Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1840-01-04
The bag of Gold.
BY SAMUEL ROGERS.

century, near Bologna, widow of the
Lamba rtin family who in revolution
of the State, had known the bitterness
of poverty, and had even begged her
bread; kneeling day after day, like
statue at the gate OF the cathedral, her
rosary in her left hand, and her right
held ost for charity; her long black
veil covering a ia e that had once adorn-
ed court and had received the homage
of as many sonnets as Petrarch has
written Laura.
Bot fortune had at last relented; a le-
gacy from distant relation had come
TO her relief; and she was mistress of
small inn at the foot Of the Apprentices,
where she entertained as well as she
really could and where those who stop
ped were contented with little. The
house was still standing, when in youth
passed that way; though the sign of the
White Cross, the Cross of the Hospit~l-
iers, was not any longer to be seen over
the door--a sign which she had taken, IL
we may believe the tradition there, in
honor of the maternal uncle, a grand
mastery of the order, whose achieve
nents she would sometimes relate. A
mountain stream ran through the gar
den, aud at no great distance, where the
Road turned on rs way 10 Bologna, stood
a little Chapel ia which a lamp was al
ways burning before the picture Of the
NisgIn. picture OF great antiquity the
work OF some Greek artist.
Here she was dwelling. respected by
all who knew her, when an event occur
red which threw her into the deepess af-
Fiction. 1t was al noon day, in scptenl-
Der, when three foot passengers arrived
and seated themselves on a bench under
a vine treilis-were supplied with fil-
gon Of Alcatlco BY lovely little girl,
her only child the image Of her from her
self. The eldest spoke like a Venetian,
and his beard was short and pointed, af-
ter the fashion Of Venice. In his de-
meanor he affected courtesy, but his look
inspired little confidence for as ne smi-
led, which he did continually, it was with
his lips only, not with his eyes, and they
were always turned from yours. His
companions were bluff and frank in their
manner, and on their tongues were ma
nv a soldiers oath. On their hats they
wore a medal, such as in that age was of
ten distributed IN war; and they were ev-
identity subaiterns in one of those bands
which are always ready TO serve in any
quarrel; If a service 1t could be called,
where a battle was no more than mock
cry, and the slain, as an open stage,
were up and fig hfing tomorrow. Oyer
come with heat they threw aside their
burthensome cloak, and with their gloves,
tucked under their belts, continued for
sometime in earnest conversation.
At length they arose to go, and then
the Venetian thus addressed the hostess:
..Excellent lady, may we leave under
this roof for a day or two, this bag of
gold?'
.-You nnay,n replied she gaily, s-but re-
member we fasten our doors only with a
latch. Bars and bolts we have none in
our village; and if we had, where would
be your security.
.sIn your word, lady"
sBut what if | died tonight, where
then would it be- said she laughlnSly.
s.fhe money would go to the church,
for there would be none TO claim II.
sPerhaps You will favor Us with an
acknowledgements"
.sIf you will write it,
An acknowledgment was written ac-
cordingIy. and she signed 1t before Mas
ter BartoIo, the village Physician, VINO
Just that moment called by chance to learn
the news Of the day, the gold 10 be deliv-
cred when applied for. but not to be de-
Iivercd these were the words,) 10 one
nor two. but the THEE; words wisely
introduced By those TO whom It belong
ed, knowing what they knew OF each
other. The gold they had Just released
from miser's chest in Perugie, aud they
were now on ascent that promised more
They and their shadows had no sooner
departed, than the Venetian returned,
saying: s.Giye me leave to set my seal
on the bag, as the others have done and
she Immediately placed il on the table
before him. But at that moment she
was called away TO receive cavalier,
who had Just disn,ounted from his horse.
and when she returned il was gone, the
scmptation had proved irfesisn blo--ard
the man and the bag Of money had van
ishedtogether. :,
aWresched woman thut | ann she
cried as in an agony Of grief, she fell on