Squatter sovereign., 1856-08-05
@Humph. humph! so supposed; that's

the old story"
"Ask Mr.. Hart, the tailor" cried the
widow. stepping forward little. "He
knows me we'll: he knows that if am
poor am honest"
A bright red spot burned on her cheeks
as she spoke, and she forced back the
tears.
SHOW confess" said the stranger, rising
and walking to and fro before the fire.
"confess that you expected large reward
for this
81 did think, perhaps"
And she turned with quivering lips to
the door.
"S.op, stopf' cried the stranger; "you
know you would never have returned the
purse had you net expected to be paid for
it."
"Sirr' said the widow, her tone indig-
nani, her thin form towering, and o, the
whitening rebuke in her voice and man
ners.
The stranger paused, holding the purse
in his hand; then drawing forth the small
est coin that it contained, offered it to
her.
For moment she drew back, but then
remembering that her boys were hungry at
home, and in bed because there was no
FIRE, she burst into tears as she took it.,
saying
''This viii buy bread for my poor chill
dren."
And hurrying away, she buried the BIT
terness 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 loud knock was heard.
10. mother!" the boy cried, returning;
"a big bundle for u.; what is il? what can
1t be %
"Work for me, perhaps" said she, un-
tying the package, when suddenly there
came to light four suits of grey clothes with,
four neat black shining caps, each set ex-
ac.ly fitting to the dimensions of her
boys.
Almost paralyzed with astonishment,
the widow remained on her knees, her
eyes rive:sd on the words-"A present 70.
the fatherless;" while the boys, appropri-
ating their wardrobes, danced about the
floor, shouting with gles.
Whats in the pocket here? what's in
the pockets" cried Jimmy, thrusting his
hand in that receptacle, when 10. out came
the very purse of gold the widow had re-
turned that morning.
A scene of joyous confusion followed,
and the voice of prayer ascended from
Sarah Goodwln's full heart. Again and
again she counted the glittering treasure.
Five hundred dollars! it seemed an al
most endless fortune. How her heart ran
over with gratitude TO God and TO the good
stranger. She could not rest till, throwing
Ou utf UoHuct, Mlui CiSShS LIo" SioNiHS
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 no time to speak, but he nodded
his head as he saw her with clasped hands
standing there; her very face seemed a
prayer embodied.
Sarah never saw the eccentric stranger
again. She took littls shop and stocked
it well, and put her boys to school.
To-day she is the proprietor of hand
some store. OF her four boys, two are
ministers, one is doctor, and the other is
a thriving merchant. Nobody knows
where the man with the long grey beard
has gone; but if he be living, and his eye
meets this, he will have the noble results
of his generous deed towards Sarah Good
win and her four boys. ~ M
bB" Does smoking offend you " In
quired q landlord of his newly-arrived
boarder. "Not at ali sir" '.T'm very glad
to hear it, as you viii find your chimney