New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-10-06
4 sarah Goodwin ana Her Boys.

4ssT SSaTan GOODWIN ana klGT S5OyS.
0sgaS - lo1s5.. ~ s5ziyG "'%
Sarah Goodwin was the name Of a poorseamstress,
residing in the city of New York. SHE was not
wholly friendless, but those whom she knew, and who
would have aided her in her struggles, were very
poor and could not So she, widow with four boys,
from the ages of four to nine years. struggled through
winters could and summers heat, providing her itte
family with bread, and that was all. Meat and lXu-
ries were denied Sarah Goodwin and her boys. me
latter were good children always in their homes after
nightfa and giving their mother every cent OF their
little earnings as often as they found work to do
AT last the mother fell sick, and through weary
illness she d1ad no other attendance save the occa
sonal help Of neighbor and the constant aid OF her
poor little boys. They were never from her side, and
it was touching to behold their sympathy their gen
tie ministrations everybody prophesied that they
would be blessed in coming years, for their thoughtful
kindness toward their mother.
The widow recovered, but it 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
employer and told her pifu1 story But it was hard
times her illness had made room for Others as dest
tute as hersef in fine they had not one stitch Of
work to give her. With sinking heart, but praying
to keep her courage up, the poor woman toied on
from shop to shop until it became late, and what with
tears and the darkness she could hardly see her way
home.
elf Mr.. Hart himself had been there she solilo-
quized, bending to the strong wind and drawing her
scanty shawl closer about her form, 81 know heWou
have given me work"
AS She whispered thus through her chattering teeth,
a tall man, with long gray beard, passed by her,
and as he did so, something fell to the sidewalk and
laid upon the crusted snow. Sarah paused she had
heard the noise made by the little packet and mys-
FERROUS impression led her to search for it. OH JOY
it was purse, heavy and filled to the brim; yellow
and shining laid the gold within its strong meshes, as
she carried it towards lighted window.
''My poor boys, they shall want food no more, she
calculated ervently; this is gold! God put it in
my way-He saw | was despairing."
Suddenly, like flash of lightning, the thought oc-
CURED to Sarah that not one cent OF the neW-onnd
treasure was honestly hers. But moment she lin
gered pressing the money with her numbed fingers,
the sorrowtul tears chasing down her thin cheeks,
then starting forward to find the of the purse,
she walked hrriedy up the street, fearful that the
temptation, should she arrive at her poor room and
see her hungry children, might prove too strong for
her integrity.
Opposite the great hotel as she stood hesitating
what way to take, she saw the stranger enter. She
knew him by his long, singular beard and timidly
crossing the street, she made herway into the billiard
hall, and there bewildered by the light, knew not
what to say, till twice asked by servant what she
wanted. OF course she could do no more than de-
scribe the stranger 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 MIR. Ash
croft.
The next morning, having eaten nothing, for she
could not touch tarthing of the gold she was admit
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 de-
liberitely counted it over.
a 1t is safe" he said, you have not taken
"Not one piece, SIR she cried eagerly, trembling
as she spoke #
You seem poor remarked the stranger, care
lessly.
81 am poor,' she replied.
" Got a family, SUPPOSE"
90 Four little bows | widow y
" Hnmph, humph, so | sup 2osed-that's the old
story
Ask MIR. Hart, the tailor, cried the widow, step
ping forward little :" he knows ME well he knows
if ! am poor am honest
bright red spet burnt on her cheeks as she spoke
and she forced back the tears.
"Now confess said the stranger. rising and walk
ing to and fro before the fire. confess that you eN-
pected large reward for this
" | did think, perhaps" and she turned with quiy-
ering lips to the door.
Stop, stop" cried the stranger ''you know you
would never have returned the purse had you not ex
pected to be paid for it"
Sir, said the widow, her tone indignant her thin
form towering: and oh, the whitening rebuke in her
voice and manners.
The stranger paused, holding the purse in his hand
then drawing forth the smallest possible coin that it
contained, offered it to her.
For a moment she drew back, but then remember
ing that her poor boys were hungry at home, and in
bed because there was no fire, she burst into tears as
she took it, saying, This will buy bread for my poor
children, and hurryng away, she buried the bitter
ness Of that morning in her own heart.
1t was four o'clock on the same day. Sarah Good
win sat by scanty fire, busy in sewing patches on
the very poor clothes of her four boys.
Run to the door, jimmy" she said to the eldest,
as loud knock was heard.
so, mother, the boy cried, returning, "a big bum
die for u.s. What is it? What can it be-
''Work for me, perhaps murmured the widow,
untying the huge package, when suddenly there came
to light four suits of gray clothes, with four neat
black shining caps and each set fitting exactly to the
dimensions Of her boys. Almost parylzed with aston
ishment, the widow remained on her knees her eyes
riveted on the Words-a present for the ftherless,
while the boys, appropriating their wardrobes,
danced about the floor, shouting with gee.
whats in the pocket, here? what's in the pocket?'
cried Jimmy, thrustng his hand in that receptacle,
when lo out came the very purse Of gold the widow
had returned that morning.
scene Of joyous confusion followed and the voice
Of prayer assembled from Sarah Goodwn's full heart
Again and again she counted the gttering treasure
Five hundred dollars 1t seems an almost endless
fortune. How her heart ran over with gratitude to
God and the stranger.
She could not rest till throwing on her bonnet, with
cheeks glowing with hope and happiness she ran
back to the hotel to pour forth her thanks.
a carriage stood at the door laden with trunks be
hind The driver mounted the seat she had recalled
the steps, and turning her head there within sat the
mysterious stranger with long beard. She had moi
time to speak, but he nodding his head he hel
with elapsed hands standing there, her very face
seeming prayer embodied.
Sarah never saw the eccentric stranger again. She
took little shop and stocked it well, and put he
boys to school.
To-day she is the proprietor of a handsome store
OF her four boys two are ministers, one is doctor
and the other thriving merchant.
Nobody knows where the man with the long gray
beard has gone, but if he is living and his eye meets
this he will have the consolation of knowing the
noble results of this generous deed toward Saral
Goodwin and her four boys.
New York Peoples Organ.