The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-19
The Bag of Gold.

iutit u'tu, nedI l)oIoSua III uoltleIu II
ally, widow lady of the Lambert ini family
called Madonna Lucrezia, who, in a revo.
luton of the state, had known the bitterness
Of poverty. and had even begged her bread
kneeling day after day, like statute. as the
gate Of the cathedral, her rosary in her left
hand. and her right held out for charity, her
long black vel! concealing a face that had
received the homage of as many sonnets as
Petrarch has writer. on Laura.
But fortune had at length relented leg
acy from distant relation had come to her
relief, and she was the mistress of a small
inn at the foot o. the Apprentices, where she
entertained as well as she could, and where
those only stopped who were contented with
little. The house was still standing, when
in my youth passed that way, though the
sign Of the white croSs-the cross of the
Hospitallers no longer to be seen over
the door, sign which she had taken, if we
may believe the tradition there, in honor of
a maternal uncle, grand master of that order
whose achievements in Palestine she would
sometimes relate. \ mountain stream ran
through the garden; and at no great dis
tance where the road turned on its way to
Bologna, stood little chapel, in which
lamp was always burning before picture of
the virginia picture of great antiquity, the
work of some Greek artist.
Here she Vas dwelling. respected by all
that knew her, when an event took place
which threw her INTO the deepest affiiction.
1t was at MONDAY, in September, that three
foot travellers arrived, and seating them
selves on bench under her yinetrellis, were
supplied with fagon of Aleatico by love-
Iy girl, her only child, the image of her for
mer self. The eldest spoke like Venetian,
and his beard was short and pointed after
the fashion of Venice. In his demeanor he
affected great courtesy, but his lips inspire
little confidence for when he smiled, which
he did continually, it was with his lips only
not with his eyes; and they We're always
turned from yours. His companions were
bluff and frank in their manners, and on
their tongues were many soldiers oath. In
their hats they wore medal, such as in that
age was often distributed in war and they
we're evidently subalterns in one of those
tree bands which were always ready to serve
III any quarrel, if service it could be called
where 4 battle was little more than a mock
cry, and the slain, as on an opera stage, nere
ua and lighting tomorrow Overcome with
the heat. they threw aside their cloaks, and,
with their gloves tucked under their belts,
continued for some time in earnest CONVEX
satlon.
At length they rose to 60. and the Nene-
tan thus addressed their hostess
Excellent lady, may We leave under your
roof, for day or two this bag of gold ?"
You may she replied gayly. "But re-
member, we fasten only with latch
Bars and bolts we have none in our village !;
and if we had where would be security ?"
In your word, lady"
But what if died tonight. where would
it ne them" said she laughingly. "The
money would 90 to the church, for none
could claim it."
"Perhaps you will favor US with an ac-
acknowledgements"
of you will write it."
An acknuwledg dgement was written accord
ingy, and she signed it before Master Bar
tolo, the village physician, who had Just call :
ed by chance to learn the news of the dav :;
the gold to be delivered (these were the
words) not to one, nor to two but to the
three-wcrds wisely introduced by those to
whom 1t belonged, knowing what they knew
OF each other. The gold they had just re-
leased from mlsers chest in Perugia, and
they were on scent that promised more.
! They and their shadows were no sooner
departed, than the Venetian returned, saw
ing, " Give me leave to set my seal on the
bag as the others have done and she placed
ii on a table before him. But in that mo-
ment she was called away to receive cava-
'ler who had just dismounted from his horse :;
and when she came back it was gone. The
temptation proved IRE sistable, and the man
and the money mad vanished together.
! Wretched woman that | am ~ she cried
as in an agony Of giief she fell on her daugh
ter's neck What will becom. of u.s. Are
We again to be cast out into the wide world {?
Unhappy child. would that thou hadst never
I been born9"
And all day long she lamented; but her
tears avaiied her little. The others were not
slow IN returning to claim their due; and
there were no tidings of the thief; he had
fed far away with his plunder. A process
against her was instantly begun in Bologns :;
and what defense could she make. how re-
lease herself from the obligation of the bond ?
"illtully, or in negligence, she had parted
with 1t to one, when she should have kept it
for all; and inevitable ruin awaited her.
$50, Gianetta,s said she to her daughter.
take this veil which your mother has worn
and wert under SO often, and implore the
counsellor Calderino to plead for US on the
day of trial. He is generous, and viii, lis
ten to the unfortunate. But if he will mt
60 from door to door; Monaldi cannot re-
fuse US. Make haste, my child; but remem-