The weekly Butte record., 1858-10-02

at the time appointed, his possessions were con
nscated, he himself was stripped of the habit
OF freedom, exposed as slave to the market
place, and sold to the highest bidder,
A merchant of 1hrace becoming his purcha
ser, Alexander, with some other companions Of
distress, was carried into that region Of desola-
ton and sterility. His stated employment was
to follow the herds Of an impericus master, and
his success in hunting was all that was allowed
hin. to supply his precarlous subsistence Eve
ry morning awaked him to renewal Of fam
inc or toll, and every change of season served
but 10 aggravate his unshelts-ed distress. AT
ter some years of bondage, However, an oppor-
tunity of escaping offered; he embraced it with
ardor; SO that travelling BY night. and lodging
in cayerns BY day, to shorten long story, he
at last arrived in Rome, The same day on
which Alexander arrived, Septimius sat admin
istering justice in the forum, whittier our wan
derer came, expecting to be instantly known,
and publicly acknowledged by his former friend
Here he stood the whole day amongst the
crowd, watching the eyes Of the Judge and ex-
pecting 10 be taken notice OF +; but be was so
much altered by long succession of hardships
that he continued unDoticed amongst the rest;
and in the evening, when he was going up 10
the praetor's chair, he was bru,allv repulsed
by the attending lictors. The attention of the
poor is generally driven from one ungrateful
object to arnther for uight coming on, he now
found himself under the necessity of seeking a
place to lie in, aud yet knew not where to ap-
ply. All emaciated, d in rags, as he was.
none of the citizens wehld harbor so much
wretchedness; and sleeping in the streets might
he attended with interruption or danger; in
short. he was obliged to take up his lodgings
in Que OF the toinbs without the city, the usual
retreat of guilt, poverty aua despair. In this
mansion OF horror, laying his head upon an in
verted urn, Ire forgot his niseres for While
in his sleep, and found on his finty couch
more ease than beds Of down cen supply to the
guilty
As he continued here about midnight two
robbers Game 10 make this their retreat, but
happening to disagree about the division OF
their punder, Que of them stabbed The other to
the heart, and left him welteriag in blood AT
the entrace. In these circumstances he was
found next morning dead at the mouth of the
vault This naturally Inducing farther inqui-
ry, an alarm was spread; the cave was exami-
ned; and Alexander being found, was immedi-
murder. The circuul> tances against him We're
strong, and the wietchedness of his condition
confirmed suspicion. Misfortune and he were
now 50 long acquainted, that he at last became
regardless OF life He detested u world where
he found only iugratitude, falsehood, ard cru
city: he was determined to make 10 defence;
aud thus, lowering wish resolution, he was
dragged bound with cords before he tribunal
OF Septnmus. As the pSoofs were positive
a"aiusl tiini and he offered Nothing IN his own
MEDICATION, the Judge was proceeding 10 doom
him 10 Il most cruel aud ig-lomenious DEATH
when the attention of the multitude was soon
directed by another object. The robber, who
had been really gdilty, was apprehended selling
his plunder, and, struck with Il panic. had con
fts'ed his crime. He was brought bound to
the same tribunal. aud acquitted every other
person OF any partnership i'll his guilt. a lean
ders innocence therefore appeared; but the sui
len rashncsS OF his conduct remained wouder
TO the surrounding multitude; rut their aston
ishnen, was still arther increased when they
saw their judge start from his tribunal to EN-
brace the supposed criminal Septimius re-
membered his friend and former BEL efuctor
and hung upon his neck with tears of pity and
joy. Need he sequel be related? Alexander
was acquitted shared the friendship and honors
of the principal citizens Of Rome, lived after
wards IN happiness anl Ease, and left it to be
engraved on his tomb, that no circumstances
are so desperate which Providence nay 10.
relieve Goldsmith