Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-03-25

enemy, were equally free from ostentaton.-N
Y Post.
The Gold Sovereign.
The story of the gold sovereign, related t.
me by Judge NJ, gentleman OF wealth and in.
Auence in Western New York, is well wortE
repeating; not for artificial interest," which il
does not contain, but for the admirable les
son it conveys to young persons commencing
life.
regret that am unable to reproduce the
spirit and humor with which the nimtabe Judge
gIaced his simple story but will do my best
to remember his own words -
"When I was only eight years DID," said
Judge n, "my father and my mother being
poor with half dozen children better than my
self to take care Of, was given to farmer in
the town of F., who designed making plough
boy of me, and keeping me in his service until
| was Of age.
Well, had not avery gay time In Deacon
Webb's service; for although he was an honest
deacon, and tOlerably kind man in his family,
he believed in making the boys work, and un.
derstood how to avoid spelling them by indul.
gence.
So had plenty of work to do, and an abun-
dant lack of indulgences to enjoy. 1t was con-
sequently, great treat for me to get the enor-
nous sum of one or two pennies into my pos
session by any sort of good fortune-a circum-
stance Of such rare occurrence, that, at the age
of eleven, had learned to regard money as
blessing bestowed by Providence only on ia
vored few.
Well, had lived with Deacon Webb three
years before knew the color of any coin, ex-
cept vile copper BY an accident learned the
color of gold. That is the story am going to
tell you.
One Saturday night, Mr.. Webb sent me to
the village store on some errand and, on re-
turning home, just about dusk, my attention was
attracted by little brown package, lying on the
roadside.
liked it ". sc:fssisSSaine its contents, wish.
out the least suspicion of tIe crrs1i,
Indeed, it was SO light, and the volume of brown
F'~P~s -s'u.--s-A I~rss. sls~. a..1--bs~dy sus
pected that was the victim of an April fool
although it was the month of June. Itore oper
the folds ofthe paper, however and, discerning
nothing, was on the point d throwing it into
the ditch, when something dropped out of it
and fell, with aloud, ringing sound, upon 1
stone.
looked at it with astonishment. 1t was yel-
low, round, glttering, too bright and too smal
for penny !; felt of it; Isqueezed it in my
fingers; spelled out the inscriptions; then
something whispered me that it was gold coir
| of incalculable value, and that, if did moi
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 had to take it out and look
at it. But, whenever met somebody, | was
careful to put it out of sight Somehow, felt
guilty dread of finding an owner to the COIN
Provided found none, thought it was honestly
mine by right of discovery; and then | COM
forted myself with the sophlstry that it was moi
my business to 60 about the streets, crying
{ Who's lost p
went home with the gold in my pocket
would not have had the doacon's folks know
what had found for the world. was sorely
troubled with the fear of losing my vast anC
incalculable treasure. This was not all. Il
seemd to me that my face betrayed my Sc
cret. could not look at anybody with an hon
est eye.
These troubles kept me awake half the
night, and projects for securing my treasure BY
safe investment, the other half. On the fol
lowing morning, was feversh and nervous
When Deacon Webb, at the breakfast-table
said.
"William!"
started and trembIed, thinking the mex
words would be-
"Where is that piece of gold you have fOun'
and wickedly concealed, to keep it from the right
full owner 2
But he only said,
al want you to go to Mr.. Baldwin's this morn
ing, and ask him if he can come and work 70
me to-day and tomorrow"
l felt immensely relieved. left the hous'
and got out of sight as soon as possible. The
once more took the coin out Of my pocke
and feasted on its beauty. Yet was unhaP
py. Consciousness of wrong troubled me, an
almost wished had not found the sovereign
Would not be called thief if discovered?
asked myself Was it not as wrong to concea
what had found, as to take the same amour
originally from the owners pocket? Was HI
not defrauded the same
But then said to myself
"Why, if l don't know who the loser is, hos
can give him his money! 1t is only becaus
am afraid Deacon Webb will take it away from
me, that conceal it; that's all. would nc
steal gold and if the loser should ask me for
would give it to him."
apolOgized thus to myself all the way
Mr.. Baldwin's house; but after all it wouldn
do. The gold was like heavy stone bound
nv heart It was sort Of unhappy charm