The Shasta courier., 1864-01-23
The Bag Of Gold.

l
There lived near Bologna, widow lady
of the Lambertin family, called Madonna Lu-
crezia, who, in the revolution Of the State, had
known the bitterness of poverty, and even
begged her bread, kneeling day after day,
like a atatue, at the gate Of the cathedral,
her rosary in her lett hand, and her right
hand held out for charity; her long black
veil concealing a face that had once adorned
a court, and had received the homage of as
many sonnets as Petrarch had written on
| Laura.
But fortune had at length relented leg
acy from distant relative had come to her
relief, and she was now the mistress of a
small inn at the foot of the Apprentices, where
she entertained as we'll as she could, and
where those only stopped who were conten.
ted with little. The house was still stand
ing, when in my youth | was passing that
way, though the sign of the White Cross
the Cross of the Hosptallers-was no longer
to be seen over the door, sign which she
had taken, if we may believe the tradition
there, in honor of a.aternal uncle, a grand
master of tn t order. whose achievements in
Palestine she would sometimes relate A
mountain stream ran through the garden ;
and at no great distance. where the road
turned on its way to Boil gna, stood a chapel,
in which lamp was always burning before
a picture of the virginia picture of great
antiquity, the work Of some Greek artis'.
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 noon-day. in September, that three
foot travellers arrived; and seating themselves
on bench under her vine trelis, were sup
| piled with fagon of Aleatico by lovely
girl, her only child, the image of her former
| SELF
The eldest spoke like Venetian, and his
beard was shorn ard pointed after the fash
| ion of Venice. In his deneanor he affected
| great courtesy, but his look inspired but lit
| tie 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 | luff and
frank in their manner, and on their tongues
were many soldiers oath. In their hats
they wore a medal, such as in that age was
often distributsd in war; and they were evi-
IDENTIFY subalterns in one of those free bands
which were always ready to serve in any
QUAR- if q seryice it could be called where
4 battle was little more than a mockery !;
and the slain, as an opera stage, were up
fighting to-morrow. Overcome with heat,
they threw aside their cloaks, and with their
gloves tucked under their belts. continued
some time in earnest conversation.
At length they arose TO 90, and the Vene
tian 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
remember, we fasten only with latch. Bars
and bolts we have none in our village; and
if we had, where would be your security?"
9 In your word, lady"
But what if die to night, vhere would
it be then ?" said she laughingly. 1.-The
money would go to the church, for none
could claim it."
Perhaps you will favor US with an ac-
acknowledgements"
IF you will write it,
An acknow ledg cement was written accord
ingly, and she signed it before Master Bar
tolo, the village physician, who had just
called by chance to learn the news Of the
day; the gold to be delivered these were the
words) not to one, nor to two, but to three
words wisely introduced by those TO whom
1t belonged, knowing what they knew of each
other. The gold they hadj just released from
IA miser's 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 it on the 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.
: Wretched woman that I am |" she cried,
as In an agony of grief she fell on her daugh-
ter's neck.
What will become of :? Unhappy child,
would thou hadst never been born ~
All day long she lamentei but her tears
availed her little. The others were not slow
IN returning to claim their due; and there
were no tldings of the thief; he had fed far
away With his piunder. A process against
her was instantly begun in Bologna and
what defence could she make? How release
herself from the obligations of the bond
wlfniiy, or in negligence, she had parted
with 1t to one, when she should have kept it
for all and inevitable ruin awaited herr
Go, Gianetta, said she to her daughter,
and take this veil which. your mother has
worn and wept under so often. and impIore
the councillor Caiderina to plead for us on
the day cf trial. He is generous. aid will
listen TO the unfortunate. But if he will not,
go from door to door; Monaldi cannot re
fuse US. Make haste, my child but remem-
Der the chapel as 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; and all bade them
despair. What was to be done? No adyo-
cate, and the cause to come off on tomorrow I?
Now Gianetta had lover, and he was
student OF the lava young man of great
promise. Lorenzo Martelli. He had studied
long and diligently under that learned law
yer, Gio'anni Andreas. who, though of little
stature. was great in renown, and by bis CO.
temporarles was called the arch doctor. the
rabbi OF doctors. the light of the world. Un-
der him Lorenzo had studied. sitting on the
same bench with Petrarch; and also under
his daughter. Novella, who would often lee.
ture the scholars when her father was other
wise engaged, placing herself behind a small
curtain, lest her beauty should divert their
thoughts precaution, in this instance, at