Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-09-12
NUMBER 81.
: You seem poor, . remarked the .tran

Ioa seem poor, remarked the stran=
ger, carelessly.
Il AHs poor" she replied.
. Got family, suppose
" Four little boys, sir; am widow
llumph, humph, so | supposed
that's the old story"
=" Ask Mr.. Hart, the tailor" cried the
widow, stepping forward little he
knows me well he knows if am poor /
am honest
4 bright red spot burnt on her cheek.
as she spoke, and she forced back the
tears.
Now confess )" said the stranger
rising and walking to and fro before the
fire, ~ csnfess that ycu expected a large
reward for this"
/ did think that perhaps" and she
turned with quiyering lips to the door.
Stop, stop" cried the stranger;
you know you wo'd never have return
ed the purse, had you not expected to be
paid for it"
"Sir said the widow, her tone indir-
nant, her thin form towering and, oh, the
whitening rebuke in her voice and man
ners.
The stranger paused, holding the purss
in his hand; then drawing forth the
smallest possible coin that it contained
offered it TO her.
For 4 moment she drew back, but
then remembering that her poor boys
were hungry at home, in bed because
there was no fire, she burst into tears as
she took it, saying, 4" This will buy bread
for my poor children, and hurrying away,
she buried the bitterness Of that morning
in her own heart.
1t was four o'clock on the same day.
Sarah Goodwin 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 a loud knock was heard.
oh mother" the boy cried, return
ing, "a big bundle for us What is it7
What can it be p
Work for me, perhaps, murmured
the widow, untying the huge package,
neat black shining caps, each set exactly
fitting to the Dimensions of her boys.
Almost paralyzed with astonishment, the
widow remained on her knees, her eyes
riyeted on the words" present for the
fatherless = while the boys, appropriating
+ their wardrobes, danced about the floor
shouting with glee.
I" What's in the pocket z" cried jim
my, thrusting his hand in that receptacle.
when 10 out came the very purse OF
gold the widow had returned that morn
ing.
A scene Of joyous confusion followed,
and the voice Of prayer ascended from
Goodwin's full heart. Again and again
she counted the glittering treasure. Five
hundred dollars it seemed an almost
} endless fortune. How her heart ran
. over with gratitude to God and TO the
, stranger
She could not rest till, throwing OF
! her bonnet, with checks glowing nov
with hope and happiness, she ran back
, to the hotel to pour forth her thanks.
A carriage stood at the door, ladeI
with trunks behind. The driver mouBt
ed the seat as she had reached the steps
and turning her head there, within, 50
the mysterious stranger with the lonG
4 beard. She had net time to speak, bu
; he nodded his head as lac saw her wit
= elasped hands standing there, her yer
a face seeming aprayer embodied.
=. Sarah neGer saw the eccentric strar
= ger agais. She took little shop an
!, stocked il well, and pat her boys to schoo
To-day she is the proprietor Of han'
. some store. OF her four boys, two al
! ministers, one doctor, and the other is
thriving merchant.
= Nobody knows where the man wii
= tie long gray beard has gone, but if !
], bs living and his eye meets this he vi
! have the consolation of knowing the r
,e suits ofhis generous deed toward Sar'
Goodwia and her four boys.
Gg An English eoekney Al the fal
At r efs----- .ef~.T Hosv he kgd III