The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-09-06
THE COUNTERFEIT DUCATs.

Of its towns, and possessed a body of
merchants, and particularly goldsmiths,
jewelers. and dealers In silk, with whom
Venice itself could scarcely bear COM
parison. Amongst these goldsmiths and
jewellers there was one more eminent
than his brethren. His dwelling was
upon the bridge, and Padua was scarcely
more universally known in Italy than
Ieronimo Vincente was known for one
of its citizens. ut never rains but 1t
pours, says northern proverb "rlches
begets riches" says an Italian one.
Jeronimo found the truth of both these
sayings. He was already rich enough to
satisfy dozen merchants and to make a
score of German princes. Fortune, how
ever, did not yet think she had done
enough for him. Every day some traveller
was arriving at Padua, in the exchange
of whose foreign money for the coin of
Padua he obtained some good bargains,
and added to his over.howing Golfers.
Few died without relatives but that he
was appointed their executor Many paid
tribute to his wealth and reputation by
leaving him their heir. The city of Padua
gave him all the public contracts; and
he almost sank under the weight of
trusts, offices, ETC., not merely offered,
but obtruded and imposed on him.
Who could he more happy than Jero-
nimo Vincente +? So he thought himself
as he walked on the bridge of Padua one
beautiful Summers evening. A coach of
one of the mobiles passed at the same
moment. No one noticed it. On the
other hand, every one who passed him
saluted him. "Such have been the effects
of my industry, my dexterity in business,
and my assiduous application. Yes, Jero-
nimo, others have to thank their ances-
tors; you have only to thank yourself.
1t is all your own merit"
And with these reflections his stature,
as it were, increased some inches higher,
and, assuming peculiar port and self.
satisfied step, he walked in vanity, and
almost in defiance of every one and
everything, to his own house. He fell
that the ancient fable of Jupiter was re-
peated in his house, and that the heav-
ems opened and descended upon him in
a shower of ducats and pistoles. In all
this soliloquy of Jeronimo, you will oh
serve, there was not word or thought
of any one but himself; he did not at
tribute his plenty to the blessing of God
he felt no gratitude TO Him who had
showered down upon him in abundance;
his mind, his spirit, and his vanity
were that of Nebuchadnezzar and the
fate of Nebuchadnezzar was nearer to
him than he imagined. 1t is part of
the wise economy of Providence to vim
dicate the honor and duty which belong
humble those who in forgetting Him
are about to lose themselves. He sends
them prosperity as a blessing; they
abuse it and convert it to curse. He
recalls the abused gift, and sends them
adversely to bring them to their duty
Such was the course of Divine govern.
ment in the early ages of the world,
such it is to this day and such did Jeron-
imo find it much sooner than he expect
ed.
On sudden, without any apparent
cause, he saw to his astonishment, the
universal respect 10 his wealth and repu-
talon on manifest decrease. Some who
had before nearly kissed the ground in
his 1onlyo1 Ii.
face, and kept their straightforward
course, without giving him the honora-
ble side of the path others kept their
bonnets as if nailed to their heads; two
or three recalled their trusts others
happened to call for accounts of such
trusts, when he was not at home, or busy,
spoke in peremptory tone, dropped
hints of the laws of the country, and
the duty of guardians. In plain words
he gradually discovered himself to be as
much avoided as he had heretofore been
sought. No one was punctual in his
attendance but those to whom he paid
their weekly or monthly pensions. If
there could be any doubt that something
extraordinary had happened, Jeronimo
had at length sufficient proof; for having
put himself in nomination for one of
the offices of parochial intendant, and
of the great church and treasury of Pa
dua, competitor was preferred, less
wealthy than himself by some thou
sands.
Jeronimo returned home much con-
founded at this unexpected defeat. In
vain he examined himself and his situ-