i - - - .t. I . . -... I . - ... 1 \ fiel A. -...." .-.:A ..- , ...-• _ •:-; ' ' ..-... . ..... r i„,....ir....a , L . . 11111 . . ''_-. - • - - .A.,.. "•-• .' : - . A . , ,_ , .. .- • .. . . t . ....... . .__ -. --:- ..,. ..•,.. ._, 4 II SAMUEL WRIGHT, Editor and Proprietor VOLUME XXVIII, NUMBER 9.1 PUBLISHED EVERY SITURNY MORNING Office in Ri»-thern Central Railroad Com pany's Building, north-zees/corner Front and Lit alnut streets. Torras of Subscription. (Cue Copy per annum, if paid in advance, t, If not paid Within three artor.tha from commencement of the year, 2 00 4 C4D3a.tsi a, Ccsizr-y-. No aub•ertptton received fo• a le-4 time than •ix ttrtomhx; and no paper will he di-continued until nil urrearages are paid, unie•s at the option of the pub a•her. • 11:7 . M1Inney may be remitted by mail at the publish .er • risk. Rates of Advertising square j 0 lines] one week, three wrek• each subsequent insertion, I " niter] one week, 50 three w•re ks. I 00 each .üb.ecptont insertion, .25 Larger advertiqeme»tii in proportion. A liberal di,mount will lie made to quarterly, half yearly or yearlyudvertisers,who are .iricilyeonfiiird to their DR. S. ARMOR, 1.10)I EOPATIIIC PHYSICIAN. Office and Residence in L0r.:11.4 rtrcet, opposite the Poi Office; OFFICE PRIVATE. Columbm. April 25, 1257.6 in Drs. John & Rohrer, c ALE . associated in the Practice of ,Illedi oluntlifit, Arril t.t.19.113-tf DR. G. W. MIFFLIN, DENTIST, Locust street, opposite the Post Office. Columbia. Pa. Colombia, May 3, MG. 11. DI. NORTH, ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR AT LAW. COIIIIIII3III. PR. Colleelloll., 1 romatly made, in Lanetoder and York Cowan,. Columbia. May 4,1910. J. w. FISHER, Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 3E 3. .tiLe CMIIIIO `WI/It-Mite r te. I Y. 51- Is GEORGE .T. WIIOLESILE and Retail Bread and Cake Baker Constantly on linn.l a variety of rakes. COO numerous to mention ; i;raekers., Soda. %Vine. Scroll, and Su g ar Biscuit ; Conteetioncry. of every description. Ate., c.c. I.OI:UST STILL:ET, rat,. 2;56. re-tween the Bonk and Franklin QOLUTIDN OF CITRATE OF lIIAGNESIA,or g ative Mineral Waiev—The• pleat,ititt medicine which ia highly recommeaded a, a t•iale•tiluie for sot, can be obtained Avg!. every day at DR. li. Itt. II PAM'S Drug Stole. Front rtl. (j 2 ir UST received, a fresh supply of Cora It, Starch, Farina, mut Mee Vlonty. nit Atc(;(f ((KU:: & itt.3.7.K/"/": 4 Family Medicine Smrc, Odd Yellow•' Il.dl, Columbia. Columbia, 11Iiiv :30, I.:a. TAMPS, LIMPS, LAMPS. Just received at . Het new and beautlial lot of Lump.. of :dl Mny .2. I t4n7 A LOT of Fresh Vanilla Beans, at Dr. B B. Golden Moro,. Drug Store. v ASLTERIOR article of banditry, Fluid just n•oeived a,,a t-1;1' i) A NI ,V SON. A LARGE lot of City cured Dried Bccf, just /1. received at u. SLI DAM & SON Columbia December Qf1,1.56. A NBW and fresh lot of Spices. just re. cloyed at tON'S. Colombia. Ilea 91. 19.16. POUNTRY Producc constantly on hand an d %./ for .111. by 11. FU VI) k & SON HOMINY, Cranberries, Raisins, Figs, Alm- Oudf., Walimt4, Creutrt Nils Zve...311.t received t Cohlmbi n. . A SUPERIOR lot of Black and Green Teas, Coffee and Clideolate,,iu.4 received nt IT. Qt:VDA & cON'S Corner of front and Union Sic. Dee. 20, 1050 TUST RECEIVED, a beautiful assortment of Glans Ilik Stanc., at the lleathwartel, um] New. , Dew. Columbia. A MEM XTRA. Family and Suprrfine Fionr of Ihr E beat brood. for Rale by It st/VCIANI L SON. JUST received 1000 lbs. extra doable bolted Meal, at Der.2o. Irtf,. 11. SUYDAM ttr SON'S._ -WEIKEL'S Instantaneous Yeast or Baking Powder. for e.ei le by 11. SU VDAM & SON. TABLE and Rock Salt, by the tack or bu.hel, for cute low,hv Notch 2°. 14157, DE GRATH'S EtJ OIL. Just reeriveJ, fresh supp:y of this popular remedy, and for sate It WILLIAMS. Front Street. Columbia. Pa. by Afny 10, ISSa ALARGE wontronent of Rope.. n 11.4 7 , `. and length!, on hand and for sale. at TIIOS. March 12, No. 1. Il tr.. 11 ttrcet. MOOTS, SHOES, GROCERTHS, &e., alco, Fresh Burning Flunl,just opened at THOMAS IVP.LSWS No. L. High Street, March :210651'. 'DRUM: Hams, Shoulders, Dried Dccf, and Sides, just received at March !2.3.15:i7. BRUNER & CO'S. CIUG ARS, Sugars, of the hest qualitiesjust received and foriailc by March 1)1100MS. 13r00m , , llrenm. ceivea, at [mh 1F.57 ' ^.° lot .itt.-1 re ttumm & co .e, SOAP of all hind• suitable for wn.lana end the toilet. at 1.0 BRUN d. CO , March t??, 1..57. CFTEF;S & TI I Ar 3 of all kinds and priors for sole by I. 0. lIIIUNBK & CO'S. Alorch 2S. 1,937. F ISII, Fish Fish—Codfish, Mockers!. Hn. erri. kc for sale, by 1. O. BRUN Elt & March. 244,1.957. A NEW lot of WHALE. AND CAI GREASING PA. AHLS, received at the 'tore of the <ub.eriher. R.:WI1.1.IA:11S. Front Street.Coloooin. May 10.1 Sia Z I IRIF,SII Burning Fluid, Juil received null the gale by I. O.ERUNER & CO. March .2.9, 9\RTEID BEEF. Extra and Plain llarnn, Shoulders and mean Pork, for sale by MOMMAS WELSH, No.l. High street. March 21, IP.SG OATS, Corn, Hay, and other feed.. for Pa Ie THOMAS Mnreh 21. 1457 IVE ULAS .t. + F:S.Lorovrrtttg'AtZyriop.Nrew Orlttane , , Cuba, 1. and Sugar Ilou.e, for 4n/l. Inw. by Mnreh M. P,57 0 rtftl!NEß & CO. 20 DOZEN BROOMS, 10 BOXES CHEESE. For %ale cheap, by 13. I'. APPOLD & CO. Colnno,ol.. llrtoher 1556. A surEttion article of PAINT OIL. for 4alr ly 11. WILIAANIS. From Sirrei. Colombia. l'n May 10.1.5f1 - - TUST REC El V HD, st large Rail well , elected vn rimy eft of Rrivihe, ennskting in part ofShoe. Hair, Cloth, Crumb, Nail, Hat nod Teeth Itrufthe.., and r m . „l e , by WILLIAMS. March 22, '56. Front street Cotinninn. Pn. ASUPERIOR article of TONIC RPM: BITTURS. suitable for Hotel Keepers, for gale b R. WIT.f.IAMS. Tramttreet.Columbill. May 10.1556 rßEtzli ETHEREAL OIL, 'Horny. on hand , nod fo pair by R. WILLIAMS. :Hoy 10.1 ftSG. Front Street Colurnhin. Pa. TUST received, FltESti CANIPti ENE. and for Oak .0 by R . WII,Lid MS. Yttay 10, 14u6. ' Front Street. Colombia. Pa. / 0 00 LAS. Ne."'City Cared flame. and Shoulders Just r eceiv e d and for sale by Feb 21, 1867 11 SijYDAM rpic SON. MEI CIA In a remote part of the city of Padua, near the ancient ch-urch of Santa Sofia, was, and is probably there still, an old house, enclosed by Nv a 1 1., and approached by large gates, which were seldom or never opened—the mode of ingress being by a small wicket gate at the side. The outer aspect of the house was dull and gloomy, for almost all the windows opened on to an inner court, which was sur rounded on the four sides by the building. The open staircase was in one corner of the edifice, and the different rooms above stairs were approached by open galleries, or bal conies, in the Italian fashion. Few of the apartments had fire-places, and seldom was smoke seen to issue from the funnel-shaped chimneys, so common in Padua and other localities near Venice, which seemed design. ed rather for the admission of rain and snow than fir the exit of smoke. The owner and occupier of this silent and gloomy dwelling was an elderly man, of re tired and penurious habits. Guiseppe 13al ducci—for such was his - name—inherited from his father a small independence, which was believed greatly to exceed his expendi ture. His parsimonious habits increased with his years; and from being at first only economical, he became miserly. lie had but few friends and an acquaintance seldom crossed his threslthold. Indeed, such was his reputation for stinginess, that it was a common saying with his tenants to whom he gave receipts—the only things he was ever known to give—for the rent they owed him, that, in order to save the ink, he would nei ther cross a t or dot an i. 1. 0, itrtuNv.re CO At the period of which my story relates, the whole establishment consisted of one fe male servant, who had attained the mature age of fifty. Bettina had been brought up by the mother of Balducci, and after the death of her mistress, had been transferred to the menage of the son, in which she had faithfully discharged all the duties of cook, housekeeper and maid of all work, for up wards of twenty years, and had attained, as far as it was possible for any one to attain, the confidence of her master. She was act ive and industrious, and long habit had fa miliarized her with the miserly ways of Bal ducci. Bettina had also another advantage in the eyes of her master; she was so plain that Balducci had never been annoyed by suitors for the hand of his servant, and it was currently reported that Bettina had never had a lover. lIRUNTNI & CO Baldueci was not more indulgent to Bet tina's female acquaintances than he would have been to her friends of the opposite sex. He admitted none of them within his house. for he had a holy horror of gossiping, and was so far conscious of his eccentricities as to bo unwilling to afford opportunities of their becoming a subject of conversation for his neighbors. Bettina, however, made up for her solitude and silence at home, by the good use sho made of her tongue and ears when going to and returning from mass or market. One morning Bettina went to purchase provisions at the market, held in the piazza, in front of the Palazzo della Ragione, the ancient town-hall of Padua. The morn ing was cloudy, and just as she had finished her marketing, the rain, which had been threatening all morning, began to fall. Now when it rains in Italy, especially during the autumn, and this was in th.e month of November, it rains in earnest.— There aro none of your half measures— Scotch mists; or gentle showers—but zegu lar downright rain, falling straight as a plumb-line, not in drops but in streams, as if it had been poured out of a bucket—a rain that would almost wet a man to the skin Dttus. Madam, as You pass Us by I= Madam. as you pass us by, Dreamiiig of your loves and wine Do not brush your skit brocade Against this little maid of mute, Madam, as you pass us by. 'When in youth my Wood was warm Wine was royal.hfe complete, So I drained the cup; of wine, So I ant at NVOMTIII . I , fort, When In youth my blood wna warm Time has taught me pleasant truths: Lilies grow where thistles grew; Ali, you loved the not. This maid Loves me. There's an end of you! Time has taught me pleasant truth s . no hitter wards. Too worn passion made the blunt, You ♦were subtle Let it got For the sake of woman-kind I will speak no bitter word!. But. ;$131111771 ft; yOtl pass 00 by. Dreaming of your loves and wine, Do not brush your rich brocade A staut•t this little maid of mins, Madam, as you pass us To The 'ging. A health to the king! my king' lint not in the ruby wine' Too pale for the name I sing' Too weak for such love as mine' flow• Rh nil I pledge thee my king' What nectar shad fill the bowl' hen,elf cannot bring A %%ine like that in my soul' Then toke for my pledge. ch. y hfe, wlnch IR wholly thine: And quatT from thy eim. my king! A soul—not the ruby wine! Maim WS Jfonddp gacrtivts. The Lottery Ticket "NO ENTERTAINMENT IS SO CREAP AS READING, NOP. ANY PLEASURE SO LASTING." COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA, SATURDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 5, 1857. before he could open his umbrella. Bettina was not exactly prepared fur such a rain as this—she hoped, in fact, to reach home be fore the rain came, for she could not carry at the same time her heavy basket and one of those large and clumsy umbrellas, cover ed with waxed cloth, generally used by the lower orders in Lombardy. The white mus lin shawl with which her head was covered, was no protection against such weather as this; and as her high heeled shoes covered her toes only, leaving the heels bare, her clean white stockings would soon be plaster ed with mud. The sides of the piazza where the market was held were skirted with arcades formed by the projection of the upper stories over the basement. In consequence of their vi cinity to the market, the space beneath the arcades was occupied as open shops, a nar row passage being left for the convenience of passengers. Bettina had a friend, Monna Lisetta, who kept a draper's store in this lo cality; with her the housekeeper took shelter from the rain, and awaited the chance of its ceasing, or of some acquaintance going her way with an umbrella, which was sure to be large enough to cover her as well as the owner. Olonna Lisetta gave her visitor a seat, and found room for her heavy basket in the shop, The two Women were soon engaged in con versation. There was no lack of subjects. When they had discussed the weather and the affairs of their neighbors, there was still the shop goods to talk about. Monna, Lis etta had many pretty gown pieces which she tried to induce her visitor to purchase; but although Bettina liked to look at pretty things, she was in no humor to buy. She shook her bead and pleaded poverty. 'You need not be poor long if you will but do as Gian Sarpi has done. If you have only half his good luck, you will be a rich woman.' 'What has he done, and what good luck has he had?' inquired Bettina, whose curios ity was excited. 'Why he has bought a ticket in the lot tery, and drawn a prize of twenty thousand zwanzigers:' 'lndeed! He's a lucky fellow,' said Bet thin. 'Why don't you try your luck? and if you get a prize, you can buy this dress, and any others you please.' As Lisette spoke, she pointed to a wide placard on the walls of the Palazzo della Ragione, announcing in very large letters. that certain numbers had turned up prizes in the imperial and royal lottery, and that many tickets were yet 'indisposed of. I am thinking of buying a ticket myself,' added Lisetta. 'Look, there is Maso Fer rari now coming out of the office. I won der whether he has purchased one. Let us ask.' She beckoned to a man who, covered with a large green unbrella, was then crossing the road. 'What have you been doing orer yonder?' asked Lisetta, as be shook his umbrella pre paratory to closing it, and stepped into the shop. 'Buying it lottery ticket,' said he. `..t.h! I thought you could not resist, after you heard of Ginn Sarpi's good fortune. I am thinking of trying my luck, and I want Monna Bettina to do the same.' 'lf I thought I was sure of getting a prize,' said Bettina, doubtingly. 'One is all but sure,' answered Lisetta. 'There are two prizes of one hundred thousand zwanzigers each to be drawn soon, and if I should be lucky enough to get one of them,' said Maso, clasping his hands, while his eyes sparkled with anticipated happiness—'why, my fortune will be made, and I may ride in my coach, instead of car rying this green umbrella over my head in therain, and tramping through the mud.' 'And you can buy a dress for your wife of this piece of stuff,' said Lisetta, who always had an eye to business. 'lsn't it a beauty?' She displayed the cloth, gathering it up in her hand like the folds of a dress, and hold ing it in as good a light as she could com mand; then she turned it towards Bettina. 'lt is very pretty, certainly,' said the housekeeper, thus directly appealed to. 'I should like it very much, but I canrot afford it.' 'Ah! you'll tell a different tale when you have drawn a prize in the lottery.' 'Stuff and nonsense! I don't mean to buy a ticket.' Bettina advanced to the entrance of the arch, and looked this way and that to see whether the rain had abated; and, not trust ing to her eyes alone, she held out her hand to feel. `The rain is abating,' said she; must hasten home. If you arc going my way, Maso, will you give me the shelter of your umbrella?' 'With pleasure,' replied Maso. Bettina took up her basket, and after. bidding Lisetta good bye, and gathering her dress above her ankles to keep it clean, she walked in com pany with Maso as far as the gate of Bal ducci's house, where, thanking him for his civility, she let herself in and secured the door. The hour was so late that Bettina had scarcely time to prepare for dinner, hut when her work was done, and she sat down to her evening occupation of knitting a cotton stocking she had leisure to think about the lottery ticket. The hope of soddenly ac quiring riches, and of stepping at ono jump from poverty to wealth, is always a great temptation and it requires a strong mind to resist the impulse. The more Bettina thought about the lottery ticket, the brighter and more alluring appeared the prizes, while the blanks seemed entirely to be forgotten.— Why should she not get a prize as well as Wan Sarpi? . She thought she would try.— But what if her ticket should not turn up a prize? Well, then she would lose a few flo rins, and, thanks to the Madonna and 'the Santo,' that would not ruin her. She could afford to lose a few. She would try. As she plied her knitting needle, her thoughts busied themselves in castle-building, and she formed many plans for the disposal of the prize which she now made sure of ob taining. The neat day, without saying a word to her master, or even to Lisetta, she went to the lottery office and purchased a ticket. Full of hope and expectation, Bettina re turned to 'the house, and as she folded up the white mu , lin shawl with which, accord ing to the custom of the country, she had covered her head when she left home, bright visions of zwanzigers and florins floated be fore her, and although she went about her work as usual, the lottery ticket absorbed all her thoughts. Bettina now resolved to tell her master what she had done and only waited for a fa vorable occasion. One day when Balducci had eaten his dinner and appeared particu larly amiable, Bettina informed her master of her purchase; but the poor woman little anticipated the reception her communication would meet with, and she was totally un prepared fur the volley of abuses which Bal ducci lavished nn her fully in thus squander ing away her savings. 'A lottery ticket!' he exclaimed 'you must he mad, quite mad Would any person in his senses have purchased a lottery ticket? Do you know that for every prize there are hundreds of blanks?—that the chances are nearly a thou , and to one against you? If the blanks were not greatly more more nu merous than the prizes, do you think the government could afford to carry on the lot teries? 'But somebody must win, why should not IV observed Bettina. 'Many must lose,' replied BaMucci, paro dying her expression, 'and. why zhould not you be one of them?' Bettina's countenance fell. Her friends had shown her only the bright side of the picture, and, simple-minded as she was, she had given implicit credence to their repre sentations. ratMucci had torn the veil rudely from her eyes, and she began to think that she might not only lose her money, but her master's favor, for she had never seen him so much excited. The poor woman did not hazard a reply. She was leaving the kitchen, where her master took his meals, when Babbled called her back. '\Vhat is the number of your ticket?' be inquired. '4444,' replied Bettina. Balducci quietly took a piece of charcoal from the fire, and marked the number on the chimney-piece. 'That is all; you may go now. Let me hear no more of this foolish business.' Bettina left the room, and busied herself about her work. How different now were her feelings front what they had been only half an hour before, when, elated with hope and the pleasing anticipation of success, she hail made known her purchase to Balducci. She was startled from her work by an un usual noise. ller ear told her that the sound was from the pantry. Thither she hurried, and Balducci, who had also been attracted by the noise followed her. On opening the door, the cause of the clamor soon became evident. Bettina, whose thoughts were bent on her lottery ticket, had gone into the pan try to put away the remains of the dinner, and not perceiving the cat—for miser as he was, Balducci kept a cat, at least if he can be said to have kept her when she lived upon nothing but mice—bad entered with her, and had been shut in. The cat had made the most of her time, and as a fowl was a greater treat to her than mice, she had made bold to seize it, and in jumping down with her prey in her mouth, she had knocked down some crockery, among which was Bal ducci's favorite plate. Bettina and her mas ter entered the pantry in time to rescue the fowl, but the china plate was shivered into twenty pieces. Neither cement nor rivets could put it together again. The author of the mischief slipped out when the door was opened, and did not venture to show herself again for several days. Bettina was dumb with consternation; Balducci furious with passion. 'Vile, gambling, extravagant husse.3-,' he exclaimed, 'is this the way you take care of your master's property? Did I bring home a fowl which co,,t me a zwanzigcr and a half, to be eaten by a cat? tie her up by the neck to the fig tree in the court, to serve as a warning to all her thievish race, as soon as I can lay my hands upon her. But my p l ate, my c hi n a plate which my father brought from India. and which he eat off as long as he lived, and which I have used ever since, it cannot be replaced. It was beyond all price, and to have it broken at last by a eat! This all comes of your folly in buying a lottery ticket! You shall pay for the plate; you shall pay for the fowl! Get you out of my sight.' De visited her before him, and locked the door of the pantry. Time passed on, And peace was gradually restored to the household of Balducci. As if by mutual agreement, the lottery ticket was not again mentioned by either of them. Balducci however, bad not forgotten it, and he seldom went out without glancing his eye at the government placards to see whether any prize had been drawn since Bettina's purchase. One day he observed a crowd of people round the office, and approaching in order to ascertain the cause, he saw it posted that one of the prizes of iorooo zwanzigers had I I been drawn, and that the fortunate number was 4444. Balducei was thunderstruck. It was the number of the ticket purehas.ed by Bettina. Who could have expected. that sho would draw a prize—and such a prize? She was now richer than he was. It was probable, nay, next to certain, that she would leave him, for it was not to be expected that a woman who posessed a fortune of 100,000 zwanzigers would continue to net as a me nial servant. Whom should he get to sup ply her place? As these reflections passed through his mind, self, his own dear self, being at the bottom of all his cogitations, he wended his way homeward. Suddenly a thought struck him—'What if I were to marry Bettina? Then I should secure not only the zwanzigers, but her service., It is true she is my servant, but I should not be the first man who has married his servant, by a great many. I am growing old, and shall want sone one to wait upon me, and who will make so good a nurse as a wife? And Bettina will make a very good wife.— She is economical too, and not given to gad ding about, and then she is very obedient, and treats use with proper respect. Besides, if I dont marry her soon, some one else will; that's certain. I'll go and propose at once —at least as soon as I have ascertained that her ticket has really won the prize. I wrote down the number on the chimney, and can soon satisfy myself'. In the mean time. I will keep the matter a secret; it will be such an agreeable surprise to Bettina, to acquaint her with her good fortune on our wedding day, for she is sure to accept my offer. Lost in these agreeable meditations, Eel ducci knocked at his own gate, which was opened by Bettina. 'Thank you, my dear,' said he very grti ciously, but without losing a moment, he walked straight up to the chimney and looked anxiously at the number he had marked on it. It was 4411 to a certainty. Bettina was a rich woman and should be his wife. He would secure the prize before another should seize it; indeed, before she should hear of her good fortune front other quarters. In the course of that evening he offered his hand and fortune—his heart does not appear to have been included in the bargain —to Bettina. The astonishment of the housekeeper was boundless. She could scarcely believe her ears. In her humility she could not feel sufficiently grateful that her own master, a gentleman of honorable family, would really offer to make her his wife. She was quite overwhelmed by his condescens;on.— But she was also quite at a loss how to an swer hint At last she bethought herself of asking him to give her until the following morning to consider her answer to this very unexpected proposal. That night was a sleepless one to Bettina. She turned from side to side in her bed; until every blade of maize straw of which her mattrass was composed rustled. It was long before she came to a decision, for al though she was much flattered by the offer she had received, still BalduCci was not ex actly the man she would have chosen. She reflected that she was not a young woman. and as a time might come when she would not work, it would be a pleasant thing to think that she was comfortably provided for, for life; and this would make amends for sonic inconveniences. Besides she really was attached to her master, with whom and with Lis mother she had lived from her child hood. She made up her mind, then to accept BaMucci's offer, and when at breakfast time he asked for her answer, she acquainted him with her decision. The next point was to fix the wedding day. BaMucci, who had his own motive for hastening matters, proposed an early day. Bettina saw no reason for postponing the ceremony, especially as her master wished to hasten it. Besides, when the gentleman was risty•six years of age. and the lady on the wrong ride of fifty, there was no time to lose. An early day was therefore, fixed, and the arrangements were specially made for the wedding. The preparations were very simple. Bal ducci's house was so close to the church that no carriage was necessary. There were no near relations on either side, and but few acquaintances. The only guest in vited to the wedding-dinner was the priest who officiated in Santa Sofia, and who had the care of the consciences of Balducci and Bettina. The wedding-day arrived, and the gordian knot, to I,x, severed by the scythe of death, was tied. Bettina, who never before had a surname, was now entitled to be called 'the Signora Belducci.' The husband and wife walked home from the church arm in arm, and were admitted to their habitation by the new servant, who, by, Balducei'e orders, had been hired to take Bettina's) place in the kitchen. A goodly dinner, such as had not graced the table of the old house since the death of his mother, was prepared. There was cabbage and purorkin soup, plentifully flavored with grated Parmesan cheese, a dish of boiled meat, a dish of fried meat, a *1,50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE; 82,00 IF NOT IN ADVANCE ragout, a roast fowl; there were truffles swimming in oil, a dish of polenta garnished with small birds, and a capital cheese from Lodi. These delicacies were followed by a dessert of apples, figs, mostarda, dolce, (i. e. plums and other fruits, preserved with sugar and mustard seeds,) savory biscuits and roasted chestnuts. Bettina, in her new capacity as mistress superintended the arrangements for the re past, and, as the church clock struck the hour which had been named for the dinner, a gentle tap was heard at the door. It was opened speedily. 'Pax vobiscum,' said a cheerful, sonorous voice, and Father Clemente stepped into the room. He was a tall, robust looking man, who would have been called handsome in any company. lle had a ruddy complexion, an aquiline nose, and the prominent, well-cut chin which so strongly marks the Italian type of countenance. A fringe of dark brown hair surrounded his temples, and curled round the edge of his black skull cap, and his high white forehead. Ilis hazel eyes sparkled with good humor, and harmon ized with the pleasant expression of his mouth. Iris long black garment, buttoned only half way down, did not conceal a well shaped leg and neat ankle, clad in black knee-breeches and stockings. 'Pax voldscum.' he repeated. removing his skull cap, which he immediately re placed. 'Et cum vobis,' answer Bahlurci and Bet tinn. 'My respects to the bride and bridegroom. May you bon. enjoy many years of happi ness,' resumed Father Clemente, extending a hand to each, and kindly and heartily pressing theirs. 'I hope lam not late.' 'Who ever knew a priest too late for din. ncr?' asked Balducci, who was in unwonted good spirits. 'Nut I,' answered Father Clemente.— 'And if I had forgotten the hour, the savory steam issuing from your kitchen and per fuming the air would have reminded me of it. It rejoices the very cockles of my heart.' 'My wife has exerted herself to do honor to our guest, and to this our wedding day. But we must not run the risk of spoiling her cookery by a longer delay.' They took their scats at the table and be gun dinner; Bettina for the first time pre siding at the table 'where she had formerly waited as servant. She could not quite shake off the shyness and timidity incident to her new situation; hut the cheerful and social humor of Father Clement at last suc ceeded in making her feel at ease. As to BaMucci, he was in such uproriously good spirits—especially after the wine began to circulate more briskly, that Bettina almost doubted whether he really was her old mas ter. At last the dessert was placed on the ta ble, and the new servant withdrew. '3ly dear,' said Balducci, who seemed to fall with wonderful facility into the phrase ology of married people, 'I have a little sur 'prise which I think will give you as much pleasure as it has done inc. Having occa sion to go into the town this morning, I ob served that a notice was posted up to the effect that a prize of 100,000 zwanzigers had just been drawn in the lottery, and that the fortunate number was 4444; the number, if I recollect right, of your ticket.' 'Oh, blessed Virgin Mary!' exclaimed Bet tina, clasping her hands, 'how unfortunate I am!' 'Unfortunate, my dear! quite the reverse; unle , s you think it a great evil to posess a fortune of 100,000 zwanzigcrs. There is no mo.take about it, for I went to the principal office to ascertain the truth.' 'There is a mistake,' said Bettina, looking very plank. Bablnca began to feel somewhat alarmed. 'A mistake! what do you mean?' 'The prize is not mine. I sold the ticket,' replied Bettina, with faltering accents. 'Sold the ticket!' almost shrieked Balducci, springing from his seat, and leaning his two hands upon the table, he fixed his eyes with ghastly eagerness upon the now trembling woman. 'Sold the ticket, did you say?— When? why? speak, woman,' said he, almost closing his teeth, and stamping wildly with his foot. 'Speak!' 'Stop, stop, my friend,' said Padre Clem ente, 'you terrify the signora: give her time to reply to one question at a time.' Bettina also had risen from her seat, and although her eyes were still, with a kind of fascination like that with which a bird gazes at a snake about to devour him, fixed upon Balducci, she instinctively stood behind her chair, which she interposed between herself and the excited interrogator. 'Where is the ticket?' shouted Balducci. 'Alas! I know not!' said Bettina. 'I bare sold it.' 'When, where, achy?' asked Balducci Padre Clemente laid his hand on the arm of the anxious inquirer. *I will ask her, leave her to me.' Then turning to Bettina, ho said kindly, 'will the signora tell me what she knows about the lottery ticket?' 'My mater,' said 13e,ttina, who seemed to ha% c fallen back on her old habits of expres ' sion, will recollect that when I told him I had purchased a lottery ticket, he reproved me for my folly, pointing out the small chance I had of drawing a prize, and the all but certainty of losing my n.oncy.' 'And why did you not tell me what you had done?' asked Balducci fiercely. 'Gently, gently,' interrupted PadreClern cute, the peace maker, touching the arm of Balducci. Then addressing Bettina, he said, [WHOLE NUMBER, 1,414. Will the signora say why she did not men tion having sold the ticket?' `Because my master desired me never to mention the subject to him again.' 'You see that the signora is not to blame,' said the Padre. 'Fool, dolt, idiot, accursed be your folly!' exclaimed Balducci, stamping with rage, 'ac cursed be my own folly to suffer myself to be deceived by a woman. Do you think I would have mar—Mc stopped abruptly, fortu nately recollecting before he exposed them, that his motives in marrying Bettina were not sufficiently pure to bear the light of day. There was a pause. Bettina's eyes were fixed upon him in trembling anxiety; her fate seemed to hang on his words. He strut* his fbrehead. 'I urn a ruined man, 'he ex claimed. 'Not so,' said Padre Clemente. 'lf you have lost a prize in the imperial and royal lottery, you have gained a prize in the great lottery of life. A good wife, such as I am satisfied that Bettina will be is worth more than 100,000 -z wan zigers' '1 will part with her for less then half the money,' replied Balducci, bitterly; 'nay, I will make her a present to any one who will take her off my hand., or even pay something handsome to be rid of her. Confound her, she is as ugly as sin, and as old as Santa Sofia's itself.' Padre Clemente, instead of replying, took the hand of Bettina and led her to the door. 'Go,' said he, 'signora, to your room fur a short time; he will be reasonable presently? He shut the door after her and returned to his seat, BitMucci stalked up and down the room like a madman. Padre Clements waited patiently until his rage was exhaus ted. He might as well have tried to turn back the river Brenta when it was swollen by the melting of the Alpine snow-. He re plenished his own glass and that of his host. 'Drink,' said he, 'you oblige me to do the honors; the wine of INlontrneillant is tco good. to waste its fragrance on the desert air.' 13alducci mechanically took the glass, which he drained. `And now I will thank you for a fig,' said the priest. The dish was handed in silence. For some time neither party spoke. At last Balducei said, as if speaking to himself, 'lf I had but known it yesterday.' 'What then?' 'Why, that woman would have been stand ing behind my chair instead of sitting at the head of my table.' 'After, all,' said the priest, appqrently sol iloquising, 'the signora has the worst end of the staff.' 'How do you make that out?' said Balducci bristling up. 'Have I not married my ser vant, when I thought to espouse a woman with a fortune of 1001)00 va-anzigers?' 'You did not want the zwanzigers—you hare always had more money than you can spend? What would you have been the bet ' ter for has ing so large a sum lozked up in a boa? You would not have had the heart to spend a florin of it. Now, by marrying a person who has served you so long and faithfully as the signora, you have, if you do but treat your wife with common civility and attention, secured the affectionate service of one whose attachment to your family and to yourself personally is undoubted. But what are Bettina's prospects? She has married a man in a different rank of life, who has openly expressed that he married her for her supposed fortune, and who has given way on his wedding day to a terrible out break of passion and anger against his unof fending wife. In disposing of her ticket, she did but according to what she thought were your wishes on the subject.' Balducci sat down, and buried his face in his hands. 'lt is too true,' said he at last. 'Let us endeavor to take things as they are, and bow our beads to the supreme wisdom. L'homme propose, le Bon Dieu dispose.— Blessed be His Holy name,' said the good priest, rising, and reverently raising his skull cap, which he then replaced. 'Why do you not say, Amen, my son?' 'Amen,' replied Balducci, again covering his face in his hands. `Confess your sin, and pray for forgive ness, my son" said the priest, assuming all the dignity of his office. He led the way to a small table at the other side of the room, and seated himself at one end of it. Balducci, accustomed to obey his spiritual director, followed as he was desired, and kneeling at the other end of the table, confe.sed to the priest, and re_ ceived his absolution on the promise of per forming the penance enjoined by the good Padre. This was not very severe, although it re. quired some self-control on the part of Bal. ducci. Padre Clemente required that lie should treat his new wife with civility and attention. 'Now,' said the priest, 'shall %re recall the qignara?' Balducci's reply was in the affirmative.— Padre Clemente left the room, and after some little time he returned with Bettina, whose pale face and red swollen eyes bore testimony to the agitation she had under- one. Balducci offered her his hand and apolo gized for his intemperate conduct. 'Let us drink forgetfulness of the past, and happiness for the future,' said the Padre. 'With all my heart,' replied Balducci. Tome, Bettina.' Again they resumed their seats at the ta ble. 'The lr,ttlo is emrty,' Nnil 'Pal,. rlcin-
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers