Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-09-26
CLARKsBURG, FRIDAY, s6th,

paper, took the gold aud deliberately
counted it over.
at is all safe.'' he said. "you have
not taken"
Not one piece. ell" !" she cried eager>
lily, trembling as she spoke.
You seem poor" remarked the stran-
ger, carelessly.
~ am poor, she replied.
" Got family. I suppose 2"
I" -Four little boys, sir: am widow" "
=" Humph. humph, SO l supposed
that's the old story"
:. Ask Mr.. Hart, the tailor" cried the
widow. stepping forward little; "he
knows me well, he knows if 1 am poor,
am honest"
A bright red spot burnt on her cheek
as she spoke, and she forced back the
tears.
"Now confess" /" said the stranger. ri
sing and walking to and fro before the
FIRE, '' confess that you expected a large
reward for this"
81 did think, perhaps and she
turned with quiyeling lips to the door.
"Stop, STOP" cried the stranger; tyou
know you would never have returned the
purse had you not expected to be paid
fer it."
"Sir," said tho widow, her tone indig-
nant, her thin form towering, and oh.
the withering rebuke in her voice and
manners.
The stranger paused. holding the purse
in his hand; then drawing forth the small.
est possible coin it contained. offered it TO
her.
For moment she drew back, but then
remembering that her poor boys were
hungry at home, and in bed because
there was no fire, she burst into tears as
she took ic, saying. (" This will buy bread
for my poor children" aud 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.
90. mother II cried the boy. return
ing, "a big bundle for US! What is it F.?
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 shi.
ming caps, each set exactly fitting to the
dimensions Of her boys. Almost paral-
yZed with astonishmont, the widow res
manned on her knees, her eyes riveted on
the words-'a a present for the fearless :
while the boys, appropriating their ward
robes, danced about the floor, shouting
with glee.
" What's in the pocket, here? ? what's
in the pocket 81 cried Jimmy. thrusting
his hands in that receptacle, when 10 ! out
come the very purse Of gold the widow
had returned that morning.
A scene Of Joyous confusion followed,
and tho voice of prayer assembled from
Sarah Goodwin's luIl heart. Again and
again she counted the glittering treasure.
1t 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 anew 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 mount
ed the seat as she reached the steps. and
turning her head there, within sat the
stranger with the long beard. She had
not time to speak. but he nodding his
head as he saw her with claspcd hands
standing there, he1 face seeming prayer
embodied.
Sarah never saw the eccentric stranger
again. She took q little shop and stock.
ed it we'll. and put her boys to school.
To-day she is the proprietor of a hand
some store. Or her four boys, two are
ministers. one is a doctor. and the other
a thriving merchant.
Nobody knows where the man with the
long gray beard has gone. but if he is IL
wing and his eye meets this, she will have
the consolation Of knowing the noble re-
suits of this generous deed towards Sa-
rah Goodwin and her boys.-N ?. Poo
piles Organ.
Exc1r1Ne PRUR1ESr CuR1os1rr.-A stri>
king instance Of the power of curiosity and
the proclivity Of human nature to indulge
in forbidden pleasures. recently occurred
in London. The Times had vehemently
denounced the opera of La Favorits. Al