Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-04-05
Diary of a Gold Digger.
THE LETTER WITH A BLACK SEAL.
+" Come to the bridal chamber, Deathin

forgotten me. Something tells me | shall
get one this mail, and I'll try once more"
Such were my thoughts, one evening about
knocking-of time, and without waiting for
supper, | started to the Post Office AL
though l had been disappointed so many
times, felt certain there was something for
me this time
Any letter for me, Mr.. S?n
g. Yes sir | think there is.v
And then the postmaster began lingering
over pile of letters very eisurely Pres
entity he handed me letter, which was adj
dressed in my sisters handwriting, and so
eyerjoyed was | that | determined not to
read it until reached my cabin. Slipping
it in my shirt pocket, started homeward
with light and buoyant step, and reaching
my cabin, closed the door, lit candle and
then took out my letter-that blessed, long
expected message from home Turning il
over, to break the envelope / saw that IL
had a blaek seal! An instant more and
read the words, William, Ann Eliza is
dead; they buried her yesterday O, it will
kill you, ] know it will"
can talk Of il now calmly, and without
one tear falling on the paper while | write
The rock smitten by the prophets rod did
send forth its fountains forever from Horeb
but is now dry as when the people painted on
the desert. Iknow that
The old wound when stricken, is the sorest--
The old hope is hardest to be LOST
but have drunk the cup of bitterness to the
dregs; the bitter fountain is dried up; the
tree stricken by the lightning has no green
branch left to wall in the wind; nothing but
the charred and blackened trunk pointing its
long reproachlul spire heayenward uttering
no complaint, but seeming to say in the mute
eloquence of silence why has THOU stricken
me I"
dare not write here the fearful blasphemy
uttered that night. Looking through the
single window pane in my cabin | cursed the
stars for twinkling SO merrly, as if the whole
earth was full of joy; and then stayed the
execration, for those stars that hung away in
the mitless space, toward the east, were
trying to light up the old home which was so
dark ard desoate; they too, had their time
for setting, aud one by one they dropped
down into the ocean without one of the re-
naming consultations seeming to say "good
night"
Another letter from homel They say
seem like one gone to another world They
have planted rose bush at the head of her
grave, aud my sister says it will bloom this
summer. Blessings on the sun beams that
kiss those FIRST born flowers! The little
blushing violet that springs up amid the ruins
Of temple once sacred to the gods, but
now desecrated by the ploughshare of the
spoer, who has sowed salt where the holiest
lamp burned, unextingushed, for thousand
years, sends fort as sweet a perfume as
though it bloomed in EYES bower when she
first walked in innocence through the garden
of Eden Sierra Cttteen
ANOTHER Confidence MAS's ADVENTURES.
"A correspondent of the Lynchburg Virgin
ian, writing from Norfolk, gives the following
account of the doings Of a Colonel Prosper,
who visited that city some weeks ago.
The Col, began by assiduously courting
all sorts and conditions of the people To
the man of business he was man of busi-
ness; to the man of pleasure, man of pleas
ure; to that class who, of all others, find the
first place in the affections of hero, he was
devoted (for, be it known to you gentle read
ers, he passed as a widower) in his attention
and most liberal in his gifts-here ring, and
there pin; here cuff, and there a muff.
To those who had property to sell he was a
liberal bidder and buyer To clerks, and
those who would be clerks, he was a most
magnificent patron, engaging them at high
figures; and in some instances advancing
them a portion Of their salaries; and, with
disinterestedness beyond paralel in these
degenerate days, encouraging and promoting
matrimonial schemes Of his attaches
Now, reader, hear the deno1ment of this
story: The Col. wanted to make raise
lie bought storehouse at high figure
said he wanted to open wine and liquor
store upon grand scale; and of course left
our folks to infer that all his skirmishing
with the outpost was to attact liberal and
generous patronage OF course all this out
lay had to be provided for; all his presents
to be reimbursed him. all favors to be requit-
ed. To this end, he directed his attention to
one of the banks of the place, and generous
y give them, in exchange for their notes,
$4,000 Of forged drafts. Some $4,000 or
$1,000 Il do not claim to be posted to q
cent? he pocketed, took the wings of the
morning, aud has gone to parts unknown
Why he did not take all know not.
The following epigram is from one Of the
New York plpers:
"As my wife and |, at the window one day,
Stood watching man with monkey
cart came by with "a broth of a boy,
Who was driving a stout little donkav