The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-09-23
Was He q Miser?

The rise of the Po, the overflow of
other rivers, together with a dreadful
storm, had laid waste Lombardy. The
parish priests went from house to
house, asking aid. The priest of
San Babila, took me with him one day
on this office of mercy.
The venerable aspect and eloquent
language of this most excellent priest
worked wonders. Every one gave.
and accompanied the aims by wofds
and deeds which rendered the giving
yet more meritorious.
| 1t was growing dark, and we prepar.
ed to return home, when we heard an
| angry cough, which came from a win
dow on the ground floor. Don Tom
maso stopped, and, after a short pause.
"Oh,' said he to me, sit is the apart
ment of Cavalier BriccIoli. Yes, YES,
l saw him yesterday" And then,
Struggling his shoulders, he continued,
"There is nothing to be gained from
him and yet he is called very rich i'm
his own country"
l. Iasked ifit was the gentleman with
the shabby clothes and with patched
shoes, who travelled always on the seat
with the driver, i'm order to pay little or
nothing.
"Yes, yes, it is he," answered Don
Tommaso, and then continued, "but,
after all" as if to answer the conflict
ing arguments that were agitating his
brain, "but after all, if he should give
me but ten soldi it would be ten soldi
more.n
He turned back, entered the gateway
of Provati Block, and asked the porter
for the cavalier.
"He is i'm his nest, Signor CurateI
he has not been seen all day He vii
not last long with that cough"
"Poor man! / am sorry.n
Poor 4! He has money, and,
through avarice, he will have neither
physician nor medicine, nor"
He was still muttering, and we were
now in the court, opposite the cavaliers
door. He gave two or three knocks,
and, after a noise of bolts, it was OPEN
ed. The lamp of the entrance hall,
which was already lighted, cast a little
light into the room which served as
anti-chamber to one somewhat larger,
which we were hidden to enter by o DO
lite invitation from the cavalier. He
begged US to excuse his not having q
light.
"For coughing and sleeping it Is not
necessary. Excuse me, Signor Curate,"
he went on to say, "I am looking for
a match: it was upon the chimney
piece. Here it ISL
STOPPING, he kindled it by touching
it to some half-spent Goals which were
heaped up around the kettle. I could
with difficulty refrain from laughing.
Fortunately for me, it was dark. He
then lightd little piece of candle, and
after the cough excited by the fumes of
the match was somewhat Quilted, he
said:
"Be seated. Signor Curate, what
commands have you for meW
Don Tommaso drew up mis- best argu.
ment. The cavalier listened with his
eyes cast down, coughing from time to
time, and then raised his head, and
exclaimed:
what misery! 1t would be neces-
sary to have the wealth of Crpsus. I
can not-and yet wish / could. lam
poor man. ~
Don Tommaso saw that it was vast
ing time, and rising to take leave, 81
am sorry" said he, ~ am sorry, Sig
nor Cavalier"
"Have the goodness to wait yet o
moment. In such distress, /, too, must
do all that can"
"O," said to myself, ait will be
great sum that you will give ;, some
cents and few pennies. A plague
upon ava-icew
The cavalier opened small cupboard
built in the wall, and having taken
from it q roll of gold NapoleOns, he
said, handing ii to my uncle:
"It is all that / have left i'm ready
money. Last year would have been
able to do more; but chance has
brought to my knowledge i'm s.,
poor family of exiles. They were re-
duced to extremities, the father, moth
er, and four children. Unfortunate
ones! Now they have crust of bread"
Turning then to me, and putting his
hand upon my shoulder, he continued:
"YOung man, bear this in mind, that
i'm economizing i'm candles and matches
you may do little good to your fellow
creatures. Mueseum.