Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1856-12-25
THURSDAY, DECEMBER rs, 1856.


The next morning, having eaten nothing.
for she could not touch farthng Of the
gold, she was admitted into The room
where sat the stranger. He arose as she
entered, and gazed with curious air till
she presented the purse. Then he stared
with pleased surprise, laid down his paper,
look the gold and counted it over.
1T is all sale,' he said, you have not
taken
Not one piece, SIR she cried eagerly,
trembling as she spoke.
You seem poor remarked the stranger,
carelessly.
i am poor, she replied.
Got family, | supposed
-Four little boys, sir, am widow
'Humph, humph, 50 suppose-shat's
the old story
ASK Mr.. Hart, The tailor cried the
widow, stepping forward little, 'he knows
me weII he knows am poor but honest
A bright red spot burned on her cheeks
as she spoke, and she forced back the tears.
Now confess said the stranger, rising
and walking to and fro before the fire,
confess that you expected large reward
for this
i did think perhaps and she turned
with quivering lips 10 l4ae door.
Stop, stop cried the stranger; you
would not have returned the purse, had
you not expected 10 be paid for it,
Sir, said the widow, her tone indig
nant, her form towering, and, oh, the with
ering rebuke in her voice and manners.
The stranger paused, holding the purse
III his hand; then drawing forth HE small
lest possible coin lha, it contained offered
it to her.
For Il moment she drew back, but then
remembering that her boys were hungry
at home, and ia bed because there was no
fire, she burst into tears as she took it,
saying, This wiil buy bread for my poor
children and hurrying away, she buried
the bitterness OF lhat morning IN her own
heart.
1t was four o'clock on The same day
Sarah Goodwin sat by scanly fire, husi-
ly engaged 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
20 mothern the boy cried. returning, "a
big bundle for US! What is ii! What
can it be!'
Work for me, perhaps, murmurcd the
widow, unlylng the package, when sudden
ly there came TO light four suits of strong
grey clothes, with four neat black shining
caps, each set exactly flting o the dimen-
sions of her boys. Almost paralyzed
with astonishment, the widow remained on
her knees, her eyes riveted OH the words
"a present for the fatherIess; while the
boys approPriating their wardrobes, danced
about the floor shouting with g!ee.
What's in the pocket here? WHATS in
the pocket? cried Jimmy, thrusting his
hand into that receptacle, when 10! out
came the very same purse of gold the
widow had returned that morning.
A scene of joyful Confusion followed,
and the voice of prayer ascended from
Sarah Goodwin's full heart
Again and again she counted the glitter
ing treasure. Five hundred dollars! it
seemed 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 now with
hope and happiness, she ran back to the
hotel to pour forth her thanks.
a carriage stood at the door, laden with
trunks behind. The driver mounted the
seat as she reached the steps; and turning
her head, there within, sat the mysterious
stranger with the long beard. She had
not time to speak, but he nodded his head
as be saw her with clasped hands standing
there her face seeming prayer embodied.
Sarah never saw the eccentric stranger
again. She took a liule shop and stocked
it well, and put her boys to school
To-day she is the proprietor of a hand
some store. Of her boys, two are minis
ters, one is doctor, and the other is
thriving merchant.
Nobody knows where the man with the
long gray beard has gone, but if he be