Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-08-23
SARAH GOODWIN AND HER BOYS.


her struggles, were very poor and could not.
So she, widow with four boys, from the ages
Of four 10 nine years, struggled through win
ter's cold and summers heat. providing her lii.
tie family with bread, and that was all. Meat
and lUxuries we're denied Sarah Goodwin aud
her boys. The latter were good children, al
ways in their homes after nighnall, and giving
their mother every cent Of their little earnings
ofen as they found work to do.
At last the mother fell sick, and through
weary illness she had no other attendance, save
the occasional help Of a neighbor, and the con-
slant aid Of her poor little boys. They were
never from her side, and it was touching to be-
hold their sympathy, their gentle minisiraiions;
everybody piophesied that they would be bless
cd IN cunning years, for their thoughtful kind
ness toward their mother.
The widow recovered but il was now the
heart Of bitter winter, and their little stock
of fuel was nearly gone. As soon as her
strength permitted, she walked through the
cold Of cherries day to the shop OF her EN-.
ployer, and told him her pitiful story. But il
was hard times her'ilness had made room
for others as destitute as herself; in fne, they
"a" ""' ""e '''''" VI WI" ." htfe "eis " iAh
sinking hean but praying to keep her courage
up the poor woman ioIled on from shop to shop
until It became late, and what with her tears
and the darkness she could hardly see her way
home.
IL Mr. Hart himself had been there she
soliloqoized, bending to the strong wind, and
drawing her scaniy shawl closer about her form,
i know h. would have given me work.
4 she whispered thus through her chatter.
ing teeth, tall man, with long gray beard,
passed by her. and as he did 50, something fell
to the sidewalk, and laid upon The cr,sted snow.
Sarah paused she had heard the noise made
by the litlle packet, and a mysterious impress
sion led her to search for il. Oh, JOY ii was
a purse, heavy and filled to the brim yellow
aud shining laid the gold within its strong
meshes, as she carried II toward lighted win
dow
My poor boys, they shall want food no
more, she circulated fervenily this is gold
God put il in my way he saw was despair
ing
Suddenly, like a fash of lightning, the
thought occurred 10 Sarah tina, not one ceni of
the new-found treasure was honestly hers. Bat
a moment she fingered, pressing the money
with her numbed fingers, the sorrowfnl tears
chasing down her thin cheeks, then starting for
ward TO find the owner Of the purse, she walk
ed hurredly up the street, fearful that the
temptation, should she arrive at her poor room
aud see her hungry children, might prove too
much for her integrity.
Opposite the great hotel, as she stood hesiiat-
ing what way to take, she saw the stranger en-
ter. She knew him by his long, singular beard;
and iimidly crossing the street, she made her
way into the billiard hall, and there, bewlder-
ed by the light, knew not what to say till twice
asked by servant what she wanted. OF course
she could do no more than describe the sIran-
ger by his tall stature and strange beard. But
he had already gone out again; she must call
on the morrow, they said, and ask for Mr. Ash
croft.
The next morning, having eaten nothing
for she could not touch farhing of the gold,
she was admitted into the room where sat the
stranger. lie arose as she entered, and gazed
with curious air till she presented the purse.
Then he started with pleased surprise, laid
down his paper, took the gold and deliberately
counted ii over.
1t Is all Safe he said, you have not tax
en-
MOI one piece s'r' she cried eagerly uemo-
Hhg as sho SPOKE
hou seem poor rethafNeo 'he Stranger
caieiess'y'
a" poor, she replied
~" i"uhy' supP"se
ou' n"'e o')s' SIT an N'"o"'
humph' humph' So supposed-'ha' 'he
o'u s'o'y,
ASK nj mart ''e ,a''or' c''eu tue ~ioow'
stepping FORWARD niue ne KNOWS me wen
ne KNOWS II am poo. l am honest
orish' req spot burned on her eheeAS as
sne SPOKE ana sne forced PACK the 'ears'
NOW confess, SAID the stranger rising eps
~ ~'o 49, m ,o,.,a "a a., 49,, ''
Il SiS ,S;at naTL,ns .na 20 ,,,.,od ,vi,h
oois.s,n, H. - ,ho -
.l. ~ .,,oI|,1'e' '.,..... .,.,,, L,o,
,oa ,n',s 1'"p' Sara ,.,'aaJ 49, -, h.d
90" no, ,. s.sS.,od 80 he '.iI - fN' "N