The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1842-10-14

the sports and toys of the world above her,
land made companionshp with the quaint
land mystic masses by which she was sur
rounded; and held her court by lamp.light
alone, in some deep recess, where the ore
flashed in the blaze, and the crystals fringed
her palace roofwilh Jewels: and many voices
answered her when she spoke. for the echoes
were greedy of her silvery accents, and car
ried them away in soft whispers, to which
she listened in her innocent earnestness,
until they died gradually into silence. She
loved the rushing of the waters, as they hur-
Iried through the subteuanean; they were
her music: a melody made for her without
hands; and she wept sometimes as she list
ened to it, though she knew not why; but
no feeling Of terror ever came upon her in
these dim Solitudes; and she knew them
Jail, and could wander alone among them
without one misgiving: nor was it seldom
that her quick perception governed the tolls
of the miners. for her young eye caught ev-
cry indication Of treasure; and when the
blast followed her beckon, the ore was laid
bare as surely as that the rock was rent
l.Nsunder.'
Those were her moments of transport;
the l,owder had opened for her another gilt
terin,y palace; and il was strange to see the
wild bta utiful creature leaping over the fall
len masses, and earnestly scanning the as
pect of her new retreat. Her father loved
|her we'll in these moods, and encouraged
her to trace oft the veins of ore, and to IN
dictate their direction; while he hurried,
restless and exac ting, from group to group
Of his painting labor ers, urging them to yet
greater exertion, reb liking them with their
want Of zeal, or tauntiGg shem with their
IfeebIeness. Wealth fell around him, as the
autumnal leaves fall around the trees of the
forest; but his cry was still 'More morep
And thus he lived on until his daughter
grew to womanhood: beautiful, very beau
uful; but strange, and shy, and hayward;
knowing nothing of the world, save that her
father loathed it.; end loving the dim mystic
rious silence of her early haunts far better
than the fair and fertile earth above them.
And now a change again passed over her
fathers fortunes. The mine became once
more sterile as suddenly as it had yielded
wealth. For time he persisted in believ-
ing that its barrenness was merely tempo
rary; but at length the truth grew upon him
that he had now reached the climax Of his
prosperity; and reluctantly he discharged
his miners, and abandoned all further hope
Went he back to the world with the count
: less riches which he had amassed2 Did he
}, draw down upon himself the envy of the
y poor, and the Indignation of the proud, by
e the gaud and glitter of lightly lavished
a wealth? Not so. Did he fling from him the
G Itrammels of vanity and sin, and render bis
/ past avarice a virtue, by founding monaste
d ries and endowing hospitals with his gold
IS while he himself walked among the crowC
6 in humility Of spirit, and humbleness o
e heart? Again, not so. Did he become am
bitious, and seek rank and titles at the han'
{ of his sovereign, to be paid with usury, an'
d upheld with pomp2 Or did he suddenly fee
IS a spirit of enterprise stir within him, an
b; people the sea with merchant-vessels, ant
IN the storehouses with goods? False guesse
in all. He returned to his joyless home, wit
ly his motherless child, and leading her TO
We lsubterraneous chamber beneath the hal
'e- pointed out to her the ponderous ches
at which filled it from floor to ceiing:-
ed 'Itlis yours--this wealth bought at priC
= which has no name;' ne said gloomily, as
Ok. ground his teeth against each other, 'Your
j." all yours-you have neither kinsman nj
ore guardian to dispute your claim; Of that,
out least, have been CAREFUL And the Loo
which he cast upon the maiden told da
olly tales Of the past; but she needed it not; 81
'eT- was marvelling within herself whether th
Dng piled-up wealth would suffice to buy ba,
un- The haunts from which she had been sudde
ro'- y shut out; and as her father ceased spea
he ing, she ventured the inquiry.
Inns Poor fool!' said the man of mystery,
Der be smOOthed back her flowing hair and loo
hey ed into her deep eyes; sthou hast many a
ne: strange lessons to learn in this world viii
he thou art now about to enter; but it /
he generous task -mistress TO those who can pl
bis chase its love with wealth, Use it, Chi
and use it unsparingly-put thy foot upon
, he neck; 1t will not heed the indignity, if The
and, be but gold in the hand stretched out
inc. raise Il up again. Make ii minister to
girl, pleasures; it will wear the yoke Of servitu
Tple meekly, If the metal Of which thou b
lack wrought it be only precious. It will lau
ROW Or weep with thee-make thy wrong rig
CD a and thy crooked path straight, The wo
TO Is vast citadel, strongly garrisOned agai
that The poor; but thou hast here key VII
off will command IFS gates, be they numer
lled as they may. Thou canst buy all, child, q
ring Thou wilt die loved, hOnored, and hap
nine Cor love, honor, and happiness, as the VIC
too, read them, have each their price; and Il