The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-01-30

ment in the British Museum to draw that cover
tsgether and especially with tho view of investi-
eating q certain Galba-coin of the emperor Of
that name, price twopsnce-halfpenny perhaps in
Roman currency, bat of absolutely incalculsble
value, since it was the only one known to be in
existence. A brandnew thousand-peund note
would not have pleased any one Of the three SO
piece of metal. They accordingly approached it's
shrine with beating hearts. The cabinet, look
ing like cucumber frame-with o separate
space lined with white paper and covered with
glass, for every spscimen-was carefully unlock
d, and the precious coin displayed. cannot
describe it, because I never saw it; bat let us
imagine = small round object, jagged at the
edges, and with an inscription emily to be made
out with magnifying glass
"This is THE GALBAw said the Curator.
It was passed from one to the other, and then
returned with reverent hand to its casket. Other
COINS were taken out. examined, praised and ap-
praised. The exhibition was concluded, and
the Curator was about to lock up, when he sud-
denly exclaimed, "Why bless me-" Enough it
was mere striking expression than that "where
is the Galba?"
"Don't look at me like that, sir" answered Mr.
Crawshay angrily, for he read suspicion in the
officials eye; II am net r'gae and va,gabond.
Ny pocket is not Galbalunzie's wallet"
Somebody's got it," observed the Curator
darkly; chats certain the coin is no longer in
its place. Lady and gentleman, its very unpleas-
ant, but it was here a minute ago, and now it's
gone. It's as much as my place is worth Ito use
rather vulgar phrase) to have lost that Galba.
What's to be done p
'Sir," said the lady promptly, eff there is fe-
male searcher maintained by the establishment
am quite willing to be searched"
"And l also" exclaimed Sir Archibald
Ruf Mr. GrAv unkav uvhifo UNoithov
male nor femele shall search me" said he.
"You are my personal friend" observed the
Curator, signing; cor at least you were 80, be-
fore this uncomfortable Occurrences; cannot,
therefore, permit force to be employed You
perceive my difficulty, Mr.. Crawshay."
81 perceive everything except the Galba," an
swered that gentleman (they had looked for it
every where in the meantimel; "but cannot
submit to be searched"
So the Curator bowed the party out, with feel
ings more imagined than described, and sat down
to make his report to the directors.
Now although, as before limited, the baronet
and the lady would have gone to great lengths
themselves to gain possession of any ancient
piece of metal with scratches upon it, they had
NO idea of other people yielding to such tempta-
TONS They felt positively certain that friend
Crawshay had stolen the Galba, and they cut
him accordingly. The Curator also omitted to
thing very old and admirable turned up at Pom
peii or in Central America, to come and inspect
it; and he never unlocked his cabinet for any
body, but lot folks gloat over his treasures
through the glass: although" said he with
sad smile, sit is like shutting my stable door
after the stsed is stolen
Crawshay was a uumsmat ologst,
Crswshay was thief
Crawshay had come to his house,
And THE GyLRA had come to grief.
that was agreed upon on all hands, tor the space
of five years.
At the end of that period, half-penny of the
time of Valerius Maximus was picked up at Mes
opotamia, secured by the British Consul in those
parts for few hundred purses Of sequins, and
forwarded to the Museum. The Curator, though
still depressed, was sufficiently recovered by this
time to enable him to bear to see another precious
coin lying in the compartment that had been &C.
cupied by his dear departed, and the Valerius
was accordingly placed in that sacred spot
While this was being effected, with due care and
reverence, he felt some hard substance under the
white paper, lifted the paper, and there was the
Galba
few minutes were doubtless devoted to
thankfulness and affection, and then the ghost
of broken friendship with poor Crawshay began
to haunt. Money does much mischief every
day. but it is rare, let us hope, for threepenny
bit or so) to sever human hearts after lapse of
30 many centuries. The man of science had still
heart, and it was touched, you may say, per.
haps, that his head must have been also touched,
10 take SO great all interest in extinct currencies,
but that is to adopt IA superficial view of mems
pursuits. There are metaphysicians III the
world, and even persons who devote themselves
to what they call the science of Heraldry, 'the
couple of jackssscs fighting tor piece of gilt
gingerbread" luscrutable folks to you AID me,
and for that very reason not to be condemned by
a.. say the Curator's heart WAS touched. He
went out aud hailed four-wheel, for though il
was the month of June and lovely day, ham
som would not have answered his purpose. He
drove to Sir Archibald's house, and carried him
off to Mrs Trevor's, then tho three went on to
poor injured Crawshay. That unfortunate gem
tleman had had nothing to support him for five
years, under the most unmeritcd obloquy, but Q
good conscience and his excellent collection Of
coins. They found him seated opposite to his
cabinet, scrutinizng u bronze "Pharaoh," just
sent to him frsm the Pyramids, but which he
had a painful suspicion came frem manufseto.
~ at Birmingham, as indeed it did.
Directly lie saw them, he bowed coldly, and
remarked 10 the Curator: $50 you have found
your Gslba.r
II have iDupd Me Galba," rcjoined that Official
with emphasis, jealous for the honor OF his treas.
nr> aven in that snoyncuk ri repAntsncA