Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1856-11-27
sA ARAH GOODWIN AND HER ROyS.

Sarah Goodwin was the name Of poor seamstress
residing in the City Of New York. ohe was hos
frendless, bu those whom she knew and VINO would
have aided her in her struggles, were very poor,
and could not. So she, n widow, with four boys,
from the ages Of four to nine years, struggled
through winters cold and summer's heat, provid-
ing her little family with bread, and that was all.
Meat and luxuries were denied Sarah Godwin and
her boys. The latter were good children, always
in their home after nightfan and giving their mo-
ther every cent Of their earnings as often as tney
found work to do.
At last the mother fell sick, and through at
weary illness she had other attendance, save the
occasional help Of neighbor, and the constant ana
of her poor little boys. They were never from her
side, and II touching to behold their sympathy,
their gentle ministratons everybody prophesed that
they would be blessed in coming years for their
thoughtful kindness toward their mother. =
The widow recovered, but it was now theheart Of
winter, and their little stock of tuel was nearly
gone As as her strength permitted, she walk
ed through the cold of cheerless day to the shop
of her employer and told him her pitful story -
But It was hard times ; her illness had made room
| for others destitute herself; in fine they had
| not stitch of work to give her. With sinking
heart, but praying to keep up her courage the poo
woman lied on from one shop to another until 4
became too late and what with tears and the dark
/ Hart himself had been there" she solioquized
bending to the strong wind, and drawing her scan
ty shawl closer about her form. "l know he would
have given me work. ...
AS she Whispered thus through her ehattering
teeth, tall man, with long gray beard, passed
by her, and he did something fell to the side
/ walk, and laid upon the crusted Sarah paus-
i cd she had heard the noise made by the little
| packet, and mysterious impression led her to
search for it. oh, JOY! Il was q purse, heavy and
fIIed to the brim, yellow and shining laid the
gold within its strong meshes as she carried II to-
/ wards lighted window. H-Hl.
WMy poor boys, they shall want food no more, y
she calculated fervently; "this is gold God put
1t in my may-He saw was despairing.
Suddenly, like fash of lightning, the thought
to Sarah that not one cent the newfound
treasure was hers. But a moment she fingered
pressing the money with her numhed hngers, lne
starting forward to find the owner Of the purse, she
walked hurrieily up the street, fearful that the
temptation should she arrive ut her poor home and
see her hungry children might prove too strong foi
Opposite the great hotel, as she stood hesitatinl
what way to take, she saw the stranger enter. Sh'
knew him by his long, singular beard and timidiy
crossing the street, she made her way into the bill
lizard hall, nd there bewildered by the light, knew
moi what to say till twice asked by the servant wha
! she wanted of course she could do no more thai
describe the stranger by his tall stature and srang
heard. But be had already gone out again sh
must cal on the morrow they said, and ask for Mr
Ashcroft. -
could not touch earthing If the gold, she was ad
miited in the room where sat the stranger. He aros
/ ms she entered, and gazed with curiouus air ~
| She presented the pure. Then he started will
nleassd surprise, laid down his paper took the gol
and deliberately counted it over.
nNot one piece, air." she cried eagerly. tremblin
= as she spoke.
e lessly -,
i'd SCOT family supposef
"Four little boys, sir: am widew."
nd "Humph, humph, SO suppOSed-that is the oil
story" ..,..,, u,sou, u,
knows me we'll; he knows if am poor, l am no
est.n
and sbe forced back the tears.
SNOW confess" said he rising, and walking
and fro, before the fire, ''confcss that you expect
a large reward for this"
- 81 did not think, perhaps-"and she turned wi
Z ouiveIiua lIs to the door
nts faStop STOP cried the stranger "you know
err would never have returned the purse, had you
llshk lshk expected to epaid for it.
= thin form towefingi and oh, the Withering rebu
in her voice and manners.
hand then dEawing forth the smallest poss i
coin that Il oodtained, offered 1t to her
For a uaome1t she drew back, but then RENE
q. berno that be5poor boys were hungry at home,
In bad beoaus there was fire, she burst into to
as shs took Il shying, "This will buy bread for
. moor children and hurrying away, she buried
- bittsrness Of that morning in her swn heart.
II vas fonr o'clock on the same day. Sarah G
ST., win sat by rAnty FIRE, busy in sewing patches
In tbs yery poor clothes of her four boys.
3 "Run to the door, jimmy, SAID sne 70 the OLD
as a loud knoeE was heard
g. so; motherf tho boy cried, returning, ga
sSsts bundle for us What is itl What can 1t be ~
and ifWork for mo, perhaps" murmured the wiz
untyins the huge package, when suddenly th
| eamo 10 light four suits of gray clothes, with
well neat black shining caps each set exactly ttinl
rkst the dimensions Of her boys Almost paralyzed
REQ astonishment the widow remained on her kn
s | her eyes riyited on the words--"a present for
= fatberiess while the boys, appropriating Il
ty of wardrobes, danced about the fsor, shouting
ties. glee.
size, UWhat;s In the pocket, here what's in the p
lita' et?" cried Jimmy, thrusting his hand in that
ID, esptacle when 10 out came the very purse Of [
tbe widow had returned that morning.
Dell A scene of joyous confusion followed and
- voics of rraysr assembled from Sarah Goodwin Is
heart. Again and again she counted the glitte
Sew S,s ,rsasure. Five hundred dollars! 1t seemed
ime, almost endless fortune. How her heart rau
At all with gratitude TO God and the stranger.
y Us She could not rest till throwing on her boz
w. with cheeks glowing row with hope and happi
sbe ran back 10 the hotel to pour forth her ths
II lid A carriage stood at the door laden with tr
:. bebind. Ihe driver mounted the seat as she
ct reached the steps, and turning her head there
mt OF in sat The mysterious stranger, with long bea