MY COMMON-PLACE BOOK.

No. XX.

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CEREMONY OF A GIRL TAKING THE VEIL.


The convent of the Esperanza enclosed within its gloomy walls one of the
fairest forms that nature ever moulded. Her name was Claudia; she had just
completed her sixteenth year, and now shone forth in all the bloom of
health and beauty. Her full black eyes, and her long dark hair, which,
partly concealed by her religious dress of a pensioner, escaped in flowing
ringlets over her snowy shoulders, embellishing a countenance whence
beamed such harmony of features and enchanting delicacy of expression, as
indicated the purity and peace that reigned within. The Esperanza soon
became my favourite spot, and I felt convinced nature never formed this
angel to be immured within the walls of a convent; nor would she have been
destined to pass the remainder of her life in its obscure recesses, but
for the unnatural avarice of her parents--a custom still too prevalent, to
secure the wealth of a family to one branch.

During my stay in this town, I had an opportunity of witnessing the
ceremony of a girl taking the habit of a nun. After mass, the grate of the
chapel of the Esperanza was thrown open, and there appeared all the holy
sisters dressed in black. The girl alone who was about to take the habit
was in white; and, in front of all the others, knelt down before a table,