, dedicated to the two sisters. They were compared to two roses, now transplanted into a garden, where, sheltered from the storms of the world, they would be cultivated for the pleasure-courts of paradise. The verses were beautiful, and may probably contain truth. The two young girls belonged to a family of the citizen-class where the circumstances were not affluent, and the daughters many. Their friends and relatives had contributed sufficient means for the kind of dowry which is required when young girls are received into the convent and are there provided for during life.[1] I was glad to hear that the nuns of the order of St. Filippo, occupied themselves with the education of children; and, that these two young sisters had devoted themselves
- ↑ There is a society in Rome, called Archi confraternita, della Santissima Anunziata, founded by the Spanish Cardinal Torquemado, during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, the object of which is to provide dowries for poor girls, either for their marriage or their entrance into a convent; in both cases, as provision for them. The Pope gives annually, one hundred scudi to this fund, and each Cardinal a scudo in gold. Six hundred girls are annually provided for, by means of this fraternal society. I acknowledge its good intention, but how much better it would be if it assisted the young girls to provide for themselves.—Author's Note.
