Butte record., 1854-12-09

ure and perhaps the Death of his young
est boy Poor Alb-rt
At this moment the clock strut four,
the G"ldSmi.h's ware rooms were thrown
open, and the crowd rushed in to exam
Inc and to admire the costly articles
that were submitted to their curious in
spcction.
The sale begaE-nassive dishes, ew
ers. and hagons Of silv and gold were
first offrred-then cnme the more pre-
cious wares, the masterpieces of the craft
-chalices e1quisitively carved, Gothic
temples enriched with tracery of mar
velous delicacy and fneness, iewelled
shrlnes with scriptural subjects in relie-
vo of wondrou. bauty, figures from the
antique Of admirable perfection.
So long as the more commonplace
though costly things only were offered
for sale, tt, Goldsmith sat quietly and
cal"iy at the back of his shop, but when
he heard the masterpieces of his skill
named. and their worth and excellence
extrollcd in the hackneyed terms of
praise usual on such occasions, he could
no longer H. .antain his attitude of reSig-
nation, but hastily rising as if under the
influence of some invisible power, he how
cred round the various articles that
were offered, with all the anxiety Of
parent round the cradle Of his offspring.
The crier now announced for sale Y
statutes in gold and silver from the an
tiquc.
"a thousand ducats,'' said voice.
:" A thousand and fifty" said anoth-
er.
eleven hundred" exclaimed the
first, there was no higher bidding and
the >tatuettes were sold
The old Goldsmith breathed heavily,
his features were white as his venerable
locks, and convusive movement hgita-
ted every limb He nevertheless per-
sisted in remaining near the official
whose duty it was to register the pur-
chases made When all was sold, the |
poor old mn looked round him with a |
feeling of terror-the fatal moment ap-
preached wien the purchasers were to
bear away all those rich productions of
his art which had so long surrounded
him, those household gods which were to
hin. part and parcel Of his own life.
" Let the purchasers of the last twen-
ty-three lots come forward" called out
the official register
" They were all bought by one per-
son. exclaimed voice in reply.
Let him come forward, then, and
state his name'
At these words, a young cavalier of
some six or seven and twenty years of
age, and whose handsome features bore
the stamp of intellectually and mildne>s,
stepped forward. He was richly dressed,
and beneath an embroidere mantle,
which was enthusiastically and gracefully
thrown over him, might be seen d ma
sive chain of gold, that hung around his
neck, and from which was suspended a
miniature portrait, set in diamonds. of
the Emperor Max;milian. His hat was
looped up in front, and his flowing curls,
r"dolent with perfume, fell npon the
collar of rich lace.
Here is the amount Of my purchas
es.' said in tremulous voice the young
stranger, q be pleased to verify its cor
The sum was found to be exact, and
the officer then requested the name of
the buyer in order that it might be in
scribcd in the register.
Meanwhile the old Goldsmith, mute
and duwneast, awaited with the anxiety
of despair the removal of The treasures
no longer his.
"Write," said the young stranger, in
faltering accents, white Albert Dur
er."
At this name the old man sprang upl
with all the energy of boyhood, and in
an instant was locked in the embrace of
his -on.
Albertr" he exclaimed g my poor
Albert is it indeed you that | $ e-you
that hold in my heart My poor boy
md YOU have not then forgotten your old
you have forgiven bin :"
Forgiven you, my dear father" re-
plied the youth, kneeling. 1t Is | who
have to solicit forgiveness for my dlso-
I, L M commands VI