The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1863-04-08
THE BAG OF GOLD.

Inere lived, near Bologna, wldow Ia
dy of the Lambertini family, called Ma
donna Lucrezia, who, in revolution of
the State, had known the bitterness of
poverty, and had even begged her bread;
kneeling day after day, like statue, at
the gate of the cathedral, her rosary in
her left hand, and her right held out for
charity, her long black vail concealing
face that once adorned court, and had
received the homage of as many sonnets
as Petrarch has written on Laura.
But fortuue had at length reented;
legacy from a distant relation had come
to her relief, and she was now the mis-
tress of small inn at the foot of the
Apennines, where she entertained as well
as she could, and where those only stop
ped who were contented with a little
The house was still standing when 10 my
youth l passed that way, though the
sign of the White Cross-the Cross of
the Hospitallers-was no longer to be
seen over the door, sign which she had
taken, if we may believe the tradition
there, in honor of maternal uncle, a
Grand Master of that order, whose
achievements in Palestine she would some
times relate. A mountain stream ran
through the garden; and at no great dis
tauce, where the road turned on its way
to Bologna, stood little chapel in which
a lamp was always burning before pic
ture of the Blessed Virginia 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 af-
Fiction. 1t was at noon day, in Septem-
ber, that three foot travellers arrived, and,
seating themselves on bench under her
vine-trellis, were supplied with hagon
of Aleatico by lovely girl, her only
child, the image of her former self. The
eldest spoke like Ventian, and his beard
was short and pointed just after the fash
ion of Venice. Ia his demeanor he affect
ed great courtesy, but his look inspired
little confidence; for when he smiled,
which he dii 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
manner, and on their tongues were many
a soldiers oath. In their hats they wore
a medal, such as in that age are often dis
tributed in war; and they were evidently
subalterns in one of those free bands
which were always ready to serve in any
quarrel, if a service it should bo called,
where q battle was little more than n
mockery; aud the slain, rs on the opera
stage, were up aud fighting tomorrow.
Overcome with the heat, they threw aside
their cloaks, and, with their gloves tucked
under their belts, continued for sometime
in earnest conversation.
AT length they rose to go, and the
Venitian thus addressed their hostess:
excellent lady, may we leave under
your roof, for day or two, this bag of
goldw
"You may;' she replied, "but remem-
Der, we fasten only with latch. Bars
and bolts we have none in our village,
and if we had, where would be your Sc
curity"
sin your word, lady"
"But what if died tonight, where
would it be thenl" said she laughingly.
"The money would go TO the church, for
none could claim it,"
"Perhaps you will favor us with an
acknowledgement"
"If you will write it,"
An acknowledgement was written ac-
cordingly and she signed it before Master
Bartolo, the village physician, who had
just called by chance to learn the news of
A. L.. A. o.,I1 a. Lo Jol;,,o.oJ IL.