The Gold Mines [pp. 257-263]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
PUBLISHED MONTHLY, AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.
VOL. IX. RICHMOND, MAY, 1843. NO. 5.
the employing of more than five thousand slaves
to work them, from fear that the farmers should
become too wealthy. Afterwards only a thousand
workmen labored there, and now even that number
is greatly diminished. Nevertheless, all the inhabi tants of the valley have the privilege of seeking
gold, and many of them, who, from their occupa tions, are styled "Minerali," have no other profes sion.
It was related to us, that on dark and stormy
nights, these Minerali observed little lights shining
on the hills, and if in the morning they could find
the exact spot where they appeared, gold was certain to reward the search. This seemed romantic
enough to excite our curiosity, but for sometime
we gained few satisfactory answers to our questions on the subject. At length we were so fortunate as to meet an. Italian, who was disposed to be
more intelligible, and our readers, if they please,
can, like ourselves, attribute the origin of the stormfires of Anzasca, to the cause we are about to re late.
"I have seen them myself," said the Italian,
"and they differ wholly from the common'fuefollet. Formerly, the road from Lake Majeur to the
western cantons of Switzerland, ran through the
valley of Anzasca, and I once happened to be detained in a hut situated at the foot of one of the
wildest defiles, by a violent storm which rendered
our horses ungovernable. As I was seated on a
bench, gazing drowsily from the window-for, there
was no bed in the establishment, save that of my
host, and of that I would not deprive him-I perceived several pale lights at a distance among the rocks.
I at first thought they shone from the casement
of some hut, but remembering that portion of the
mountain was uninhabited, and in truth, uninhabitable, I arose front my seat, and asked the inmates of
the house, the cause of the phenomenon. While
I spoke, the lights disappeared, but a moment after,
was visible in another place, as if the person who
carried it, had passed around a rock. The tempest continued during this time to rage with a fury
which threatened to crush our miserable place of
refuge, and to hurl down the very mountains themselves, and the night was so dark we could scarcely
distinguish the earth from the sky.
"See, it is there again!" I exclaimed, "tell me
then, what is it -"
" It is the lamp of Lelia," ejaculated one of our
host's children, i'Father! rouse yourself, ohl! Batista, Vittorio! Lelia is on the mountains!"
"At these cries, the family arose, and all standing
before the window, fixed their eyes on the flashes,
which continued to shine during the greater pait
Roll on-rol o on-thou glorious day!
Bereft of care-unknown to sorrowAnd you, ye darksomie thoughts, away!
Dim not my joy to-morrow.
There's a time when the weary heart is low;
There's a time when the gushing tear-drops run;
When the springs of joy have ceas'd to flow,
And the springs of grief begun.
But away! ye trembling times, away!
Haunt not my buoyant soul to-day.
I know ye atll! but I know beside,
There's a time to dance, and a time to sin,;
A time to laugh, and a time to glide
Around the graceful ring.
A time, when hearts in unison beat,
To the tuneful trip of sprightly feet.
There's a time to live, and a time to die!
And thus the Royal Preacher said:
But a far more glorious time, say I,
Is the glorious time to wed!
When trusting hearts, in truthful tether,
Link soul and soul for life together!
Two sparkling wave s-two c rystal streams Two kindred clouds, at rise of sun;
Two dulcet tones —two silvery beams Each mingling into one;Emblems of love! but emblems never,
Of love that breathes and burns forever.
(Translated fromt the Germtan.)
The Simplon road, in descending to Lake Alajeur, crosses several times, on beautifully constructed b ridges, the ri ver Coccia, which gives its name
to the valley. After having passed one of these
bridges, called the Ponte Maggiore, it reache s the
v alley of Anzasca, conducting to Mount Rosa.
This magnificent mountain, which is computed to
be but two hundred and fifty feet lower than Mount
Blanc, is visible from nearly every part of Lombardy; but the valley is still more an object of
curiosity and admiration to its people, for it shuts
within its bosom, that most powerful of all talismans-gold.
Pliny mentions these mines, which must formerly
have been of much importance, as the senate forbade
VOL. IX-33
SONG.
BY E. B. HALE.
0, if there be, in lif6 below,
Aught, that can chase dull care away;
Or bid th' intruding trouble go,
It is the wedding-day!
God bless it! may he ever bless,
Ti-ic royal road to happiness.
THE GOLD MINES.