The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-03-27
Interesting citurl.
TIE GOLD SOVEREIGN.

ted to me by Judge n, a gentleman of
wealth and influence in Western New
York, is well worth repeating; not for
artificial interest which IT does not con-
tain, bat for the admirable lesson it con-
veys to young persons commencing life.
regret that am unable to repro.
duce the spirit and humor with which
the inimi'able Judge sraced his simple
story; but | will do my best to remember
his own words.
"When was only eight years DID,"
said Judge H., "my father and my moth
er beng poor, with halfa dozen chill
dren better than myself to take care of,
was given 10 a farmer in the town of
F. who designed making a ploughboy of
me, and keeping Inc in his service until
was Of age.
"Well, | had not very gay time in
Deacon Webb's service; for although
he was an honest deacon, and tolera-
bic kind man in his family, he believed
in making boys work, and understood
how to avoid spelling them by indul-
gence.
$50 had plenty of work to do, and
an abundant lack of indulgcnces to en-
JOY. 1t was consequently great treat
for me to get the enormous sum Of one
or two pennies into my possession by
any sort OF good fortune-a circum-
stance Of such rare occurrence, that at
the age Of eleven, had learned 10 re-
gard money as a blessing bestowed by
Providence only on favored few.
NV ell, | had lived with Deacon Webb
three years before knew the color OF
any coin except vile copper. BY an
accident | learned the color of gold.
That is the story am going to tell yoU.
zone Saturday night, Mr.. W ebb sent
me to the village store on some errand;
and, on returning home, just about dusk
my attention was attracted by little
brown package, lying on the road side.
81 picked it up to examine It's con-
tents, without the least suspicion of the
treasure within. indeed, it was so light
and the volume of brown paper appear
ed so large, that | undoubtedly suspect
ed was the victim of an April TOOL, al.
/ though was the month OF June. tore
open the folds Of the paper, however;
and discerning nothing, was on the
point Of throwing il INTO the ditch,
when something dropped out oft, and
fell With ringing sound upon a stone.
a looked at it in astrnishmcnt. 1t
was yellow, round, gIittering, too bright
and too small for penny. felt Of 1t,
| squeezed it in my fingers, spelled out
the inscriptions; then something WINS
rered me that it was gold coin of in
calculable value, and that, if did not
wish to lose it, had better pocket it as
soon as possible.
"Irembling 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 t.-But
whenever met somebody, was careful
to put it out of sight. Somehow, telt
a guilty dread of finding an owner to
the coin. Providing found none,
thought it was honestly mine by right
Of discovery; and comtorted myself
with the sophistry that it was not my
business to 90 about the streets, crying
"W hos lost -
81 went home with the gold in my
pocket. | would not have had the dea-
cons folks know what | had found, for
the world. was sorely troubled with
the fear of losing my vast and incalcu-
liable treasure. This was not all. 1t
seemed to me that my face betrayed my
secret. could not look at anybody
with an honest eye.
"These troubles kept me awake halt
the night, and projects for securing my
treasure by safe investment, the other
half. On the following morning, was
ieverish and nervous. " hen Deacon
Webb, at the breakfast table, said,
William ~
81 started and trembled, thinking the
next words would be
"'Where is that piece of gold you
have found and wickedlv concealed, to
keep it from the rightful owner!'
"But he only said,
81 want you to 90 to Mr.. Baldwin S
this morning; and ask him If he can
come and work for me to-day and to-
morrow
81 felt immensely relieved. left the
house, and got out of sight as soon as
possible. Then once more | took the
coin out of my pocket, and Toasted on
its beauty. Yet was unhappy. Con-
seriousness of wrong troubled me, and
almost wished | had not found the SOW
ereign. Would not be called thief
if discovered | asked myself Was il
not as wrong toconceal what had found
as to take the same amount originally
from the owners pocket Was not he
defrauded the same
"But then said to myself
"'Why, if | don't know who the To-
ser is, how can give him his money 1t