Catherine Mompessons, may now rank the Mary Patton of a kindred nation. It needs no other freemasonry, said the narrator of these facts, than that of the universal human heart, to secure her reverence and welcome in every port she may put into henceforth in the rough voyage of life.

.. the joy, the deep delight

Of rend'ring heartfelt praise where praise is due,
Is more than a sufficient recompense.

No toil attends it, for the heart puts on

A willing service; and the words are wing'd
By the great love which gave them utterance."

Bona Lombardi Brunoro,

AND

Dona Maria de Jesus,

SERVING IN THE RANKS.

IN the year 1417, in the little_village of Sacco, in the Valtellina, was born Bona Lombardi ; her parents were poor and obscure peasants, of whom little is now known. Her father, Gabriel Lombardi, died while Bona was in her infancy; and, chiefest misfortune, her mother also died soon after, leaving the infant to the charge of an aunt, a hard-working countrywoman, and an uncle, an humble curate. These relatives discharged the trust devolving upon them with conscientious rectitude; so that Bona, as she grew up, exhibited in her peasant station considerable intelligence and decision in the selection of the conduct and habits of her life. Her personal beauty was so great as to become the boast of the village; this, coupled with her excellent sense and understanding, gave her considerable distinction amongst her companions, and exacted a certain deference from all with whom she came into contact. During the course of the war between the Duke of Milan and the Venetians, the latter were driven from Valtellina. When the Milanese general, Piccinino, departed to follow the retreating forces, he left Captain Brunoro, a Parmesan

6

gentleman, in charge of the camp in Morbegno, to hold in subjection the conquered country. In the absence of more serious employments, Captain Brunoro was accustomed to amuse himself with hunting. Upon one of these

occasions he stayed to repose himself in a grove, where there were a number of peasants assembled for the celebration of a rustic festival, amongst whom Bona Lombardi disported herself. The grace and ease of her manners, combined with her extraordinary beauty, made on the instant a deep impression upon the captain; but how was he further surprised, on entering into conversation with her, to find that, although then only fifteen years of age, she was as distinguished for her intelligence and the spirit of her replies as for her beauty. The captain, who could on his return home only speak of the charming girl he had seen at the rustic fête, was assured that Bona Lombardi was as well worthy of admiration for her attainments as for her personal attractions.

Brunoro, who remained in the district through the summer, sought and found many opportunities of being in the company of the beautiful girl; every such interview only the more strongly confirming his admiration for her excellent sense, and the sterling rectitude of her character. How could he do otherwise than make her an offer of marriage? With whom could he more delightfully pass through life than with a girl of singular beauty, and who possessed that which was worth infinitely more, sound sense and solid understanding?

When the marriage had been celebrated, Bona would not, for however short a period, be separated from her husband. To prevent this, and to be by his side during his exposure

to danger, she put on the dress of an officer, accompanied him to the battle-field, fought by his side with great courage and endurance, and did not seem to have a thought or care for her own safety, her only object being to shield him from danger. And then, when he had incurred the anger of the King of Naples, who put him into prison, where he would most probably have ended his days, his faithful wife, by unceasing and well-planned efforts, effected his escape.

Strange to say that this girl, with all her charming domestic attractions, which would have made her the pride of any period and home, had also, as if by instinct, great capability in managing and directing troops; and her bravery, of which there are many instances recorded, was equal to that possessed by the most daring and celebrated soldier. This faithful and extraordinary woman experienced the loss of the great stimulus and incentive of her life in the death of her husband, who died in 1468. Then it was, and only then, that Bona was subdued. The fatigues of the battle-field and the deadening influences of adversity had had no effect upon her; but to lose the companion of her life, the husband and companion of her girl-days, with whom she had enjoyed so much of earthly happiness, she could not endure or survive the thought. Her last work was to cause a tomb to be erected in which her remains could be united with her loved husband; then, when the work was completed, she sank into a languid and utterly despondent state, which terminated only in her death.

Another instance of heroism on the battlefield is recorded in a journal of a voyage to