The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-01-06
SARAH GOODWIN AND HER BOYS.

struggles, were very poor and could not. SO
she widow with four boys, from the ages
Of four to niue years, struggled through Win
ter's cold and Summers heat, providing her
little family with bread, and that was ALL
Meat and luxuries were denied Sarah Good
win and her boys The latter were good
children, always in their home after nightfalI,
and giving their mother every cent of their
little earnings as often as they found work to
| do. 9as az pfs9r9
At last the mother fell sick, and through
weary illness she had no longer attendents,
save the occasional help of neighbour and
the constant help of her little boys. They
were never from her eide, and il touching
to behold their sympathy, their gentle minis
trations: everybody prophesied that they
would be blessed in coming years, for their
thoughtful kindness towards their mother.
| The widow recovered but it was now the
heart Of bitter Winter, and their little stock
of fuel was nearly gone. AS soon as her
strength permitted, she walked through the
cold cheeress day TO the shop of her employ
er, and told him her pitiful story. But it was
hard 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 praying to keep her cour-
age up, the poor woman toilcd on from shop
to shop until it became late, and with tears aud
darkness, she could hardly see her way home.
"lf Mr.. Hart himself had been there she
soliloqulzed, bending TO the strong wind, and
drawing her scantly shawl closer abont her
form, 81 know he would have given ME work.
As she whispered thus through her chatter
ing teeth 3 tall man, with n long grey beard,
passed by Der, as DC did 80, something fell
Co The siGeNals, and laid 70 the erusted snow.
sarah fauaed, rie bad heapi tho noise made
5ytBe ittjt paefGt AID a,,mystetDus impress
son nied hei t0 seaicbiorB. Oh, jQy 1t was
a yUlsl, hiaNg an dlilcdol3 tai biim; yellow
ana. shining mrtlthe gsial w.ihinJ its strong
mesllrs, as she carried ~ toward lighted win
dow. t f1-T tefs
"My poor BOYS, they shall Nantono more,
She ej cnlutcd tenanly: this Is gold.lHGod
put il il my way; IIe saw | was diapay-a
lug. ar1I 50s iro
Suddenly like q flash ofli9hting,t the thought
5c ugrcd 10 Sarah that not one cent Of the
new found treasure was honestly hers. But
moment she fingered, perssiag the money
with her numbed fingers, the soTowfal tears
cour,ing down her thin checks, then starting
forward find the owner OF the purse, she
walked huudly up the street, fearful that the
temptation, should she arrive at her poor :.
room and see her hungry children, might
prove too strong for her integrity.
Opposite the great hotel, as she stood hes
itating what way to take, she saw the stran-
ger en,er She knew him by his long, sin
gular beard; and timidly crossing the street
She made her way into fine billiard hall, and
there, bewildered 10y the light, knew not
what to say till twice asked by the servant
what she wanted Ofcouse she could do no
more than describe the stranger by his tall
statue and strange beard. But he had alrea-
dy- gone cut again she must call on the NOR
row, thej. said, and ask for Mr.. Ashcroft
The next morning, having eaten nothing,
for she could not touch farthng Of tho gold.
she was admitted into the room where sat the
stranger. He arose as she entered, and gaz-
ed with curious air till she presented the
purse. Then he started with pleased surprise,
laid down his paper took the gold and coun-
ted it over.
1T is all safe he said, "you have not taken
--p ~ at t t
"Not one peice, sir" she cried eagerly,
trembling as she spoke. ne'f
"You seem poor,' remarked the stranger
carelessly. aggB ii.lIa di y-tt3s isie,f n
81 am poor" iiasis
SCOT family, l suppose" ero "A
"Four little boys, sir, am n widow
"Humb, humb, so supposc-thats the old
story"
ASK Mr.. Hart the tailor" cried the widow,
stepping forward little; "he knows me well
he knows if | am poor | am honest"
A bright red spot burned on her cheeks as
she spoke and forced back the tears.
"Now confess" said tho stranger, rising
and walking to and fro before the fire, con-
fess that you expected large reward for
this.1 ,4n'ni od indi ef. aW7r r9k Il
...ss"I did think, perhaps and she turned with
quiyerng lips to the door. tl ,nta
''Stop, stop cried the stranger, you know
you would never retuned the purse, had you
not expected to be paid for it." "gNa9
"Sir,' said the widow, her tone indignant,
her thin from towering, and, oh. the whitening
rebuke in her voice and manner. .la77iin hr
The stranger paused, holding the purse in
his hand then drawing forth the smallest
possible coin that it contained, offered it to
her, 8ueuf' miei5 ol ftr niri ff,ef tt,r,
For moment she drew back, but then re-
membering that the poor boys were hungry
at home, and in bed because there was no fire,
she burst into tears as she took it saying "Ths
will buy bread for my poor children and hur-
rying away, she buried the bitterness Of that
morning in her own heart. sr.iigala
ltwas four o'clock ON the same day. Sarah
Goodwin sat 10y a panty fire, busily engaged
sewing patch'son the very poor clothes Of her
four boys. 0s rsorrea8 sf aa5l
"Ilun'to tho door iirnmy,Y she said to the
Oldest as loud knock was heard. H
10, anothcr Y the boy cried, returning, "a
big bundle for us, What is itl What can
il abel'n d HliiHHiHlt asias eil rf3afl
-a"Work for me, perhaps" murmured the
widow, untying the huge package, when
suddenly there came to light four suits Of
strong gray clothes, with four neat black shin.