Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1839-11-16
THE BAG OF GOLD.

be attended 70.
THE BAG OF GOLD.
The following sell told story, by the poet
Rodgers, will be read with iutercst--eyen by
Nv those who have seen il before.
There lived IN tho fourteenth century, near
B,lognl, widow lady OF the Lambartini family,
esled Madonna Lucre2la, who in revolution Of
fbe State had known the bitterness OF poverty,
and had even begged her bread; kneeIing, day
Alter dly like a statute, at the gate of the Ca
tarsda, her rosary in her left hand, and her right
held ont ot charity; her long black veil cover
ing face that had once adorned a court, and Ind
received the homage Of as many sonnets as Pc
uarch has wrttea Ia Laura
But fortune had at last relenled; legacy
fram distant relation had come to her relief
and she was mistress Of a small inn at the foot
ii tho Apprentices she entertained as well
rs she really could, and where those only stopped
who were cononled with lude The house was
still standing, when in youth passed that way;
tough the sign c. the White Cross, the Cross Of
he lIosp,aIlers was nor any longer to be seen
over the door--a sign which she had taken, # we
NAV believe the tradition there, in honour Of
whose achievements she would some,!nei relate.
mountain stream ran through the garden and At
n, great distance, where the road turned on 1t.
way to BoIogna, stood little chapel, IN Shlch
hnp was always burning before the picture tthe
Vncn, picture Of great antiquity the work Of
some Greek Artist
Here she was dwelling respected by all who
knew her, when an event occurred Which threw
her into the deepest affection. 1t was at noon
day, in September when three strangers arrived,
aad seating themselves on bench under a ylnc.
tre.s--wero supplied with a ilagon Of AIeatlco
by a lovely girl, her only child, The image Of her
former self The eldest spoke like Venetian;
and bis bead was short and pointed alter the
fashion of Venice. In his demeanor he affected
great courtesy, but his look inspired little conf
dence for as he smiled which he did continual
", it was with his lips only, not with his eyes
and they were always tuned from yours His
companions were bluff and frank in their manner
and on their tongues were many soldiers oath,
Ga their hats they wore medal such as IN that
age was often distributed in war and they were
evidently subalterns in one of those bands which
are always ready to serve in any qnarrel, il SER
wee ii could be called, where a battle was no
more than mockery, aud The slain, MS on open
stage, were up and fighting tomorrow Over
come with the heat, they threw aside their burden
some cIoaksa and with their gloves tucked under
BELTS continued for some time in earnest CONVEX
satIon.
At length they arose to 60, and the Venil.an
thus addressed the hostess
" Excellent lady, may we leave under your
roof for a day or two, this bag of gold p
Z" You may" replied she gally, " but remem-
ber we iasten our doors only with latch. Bars
and bolts, We have none in our village and if we
had where would be youl security 2"
" In your word, lady"
but what if | died tonight, where then would
i be 7" said she. aughn.ly. 1.-The money
would 60 TO the church, for there would be none
10 claim it,"
: Perhaps you will favor US with an acknowl-
.dgmentW
"lf you will write it,"
An acknowledgment was written accordingly,
hhd she signed it before Master Bartolo, the yll.
age physician, who just at that moment called BY
chance, to learn the news OF tie day. the gold
10 be delivered when applied for, but not TO be
delivered, (hesc were the woIds,) to one MOI
Two, bot to the THREE words wisely introduced
oy those 70 whom it belonged knowing what they
knew OF each other. The gold they had just re-
leased from m.ser's chest in Perugie, and they
we're now on a scent that promised more
lhey and their swallows were no soonar de-
Pat'ed, than the Venitan returned, saying Give
n'e leave to set my seal on the bag, as the Others
nave DONE and she Immediately placed i on
iae table before him. But at that momont she
vas called away TO receive q caYalIer. who haC
just dsmounted from his horse and when she
returned i was gone the temptation had proved
pfes'stlbe-and the man and the bag Of money
mad vanished together.
Nreiched woman thai am !" she cried, q
!" 40 agony Of grief, she fell GA her daughter
neck what will become Of US z ADe we agar
70 oe cast out into the wide world Unhappy
InHl' would that thou hadst never been born!
aug All day long she lamened, but her tears avail
"a her hitle. The others we're not slow IN re
.ufalng 70 claim their due and there was no td
rs q The hieC; he had fled far away with ht
p'UadeF. a process against her was lnstant
uesun al Bologna, and what defence could sh
n1ne, how release herself from the Obligation
% 'ae bend WliuIly or neghgenily she ha
r'.eu with II 10 one, when she should have KEEP
''I all; and inevitable ruin awaited her!
uo GIanetia," said she, to her young daugh
-, 'aae THIS veil which your mother has mon
S"l ~ept under 50 often, and implore counsello
ra'uerno 10 plead for US on the duy Of trial. Bu
ne ~lll not. 60 from door 10 door--Monad
''''ooI refuse US. Make haste, my child, but fo'