Languages & literature > Aurus clavus, or, The adventures of a gold trinket, supposed to have been written by itself

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in Italy, which he thought of turning to advaUr
tage in his native land, he asked the assist¬
ance of one who seemed to be in no way parti¬
cularly engaged. He appeared to be of an
itinerant occupation, having a curiously con¬
structed cage, in which were a dozen white
mice, which, as Kenneth supposed, he went
about exhibiting.
His assistance having been readily granted,
my master, putting a coin into his hand, on the
completion of the work, set sail. The day kept
up very well, and twilight drew its veil over the
heavens, in which sparkled a few stars, whose
brilliancy was transcendent. The hour of rest
drew on, and my master, while in the act of un¬
dressing for bed, started upon his feet, as if
under the influence of an electric shock—
“Villain!” he cried, “thou hast undone me,
and I shall be the means of bringing further
woe upon the remnant of this unhappy family.
I would to God I had died with thee, my be¬
loved master, for this world is too full of
crosses and vexations for the feeling heart to
withstand, and bear up against.” I felt very
sorry for my poor master ; he had been robbed
qf his pocket-book, which contained all Sir