Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1849-07-12


They talked, they thought of nothing save the
world; and when the traveller quilted them the
next day, they felt for the first time impatient
and discontinued.
81 haye great mind to turn gambNsino, and
20 god-huning in the mountains" said Jealous
81 should like to become rich and return to nv
native land"
"For me-" cried Patient, less wild and fiery
than his elder brother, 81 could wish to find
some hidden spring in yonder forests, and there
found village" The country was bare of
water, and spring was a treasure which ena-
bIed the fortunate finder to feriIize vast
property, if he had enterprise sufficient to carry
out his plain.
at would be scarcely worth abandoning our
home loa that" said the ambitions Jealous, and
the conversation dropped. But the thoughts
remained and at the end of week Jealous had
become so infatuated and SO rcsllcssIy eager TO
become rich, that taking horse, rife, pow
der, shot, matt0ck and a few clothes, he
started towards the far distant mountains without
even bidding adIeu TO his brother or Zanetla, so
al armed was he that his visionary enterprise
would be prevented.
Though Jealous had quilted humble pros
perIty, gentle and real happiness to 90 run the
world for mere money, he was no common youth.
Tie had genius, courage and determination, and
his whole conduct displayed these qualities
From time immemorIaI, it had been tradition
that the far off mountains were full of gold,
and regularly every year some ardent and young
spirits started IN search of the precious metal,
to meet only with death or disappointment
Few returned and of these few none ever
brought any portion Of gold worth the labor Of
their search. They limited at vast treasures
discovered in places so distant and difficult, as
to preclude their being reached with mules or
horses, and returned to the search with renewed
Zest, but always alone, each man expecting to
be the fortunate one, and refusing to share his
visloned wealth with Ia partner. Jealous Jones
knew all this, and was determined TO take war.
ming by the fate of his fellows. lie travelled
slowly and steadily, used as little as possible of
his powder and shot, and when he killed game,
bore away the remains TO be eaten with wild
fruits, berries, and the esculent roots of the
tropics. lie was careful, too, of his horse and
reached the entrance Of the hiIIy regions with
ont having violently fatigaed man or beast.
lie then rested two days in the mouth of
sublime gorge OF the mountains, where cliff
and rock, tree aud water, height and vastness,
all combined TO give grandeur to the scene-
But Jealous thought lirle of the magnificent
landscape; his eye, wandering over the green
plains behind, seemed to wish to pierce space,
and discover, five hundred miles behind, the
form Of his aflianced wife, Once or twice his
heart was touched; but glance at the mighty
rampars Of the gold region reused with him
other thoughts, and he still advanced on his
periIous journey.
Months passed, and Jealous was still wander
ing IN the hills, now ascending steep gorges, now
precipitous cliffs, that forced him to abandon
his faithful horse to gaze al the feet; now lea
wing him whole day to feed the length of his
tether while he explored the rugged hills, mat
took in hand, in search of gold; now travelling
over lofty table plains; now resting in delicious
Valleys scarce if ever trod before by the foot of
man; but never finding trace of the treacher.
Gus metal that had lured him from home.
Jealous was getting gaunt and thin, his
clothes were in rags his horse was lame, and
his ammunition was nearly all spent, having
only lasted until now because Jealous had
starved himself to spare it.
/ Overcome by these considerations. he deter
mined to make a halt in green valley waered
\ by stream that formed a pool in the centre
lie bahed his hardy steed, examined his feet
and lett him to Craze unbound quite certain of
his NOT leaving the valley, and took himseIfto the
water. lie hoated an hour in the warm sun on
the surface of the water, and then struck for the
shore, on the banks of which something spark
ling made his heart leap. He tore up a handful
and the glitering gobnIes pure gold revealed
the riches of the valley, TO dress, to seize his
maltock. to tare up the ground, was the work Of
instant. The whole mass was full of the precious
metal and forgetting al! cares, Jealous began
his work godwashlng and digging. A nut
took, basket of green willow boughs-such
were all his oos; but months arduous labor
put him in possession of heap of treasures per-
lectly marvellous. He now thought of returning
when the fatal idea entered his head-how was
his treasure to be removed2
: Jealous stood speachess with establishment
and despair. His horse, though fattned by
months rest was unable to bear much more than
himself and his heavy rifle. He accordingly
resolved 10 take a little, bury the rest, and re.
turn to the setlemnt in search of assistance.
He accordingly restored The precious heap to
its former position, mounting his stead with
small particle Of gold, and begun his Journey
back. 1t was difficult and painful. Hunger
came upon him; his ammunition was spent, and
lew days made him despair ofreaching home -
A fever and ague contracted in the mountains,
came upon him, and his mind began to wander,
He gained at length the vast forest that Dor
dercd his home, but at ngh(all was exhausted
with sickness and fatigue He agheted, lit
fire with difficulty, and lay down beside it to
die The fever was raging and he lost conscious
ness
When he recovered, he was in comfortable
bed in largo farmhouse, with every sign Of OPP
ulence and wealth. Patient and his wife were
beside him. His brother had sought his fire
from curiositv in time Ia save him Tho uree