The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-03-12
EXTRAORDINARY AYARrcE.

EXTRAORDINARY AvARIcE.
In The year 1862. an extraordinary in.
stance at assrire occurred in France. A
mi,er. of The name Of Foscue. who had
ama.srd enormous wealth by the most
snrdid parsimony and Tie most discredila-
BILE exiorlion. Was requested BY the 90
sernment TO advances . Sum OF money az
= loan. The miser. 10 whom a fair in
ierest was noi inducemenl suffisien,iy
strong 10 enable him 10 part with his
treasured gold. declared his inrapacily io
inert this demand; he pleaded severe
losses and the utmost poverty. Fearing,
however. that some Of his neighhors. a.
mong whom he was very unpopular,
would report his immense wealth 10 il,e
government. he applied his ingenuity 10
discover same effrctusl way Of hiding his
gold. should they attempt TO institute a
search 10 ascertain the truth or fslrehood
Of his plea. With erea, care aud secre-
cy he dug deep cave in his cellar; 10
This recertarlr for his treasure he descend.
ed by ladder. and 10 The trap door he
attached spring-lock. so that. on shut
ling il would faclen itself. By and by the
miser disappeared; inquiries were made;
the house was searched; woods were ex.
rlored, and ponds were dragged; but no
Fosrue coul,l they find; and sossips be.
gan To conclude that The miser had fed
with his gold 10 some part. where. by
living incognifo, he would be free from
the demands Of The government. Some
time passed on; the house in which he
had lived was sold. and workmen were
busily employed in iis repair. In the
progress Of their work. they me, with the
dnar of the secret cave, with The kew in the
lo.k. outside. They threw back The door.
and descended with light. The frs, OBJ.
ject upon which the lamp was reflected
was the ehasily body Of Foscue. the miser,
and scattered around him were heavy bags
Of gold and pondernus chests of untold
treasure; candles,ick lay beside him on
the f"or. The worshipper Of msmmon
had gone into his cave to pay his devnirs
to his golden god, and became sacrifice
10 his devotion! Wha. must have been
The sensations ofihe miserable msn--~ ha,
the horrors of his siiuatinn, when he heard
the door close after him. and the spring.
lock efTectoally imprison him within his
secret mine! How hitter mus, have been
the las, struggle of that avaricious soul
How terrible mu.t have been the appeals
&c Conscience within that sorlid sinner
How each hag must have disgorged iis
treasure, and each piece Of gold have
danced. in Imagination. around him ~ /
demon! How hated. when the gnaw.
ing pangs of starvation came slowly npor
him. mus, have been that yellow vision
his very heart must have grown sick a
that which he once so dearly loved
Gold in bags; eolI in chests: gold pilet
in heaps; gold for pillow; gold strew
ell upon the ground Tor him 10 lie upon
Whilst his taper lasted, turn where b,
would his eyes. nothing met Them hu, TN
gold. But when the last flicker die,
away. and The miser was left in darkness
to dwell upon his coming death. and upor
his many sins, how awful must have beef
the agonies of conscience! How, surely
amids, the gloom Of that sepulchre Of gold
mus. The poor whom he had oppressed
and The unfortunate whom he had rnine'
by his atarice. have risen up 10 reproacl
him; and. when the mind became fevere,
by its las, deadly struggles. how the face
of hasgard poverty, Of hate and loalhin
for the niser, must. in one loud. discOrt'
ant chorus. have cried for vengeance an
re,ribulion upon his guilty soul
! Sir Edward Coke saws. we, often hav
: ing occasion to go into The country. did i
some sort envy the state Of the homes
ploughman and other mechanics. For one
when lie was at his work, would merrill
|, sing. and The ploughman whislled som
self.pleasing tune. and vel their work bot
, proceeded and succeeded; bu, lie that Ia e
] upon him to write. doth capiiva,e all ih
! faculties and powers Of his mind and be
{ dv, and mus. be only attentive 10 III;
: which he collecteth. without any EXPIRE,
: sion Of joy Of cheerfuness while he is ,
his W,rk