Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-11-28

iAItf AZ "NN| Wt' - WAN'W WNNN A"Nf
boys. from The ages Of four TO nine
years. airuggled through winters cold
and summers heat. providing her liz
tlo family with bread, and that was
all. Meat and luxurics were denied
Sarah Williams and her boys. The
latter were good children, always in
their homes after nightlalli and giving
their mother every cent of their little
earnings as often as they found work
10 do.
At last their mother fell pich, and
through weary lllneba she had no
other attendance. eayc che occasional
help ofa neighbor, and the constant
aid Of her poor little boys, They were
never from her elde, aud it was touch.
ing 60 behold their sympathy, their
gentle minlalrallona, everybody proph'
esled that they would be blessed In
coming years, for their thoughtful
klndnoaa towatda their mother,
The widow recovered, but ii WAS
now tho heart Of lho bitter winter
and their little stock Of fuel was near.
~ gone, a. soon aa her strength
permitted, ehe walked through The
cold OF cheefleaa day 90 tho shop OF
her employer, and told him her pIlllul
story. Bat l was hard llmea, her III
nees had made room for othcra aa des'
lAlo a. horaelG In fine, they had not
ono stitch OF work TO give her, With
sinking heart, but praying 20 keep
her ooungo up, the poor woman iolled
on from shop 20 shop until 10 became
late, nnd with tears and che darkness
she could scarcely see her home,
"if Mr. Hart himself had been
lhe.e." She aollloquIsed, bending 10
the strong Wind. and drawing her
seanty shawl oloacr aholthor form. 81
know he would have given mo work"
Aa she whispered thus through her
ohatterlng teeth. ta'i n4aa, with "a
long gray beard, pasasd by her, and
aa he did 20, something fell 90 the side
walk, and laid upon tho crested snow.
Sarah paused, she had heard Che noise
made BY tho little packet. and mys-
lerloaa lmpgeaaion lod her 20 search
Tor ID, OH joyl o was parae,
heavy and lilled % iho brimi yellow
and shlnnlug laid lhe gold within ils
strong moahea, as ahe carried u to-
warda a lighted window
Only poor boys. they ahall want
food no more." she calculated iorvont.
Is; "lhia = goldl God put i. 10 my
way-ho saw | was despalfing,"
Suddenly. IKE Hash Of lightning,
che ihought occurred TO Sarah, that
not one cent of the new found treas
ure was honestly hers. But mo-
menl she fingered, pressing tho mon
ey with her numbod fingers. the sor-
rowial tears chasing down her thin
cheeks. then starting forward to find
the CIV or Of the purse, she walked
hurfiedly up the street, fearful that
the temptation, should she arrive at
the poor room and SEQ her hungry chill.
dreu. might prove Too strong Cor her
integrity.
Opposite the great hotel. and she
stood hesi,ating what way TO take; she
saw the stranger enter. She knew
him by his long singular beard; and
timidly crossing the street, she made
her way into the billiard hill. and there
bewildered by the light. knew not
what to y till twice asked by n SER
want what she wanted OF course
she could do no more than describe
the stranger by his tall statue and
strange beard But he had already
gone ont again; she must call on the
morrow. they said, aud ask for Mr.
Ashcroft.
The next morning. having eaten
nothing. for she could not touch a
farthing Of the gold, she was admitted
into the room where sat the stranger.
lie arose as she entered, and gazed
with I curious mir till she prensented
the purse. Then he started with
pleased surprise, laid down his paper,
took the gold and deliberately counted
! it over.
at is all safe" he said, "you have
not taken
"Not one piece, sir" she cried ea-
gerly, trembling as she spoke.
"You seem poor" remarked the
stranger, carclessly.
Il am poor" she replied.
SCOT family, supposed"
"Four little boys, sir: l am wild
ow."
"Humph. Humph. so | supposed
that's the old story"
"Ask Mr.. Hart the tailor" cried
the widow, stepping forward little.
che knows mo we'll; he knows if am
poor | am honest"
A bright red spot burnt on her
checks 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 a
large reward for this"
al did think perhaps" and she
turned with quivering lips to the
door.
"Stop, stop" cried the stranger,
"you know you would never have re-
turned the purse had you not expect,
ed to be paid for it,"
Sir" said the widow, her tone in.
dignant, her thin form towering; and
oh, the withering rebuke in her voice
and manners.
r The stranger paused, holding the
purse in his hand. then drawing forth
! the smallest possible coin that it con
, tanned, offered it to her.
For moment she drew back, bu
then remembered that her poor boy
We're hungry at home, and in bed be
!: cause there was no fire, she burst int
: tears as she took it. saying:-"Thi
G will buy beard for my poor children ,
{ and hurrying away, she buried the bit
n terness Of that morning in her owl