The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1857-06-13
Etarnze en-.
a LEGEND or THE zpYDER ZEE.

.M 70 ~ LAf g-rN N
More than SIX handred years ago, Stayorey
occupied the first rank among the cauiinercia
cities of Holland. The ships Of her merchant.
traversed every sea. and brought to lei. saii
liarbor the choicest productions Of every cline
Aarade SO extensive raised tile plrusrerity i
the city to an unprecedented height. True
there were here. as everywhere, maiir poor Der
sons Among the inhabitants, yet the nuiube. d
ne Eieh greatly prepondernled. Luxury un(
splendor, the usual accomplishments Of rrea-
riches, increased rapidly from the f6olsl
prize VITA which every citizen stroYe to excel
his nelgtbor IN pohp, and in nlagniiceli, ant
costlyentetlaihnents. According to tradition
there were many houses hNilt IKE palaces. tlaii
interiors decorated with the most superb vain
%scotlnigg, tapestried with the rarpst furniture
and lle doors ornanieAted with precious metal
instead Of iron.
Now, none Of the merchants Of SttfaNsorren
could be compared i'll wealth with the lad,
Richberia. Fortune, which crowned all her
undertakings with the NEST complete and
sometimes ,niiored far success, appeared desir.
oas OF Illustrating in her TO what extent sbe
could lavish her gifts, aud how lnng bestow her
smiles upon a mortal, IT the ships Of The fe,
male merchant were sent to lie most distant
countries, they always returned not only with
the Sichest gains, but with costly wares, ornn.
merits, pearls and. Jewels, which were lia.hae 10
shipe'in the palace. and bedeck the gorceous
dresses of their fair possessor.
Such unprecedented fortune Rieliberta conld
not bear with that eananaini,v which alone
conld enable her real tHs5o enjoy it. And If Il
be true, us son,e sage Gays, that great inisfor
tune is noreeasily borne than immodera,e pros.
perlty, RIchberta was destined to %fi,rniss,, 2,
proof Of the correctness 4ofthis assertion. TJer
pride kept pace with theinerease ijertreasur
andshe showed it as much III her contem,t ,ar
less fortunate fellow beings, as in the ~exiroya-
gant and costly banquets, which she RI 70 less
for Inversion aud enjoyment, than illat fine
guest night wonder al tile ever-yarying snle5,.
dor OF her apartments, and the costlys viii nd
aud wines from foreign lands, and envy the civ.
er. H- IA as4 g
al one Of these Intoxicating and enervating
festivals, winch offer nothing to the soul and
leave Inc heaft empty, a strange guest was
announced to kichberta. He said that he bad
come roma great distance, had seen the lands of
mary kliigs, and the spleudor Of many courts
aud had come now TO admire also tI9ichbertats
wealth, concerning which fame had borne won
derful report TO his ears.
The BATTERED laly invited the stranger IN .
seat BY hsS side. He appeared a still vigorous
ola nan IN the picturesque costume of the east.
iis-nePorl n'ent was dignifed and noble. and
he approached the hostess, expecting from her
hand the welcome which, according 10 the cns.
tom of bis W land, il syu,bolicallv teu1prod
to the gi'cst by the Offer Of bread and salt ,etc,
But no bread was to be found on her luyme,ons
tables, which rruaDe1 under 4l,a ,,o;.it -