New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-10-17
The Avaricious Merchant.


There was once merchant named Filargiro,
one of the most avaricious characters in the
world-for, though he had realized handsome
property, all his thoughts were bent upon amass-
ing more and more, his avarice still increasing
with his increase of wealth. 1t happened that
on returning one day from a sale of some of his
goods, with purse of four hundred gold crowns,
while engaged in transacting other business, he
was unlucky enough to lose the whole sum nor
was he aware of his loss until he reached home.
Arriving there, he opened an immense chest,
containing many thousand crowns, and on pre-
pairing to add the four hundred to the number,
he was struck dumb with astonishment to find
that they were gone. He uttered an exclama-
ton Of horror every time he put his hands into
his pockets, till convinced at last that his loss
was but too true, he ran off in great consterna-
ton along the path he had come, inquiring of
the very dogs he met on his way, whether they
had seen or seized upon his treasure. He was
quite confounded when he reached the place
where he had first received the money without
obtaining the least tidings of it.
Almost overwhelmed with despair, he sud-
denly bethought him, as a last resource, to
apply to the magistrate, entreating that o
public crier might be instantly sent forth, and
offering the sum of forty crowns for the recovery
of his treasure With great courtesy he
accsded to the request, expressing himself at
the same time concerned to witness the excessive
aflction under which the unfortunate Filargiro
seemed to labor. The reward was accordingly
proclaimed. and the gold soon afterwards made
its appearance in the hands of an old lady, who
found it on her way home from church. Fear
full lest her conscience should be loaded with
such weight of gold, though extremely poor,
she would have been very greatly perplexed
how to act, had she not luckily heard the
crier announcing the reward of forty crowns,
which she hoped she might receive with safe
conscience.
Observing her destitute appearance, the
Judge very humanely inquired whether she had
any means of procuring her subsistence, and
whether she had no one to assist her. IS l have
nothing she replied, ssbut what gain by the
work Of my hands and the help of one daughter; !;
we weave and spin. Signor, to earn as much as
we want, living in the fear Of the Lord the best
way we are able. My daughter, to be sure, /
should wish to see married before die; but
have nothing to give her for her portion The
Judge, on hearing the poor woman's account of
herself, highly praised her integrity, in thus
restoring what she might so easily have reserved
for herself, and for marriage portion for her
daughter; observing that it was an action of
which he feared that few others, under the same
temptation, would have been capable. He then
summoned the merchant informing him that
his lost treasure was found, and requesting him
at the same time to put into the woman's hands
the stated reward
The raptures of the mser were truly amusing
when he beheld and seized upon the gold but
on hearing the demand for the stipulated sum,
his countenance again fell, and he began to
think how he could possibly withhold the pro-
missed reward. Having numbered the pieces
once or twice exactly over, though he found
them perfectly correct. he turned towards the
old woman, saying: There are four and thirty
ducats short Of the sum which / put into this
bag The old lady appeared extremely con-
fused at this accusation, and exclaimed in dis
tressed tone to the magistrate, oh, sir, can
that be possible? is it likely should have stolen
thirty-four ducats, when / had it in my power
to possess myself of the whole No, believe me
I swear, as value my hope of heaven, that
have restored the exact sum which found OF
| my return from church; not a single farthinl
have taken out.''
But the miserly old wretch, continuing to of
| firm most solemnly that the ducats were in the
same bag with the crowns, and that she mus
consider them as sufficient remuneration, ths
affair seemed to perplex the worthy judge moi
| little Yet when he reflected that the ole
| iniser had only mentioned the four hundred
crowns in the first instance, he began to suspect
his design of imposing upon the poor woman, il
| order to save the paltry sum offered as o re
ward He felt the utmost indignation at tn,
discovery Of this deceit, believing no punishment
to be too severe for this despicable breach o
| faith. But checking his rising passion for ,
moment, he reflected that the most efectua
punishment he could bestow upon the miser'
\ attempt to impose upon the magistracy woult
be to make him fall into the very snare he hat
laid for another. With this view. he addresses
the merchant:
"And why did you not mention the ful
amount of your loss before proclaiming the re
ward ="
81 overlooked it; Iquite forgot it.s was th
reply.
who appear SO particular about trifes, shoul
not have recollected the circumstance of IL
ducats. And as far as / can understand, yo
} wish to recover what is not your own.
mean to say that this bag of gold never coul
have belonged to you at all, since the sum 70
first mentioned is not to be found in it, = II
Judge then turned towards the old woman, oil
serving, &c Since it is clear that the money
none Of his, and you have had the goa
luck to find it, pray keep it; the whole
your own, should no owner appear who ca
prove his right to the property; therefore, gi'
. it as a wedding gift to your daughter. If
= should happen that you meet another purs
containing the ducats as well as the crowns, b
= longing 20 this gentleman. / beg you will retui
{ it to him without demanding any reward
!; The wretched merchant. finding that ii
J, Judge had truly penetrated his motives. ar
" | AZ. Al uof ebo ne fno