Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-12-31
From Arth er's Home Gazette.
The Gold Sovereign.
By PAUL CREYTOS.

By PAUL cREYroS
The story Of the gold sovereign related to me
by Judge N, gentleman of wealth and
influence, in Western New York, is well worth
repeating-not for artificial interest which 1t
docs not contain, but for the admirable lesson
1t conveys to young persons commencing life.
regret that am unable to reproduce the
spirit and humoss y th which the inirnitable
judge graced his smPls story; but l will do
my best to remember his 9|n words.
when was only eight years DID," said
Judge N. "my father and my mother be-
ing poor, with half dozen children better than
myse +, to take care of, was given to farmer,
in the town of r, who designed maki0R1
ploughboy of me and keeping me in his serv
until was of age.
well, had not very gay time, in Deacon
Webbs service; for although he was an honest
deacon, and tolerably kind man in his family
he believed in making boys work, aud under
stood how to avoid spelling them by indul-
gence.
So had plenty of work to do, and an album
dant lack Of indulgence to enjoy. 1t was con-
sequent'y great treat for me to get the enor-
nous sum of one or two pennies into my posses.
sion, by any sort Sf good fortune-a crcum-
stance of such rare occurrence, that at the age of
eleven, l had learned to regard money as a
blessing bestowed by Providence only on a
favored few.
'Well.' had lived with Deacon Wei b three
years, before l knew the color of any coin en-
ant Gil .
the color of gold. That is the story am 90.
ing to tell you.
One Saturday night Mr.. Webb sent me to
the village store, some errand and on re.
turning home, iust at about dusk, my attel.
ton was attracted by little brown package,
lying on the road side
i picked it up. to examine its contents,
without the least suspicion Of the treasure
within Indeed it was SO light, and the volume
OF brown paper appeared large, that UNI
doubleday suspected that was the victim of
an April fool; although it was the month of
June tore open the folds ofthe paper howev-
er; and discerning nothing, was on the point !
of throwing it into the ditch, when something
dropped out of it, and fell with ringing sound
upon stone.
x iooSed at with establishment. 1t was vel /
nd-glitterng--.too bright and 100 .
small for penny. fct of it squeezed it |
in my fingers-I spelled out the inscriptions
then something whispered me that it was |
gold coin of incalculable value and that if | !
did not wish to lose it, had better pocket it
As soon as possible.
trembling with excitement, put the coin |
in my pocket. But it would not stay there
Every two minutes. l had to take it out and |
look at 1t. But whenever met somebody, |
was careful to put it out of sight Somehow |
fel, guilty dread of finding an owner to the
coin. Provided found none, thought il
was honestly mine, by right of discovery; and
! comforted myself with the sophistry. that it
was not my business to go about the streets,
crying, ~ hos lost?
80 went home with the gold in my nockct. |
Roald Not have had the deacon's folks know
EAnx had found, for, the world was sore
~ srouoAed with the fear of losing NY vast and
inca'culable treasure. This was not all II
seemed to me tina. my face betrayed my secret
could not look at any body with an honest
eve
These trouble. kept me awake half the night
and projects for securing my treasure bv a safe |
investment, the other half. On the following
morning was fevcrish and nervous. When |
Deacon Webb, at the breakfast table said
William
4 started and tremblcd thinking the next
words would be
Where is that piece of gold YOU have found
and wckedly concealed, ito keep from the right. !
full owner?
But he only said
Iwant yon to go to Mr.. Baldwin's, this /
morning and ask HIM if he can come and work
for me TO day and to morrow.
i felt immensely relieved. left The house !
and got out Of sight as soon as possib's Then
once more took the coin out Of my pocket and !
toasted ON its beauty. Yet / was unhappy
Of wrong troubled me, and ! I
almost wished had not found the sovereign. |
Would | not be called thief if discovered! |
asked myself. Was it not wrong to conceal
wha. l had found ,as to take the same amount
originally from the owners pocket? Was not
he dcfrauded the same?
But them said to myself
why, if don't know who the loser is, how
cap give him his money ?--It is only because
I am afraid Deacon Webb will take it away
from me, that ] conceal it: that's all. l would
~. steal geld; and if the loser sho uld ask rue
Ter it, would give it TO him. ! apologized