The Portland daily press., 1863-02-05
MISCELLANY.
The Bag of Gold.

lnere uVeQ, near Bologna, WlGOW lazy oil
the Lambertini family, called Madonna Lucre-
xia, who, in a revolution of the state, had
known the bitterness of poverty, and had even
begged her bread, kneelng day after day, like
u statue, at the gate Of the cathedral, her ros-
airy in her left hand, and her right held out for
charity, her long black veil concealing face
that had once adorned court, and had re-
ceved the homage OF as many sonnets as
Petrarch has written on Laura
But fortune had at length relented; lega-
cy from distant relation had come to her re-
lief, and she was now the mistress of a small
inn at the foot of the Appendices, where she ell
tertained 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 hite Cross-the Cross of the Hospital
ers-was 20 longer to be seen over the door,
sign which she had taken, If We may believe
the tradition there, in honor of maternal un-
Gle, a grandmother OF that order,w whose achieve
ments in Palestine she would sometimes re-
late. A mountain stream ran through the gar
den; and at no great distance, where the road
turned on its way to Bologna, stood little
chapel, In which lamp was always burning
before picture of great antiquity, the work
of some Greek artist.
Here she was dwelling, respected by all who
knew her, when an event took place which
threw her into the deepest affection. 1t was
at MONDAY, in September, that three foot trav-
elers arrived, and, seating themselves on
bench under her vine-trellis, were supplied
with fagon of Aleatico by lovely girl, her
only child, the image of her former self. The
eldest spoke like a Venetian and his beard was
short and pointed after the fashion of Venice
In his demeanor he affected great courtesy,
but his look inspired little confidence; for
when he smiled, which he did continually, it
was with his lips only, not with his eyes; and
they were always turned from yours. His
companions were bluff and frank in their man.
ner, and on their tongues was many a sol
dier's oath. In their hats they wore medal,
such as In that age was often distributed in
war; and they were evidently subalterns in
one Of those free bands which were always
ready to serve in any quarrel, il a service il
could be called, where battle was little more
than mockery; and the slain, as on an opera
stage, were up and fighting Tomorrow. Over
come with the heat, they threw aside their
cloaks, and, with their gloves tucked under
their belts, continued for some time in earnest
conversation.
AT length they rose to CO. and the Venetian
thus addressed their hostess:
Excellent lady, may we leave under your
roof Tor day or two, this bag of gold? ?"
"Hou may she replied gayly. But re-
m ember, we fasten only with a latch. Bars
and bolts we have none in our village; and if
We had, where would be your security"
I'm your word, lady,
"But what If / died tonight, where would
It be then p said she, laughingly. "The mon
ey would go to the church, for none could
claim it."
perhaps you will favor us with an acknowl-
edgment.s
IF you viii write it,"
An acknowledgment was written accord
ingy. and she signed it before Master Bartolo,
the village physician, who had just called by
chance 70 learn the news of the day: the gold
to be delivered when applied for, but TO be de-
ivered, these were the words not TO one, nor
TO two, but to the three-words wisely intro
duccd by those to whom it belonged, knowing
what they knew of each other. The gold
they had just released from a miser's chest in
Perugia, and ahey were on a scent that prom
ised more.
They and their shadows were no sooner de-
parted than the Venetian returned, saying,
"Give me leave to set my seal on the bag. as
the Others have DONE and she placed il on
table before him. But in that moment she
was called away to receive cavalier who had
just dismounted from his horse, and when she
came back it was gone. The temptation had
proved Irresistible, and the man and money
had vanished together.
"Wretched woman that am" she cried, as
in an agony OF grief she fell on her daughters
nCths what Will btttMt vi us Arc We
again 10 be cast out into this wide world?-
Unhappy child, would that thou badst never
been borne And all day long she lamented;
but her tears avaed 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 plumber. process
against her was instantly begun in Bologna;
aud what defense could she make? How re-
lease herself from the obligation of the bond?
Wilfilllv orr in panii0aura ha hid, d,,;tb
1t to one. when she should have kept it for all !;
and inevitable ruin awaited her!
go, Gianetta," SAID she to her daughter -
stake this veil which your mother has worn
and wept under so often, and implore the
counsellor Calderino to plead for us on the
day of trial. He is generous, and will listen
to the unfortunate. But If he will not, 90
from door 10 door; Monaldi cannot refuse u.s.
Make haste, my child; but remember the
chapelas you pass by it. Nothing prospers
without prayer"
Alas! she went, but in vain. These were
retained against them; those demanded more
than they had to give; aud all babe them des-
pair. What was TO be done? No advocate,
and the cause to coneon tomorrow!
Now Gianelta had a lover, and he was
student of the lava young man of great
promise, Lorenzo Morteli. He had studied
long and diligently under that learned lawyer,
Giovanni Andreas, who, though little of stat
ure, was great in renown, and by his contem-
poraries was called the arch DOCTOR the rabbi
of doctors, the light Of the world. Under
him he had studied. sitting on the same bench
with Petrarch; and also under his daughter
Novella, who would often lecture to the schol-
ars when her father was otherwise engaged
placing herself behind small curtain, lest her
beauty should divert their thoughts; pre-
caution, IN this instance at least, unnecessary,
Loronzo having lost his heart TO another.
To him she flies in her necessity; but of
what assistance can he be? He has lust TAX
en- his place at the bar; but he has never spok-
en-; and how stand up alone, Unparalleled and
unprepared as he Is, against an array that
would alarm the most experienced?
"Were as mighty as am weak" said he.
"my fears for you would make me as nothing,
But / will be there. Gianetta; and may the
Friend Of the friendless give me strength in
that hour! Even now my heart fails me but,
come what may, while have a loaf to share,
you and your mother shall never want. / will
beg through the world for youn
The dav arrives and the court assemblies
The claim is stated, and TIE evidence given.
And now the defence is called for. but none is
made, not syllable is uttered: and, after a
pause and consultation of some minutes. the
judges are proceeding To give judgment. sill
ence having been proclaimed in the court
when Lorenzo rises, and thus addresses them
reverend signors, young as | am. may
venture to speak before you? / would speak
in hoha1f If ono ho has popa als 10 halr Ihar