Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-02-24
f honour. that this is a false brilliant. /,

y
ioi u. There seemed. indeed, no DOS.
s'ble motive to deceive him. lie look
eel hrst at the stranger and then nj his
ring; but the former o.ly smiled good
temperedlIy at the jewellers increduli.
~; and, as Tor the ring, it still gave
the lie To i,s owners words.
will stake my life on IT, thought
The merchant at precious stoncs-.
VIII stake my lie on IL, that he is him.
sell deceived as 10 the value of the
stone; or else that. for some reason or
other, lac does not wish others TO know
it,
Some days. past, and the stranger
did not recur 20 the subject. But the
iapidary's thoughts ran continually ON
the brilliant, aud every time they met.
the temptation became stronger. AT
last he summoned courage, and asked
h'm OF the ring IL he were willing TO en-.
trust IT to his care for single day, that
he might test its purity To his own sa-
tifaction. To this request the stran-
ger at once assented, and the ring was
placed in the jewellers hands.
But all the usual tests only strength
ened his original opinion. lie show cd
IT to several Of his brother lapidarics,
and they were in estacies at the sight,
declaring il one Of the most perfect
briiliaDts they had ever seen.
Well, thought he at last, 'even If
It be not diamond, the best Judges
think il is; and it is the same to me ms
u It were. can sell il as a diamond,
and that is enough
In returning IL, therefore, next day,
he asked it's owner what sum would
tempt him TO part with il.
Il have told you,' he replied, 'that
value the ring much above its real
value. do not wish to part with it,
1 will give much more than its va
lue as false Brilliant said the jewel.
Ter. Il will give you two thousand
five hundred pounds for it,
THAT is ten times its value said the
other, but l cannot part with il.
cannot sell the gift of a departed
friend
Il may venture another offer, >
thought the merchant: Il can sell it
for five thousand y then aloud; Il will
! give three thousand pounds for it, and
that is my last Offer
Will tell you candidly,' rejoined
the other, after a pause. playing with
the ring and drawing it several times
of and OH his finger Il do not think
it right to sell it; but you seem so We
~ anxious to possess it, that l know
not how TO refuse. And veto take
three thousand pounds for what is not
worth three hundred. can hardly
reconcile II TO my conscience. Will
you give me- he added a, last, "a GER
4 tlficaie from under your hand that you
purchase this stone from me, not as a
diamond, bat (as in truth it as false
brilliant p
With pleasure, said tie other, ca
: ger 70 close the bargain.
Then the ring i. yours
The merchant Immediately wrote out
the certificate ard check on his bank
er Tor three Thousand pounds; and the
stranger. drawing his ring from his fin
ger, presented it, aud received the pa
; Pers.
| The same evening the jeweller took
out his treasure from one Of the inner
most drawers Of his secret cabinet ia
; admire ITS lustre at his leisure. 1t
/ seemed to him less bright than before.
He rubbed frs, the stone and then his
eyes. Could he have been deceived
IL certainly was less bright. lie held
Il IN 4 stronger light-his suspicious IN
crcased--he applied his highest magni
) iicr-alas alas. the fraud was too e,i
IIsnf His A. A.
much admired. The stranger had
droitIy substituted another at the mo
nent the bargain @as closed and tie
lapIhary had gwen three thousand
pounds for b., Of paste.
. But remedy there was nome
. There were Witnesses enough 20 prov {
The strangers repeated assertion that
! the diamond was aTalse one, and even
his own certificate would testify TO the
= sane elI,ct.
So hc smo,hcrcd lis bitter disap,
. pointmcnt AZ v ell AZ he might. tBssed
the treachcrous baubie into corner,
aud never again boosted to his brother
! lapidsrIes u las bargain 10 purchasing
the diamond ing.
; a butcher being asked by a LADY
who was possessed 81 an uncommon
share OF scnsibdIiy, how he eonid lind
a hear; 90 Nil th0se sweet, little lnno
cent lambs. replied, why. ms'am, YOU
would not eat lhem alive, would y0G !.
Price Of m1tmaid N Ireland. "A
b young gentleman Of Kilkenny, meeting
a handsome milk maid, near the parade
>ald, " What viii yoO take fos yourself
b and your NTH. ny dearF" The girl to-