Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-06-27
Sarah Goodwin and her Boys.


Sarah Goodwin was the name of g
poor seamstress, residing in the city 0
New York. She was not wholly friend
less, but those whom she knew, and who
would have aided her in her struggles
were very poor ard could not. Sc
she, widow with four boys, from tht
ages of four to nine years, struggled
through winters cold, and summer
heat, provided her little family with
bread, and that was all Meat and lux
uries were denied Sarah Goodwin and
her boys The latter were good chill
dren. always in their homes after night
fall. and giving their mother every cent
OF their little earnings as often as thew
found work to do. At last the mothas
fell sick. and through weary illness she
had no other attendance, save the occa-
sionAl help Of a ncighbor, and the con-
stant aid Of her little boys. They were
never from her side, and it was toucain J.
to behold their sympathy, their g,ntle
ministrations; everybody prophcsici that
they would be blessed in coming wears
for their thoughtful kindness toward
their mother.
The widow recovered. but it was now
the heart of a bitter winter, and their
little stock offuel Was nearly gone. AS
soon as her strength permitted, she walk
ed through the cold of chccrless dav
to the shop of her employer, and told
! hnJ ~ II -
times her illness had made room for
others as destitute as herself; in fine.
they had not one stitch OF work to give
her. With sinking heart. but pray
ing to keep her courage up, the poor
woman toiled on from shop to shor un-
til it became late, and what with her
tears and darkness she could hardly SEE
her way home.
II Mr.. Hart, himself had been there,
she soliloquized, bending to the strong
wind. and drawing her scanty shawl
closer about her form, Il know lie would
have glven me work.
AS she whispered thus through her
chattering teeth, tall man, with long
gray beard passed by her, and as he did
so, something Il to the sidewalk. and
laid upon the crustcd snow. Sarah paus-
cd, she had heard the noise made by the
little packet and a mysterious impression
led her to search for it. o. joy. it was
4 purse filed to the brim yellow and
shining laid the gold within its strong
meskes, as she carried it toward lighted
winIow.
My poor boys, they shall w4nl no
more food, she calculated fervcntly; this
is gold, gold. God put it in my way
he saw | was dispairing'
Suddenly, like flash of lightnins :,
the thought occurred to Sarah that not
one cent of the new found Treasure was
honestly hers. Bat a moment she lin
serel. pressing the money with her num-
bed fingers, the sorrowtul tears pressing
down her thin checks, then starting for
ward to find thc owner Of the purse, she
walkcd hurriedly up the street, fearful
that the temptation, should she arrive at
her poor room and see her hungry chill
dren, might prove too strong for her in
tcgrity.
Opposite the great hotel, as she stood
hcsitatlng what way to take, she saw the
stranger enter. She knew him by his
long singular beard; and timidly cross
ing the street, she made her way into the
billiard hail, and there, bewildercd by
the light, sho knew not what to do or
say, till twice asked by the servant what
she wanted. OF course she could do no
more than describe the stranger by his
tall stature and strange beard. Bat he
had already gone out again; she must
call on the morrow, they said, and ask
for Mr.. Ashcroft.
The next morning, having eaten moth
ing, for she could not touch farthing
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 started with pleased surprise, laid
down his paper, took the gold and delib-
cratcly counted it over.
1T is all safe, he SAID. you have not
taken
Not one piece, sir, she cried eagerly,
trembling as she stood.
You seem poor, remarked the strang-
er, carelessly
Il am poor she replied.
Got a family, suppose
-Four little boys, sir: am widow,
'Humph, Humph, so supposed
that's the old story
Ask Mr.. Hart, the tailor. cried the
widow, stepping forwart. little; me
knows me we'll he knows if l am poor
| am honest.
A bright red spot burned on her checks
as she spoke, and she forced back the
tears.
Now confess, said the stranger, ris-
ing and walking to and fro before the
fire, confess that you expected large
reward for this.
4 did think, perhaps, and she turned
with quivering lips to the door.
Stop, stop, cried the stranger; you
know Won would never have returned the