The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-11-14

At the foot of the stairs, Fortune
stepped on TO her wheel, which serves
her for carriage, and motioning Bep
pc TO take his place beside her, Of
they glided, invisible to all morta
eyes, along the streets and squares.
On reaching the above mentioned
Illuminated mansion, the lady said =
81 will take you among all the fin,
people Beppo, that you may TAX
your choice
"That viii be easy enough IshoulC
think" observed Bcppo,
Perhaps less so than You mag
ine,p SAID She Do you fancy now
that all my votaries are happy !? Alas
those who have been familiar with mi
from childhood, often think me thu
dullest companion in the world. i
is only those who have lost me, o.
have never possessed me that make {
divinity Of me, I"
These reflections were above tht
fisherman's understanding, in his pres
ent excited state seeing which The
goddess smiled Indignantly, saying
Il haS Q a kindly feeling for you Bep-
pc, because you have always been an
honest, hard working fellow, therefore
/ will give you the means of making
the best choice, by cndowing you with
the power of seeing at glance the
precise position of the man with whom
you are about TO barter your fate"
Just at that moment q gorgeous
carriage, all over gliding, and drawn
by four prancing grays, dashed along,
when Beppo eagerly exclaimed, La
dy, may | get into his shoes 2" point
ing to the occupant of the vehicle
Behold his inmost thoughts" cried
Fortune, waving her hand
And as Beppo peeped through the
small pane behind the carriage, he
could read the conscience of its occu-
pant. as in an open book-nay better,
for Beppo was no scholar-and what
were its terrible revelations?
:" 1t was just at such q fete as this,
and in the same princely mansion"
said the still small voice, " that seven
years ago stabbed hated enemy as
he was slipping an ice in the round
room, and secreted myself behind a
statue on hearing the sound of foot
steps. The princes servant was the
first to find the corpse, and give the
alarm but as he alone had been seen
to approach the room, and I had ia
ken care to use a knife belonging to
the house, he was accused of my
crime. / was too cowardly to reveal
the truth, and he suffered the extreme
penalty of the law in my place-and
now whether working or sleeping, in
bed or at the banqueting table, two
phantoms ever stand by my side
Yes, what money have | not lavished
to have masses said for their souls =
And then those drops of blood that
never could be washed out from The
floor of the room-ugh! it makes me
shuddcr whenever | am obliged to
tread OH it !"
Gracious heaven !" cried Beppo,
turning pale, 4 would not be in his
shoes for all the world Let's try that
other carriage"
In it sat a portly man, his clothes
heavy with embroidery, a diamond
hilted sword, a costly gold chain, and
lace finer than spider web, that had
been manufactured in Flanders OK
pressly for him. But he was q martyr
to the govt, Indigestion, and COM
plication of diseases, brought on by
bis own intemperance, which now pun
ished him in turn, by taking away all
relish for food, thus reducing him,
when at banquet, to play the part
of modern Tantalus.
"Oh, that / could change all this
frippery, to become sturdy porter ="
Thus ran his naromantis lamentations.
"This will never do said Beppo,
"for eat my crust with relish that
I should be sorry to lose. Besides he
is getting into years."
"Friend Beppo," said the lady with
a smile, /" do you want to make con-
ditions with me ! thought you on
ly bargained to be rich, and now you
want health and youth, and every
thing besides The poor might well
grumblo, if the rich had all the gifts. 2
But it would not be pleasant to
grow old in order to be rich !" objec-
ted Beppo and then his eye wan
dered to another equipage. "This
seems to be younger man. said he
to his patroness, "and oy bis elegant
turnout he must be as rich as the
others. /"
Again Beppo was told to look into
his Utmost soul, and what did he find?
Tho seemingly wealthy man was as
poor as himself may poorer-for not
only had he mortgaged every inch Of