Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-03-13

@~wSNn was the name Of poor
scamstIess fesiding in the City Of
She was not wholly friendless, but those
whom she knew, and who would have aided
her in her struggles, were very poor, and
could not. So she, n widow with four boys,
from the ages Of four 10 nine years, strug-
.rled through winters cold and summers
heat, providing her little family with bread,
and that was all. Meat and ~luxuries were
denied Sarah Goodwin and her boys. The
latter were good children, always in their
homes after nightfall, and giving their moth
er every cent OF their little earnings as often
as they found work to do.
At last the mother fell sick through her
weary illness she had no other attendance,
save the occasional help Of a 'neighbor, and
the constant aid Of her poor little boys
They were never from her side, and it was
touching to behold their sympathy, their
gentle ministra.ions everybody prophesied
chat they woulG be blessed in coming years,
cor thv;T thvughtfui@-aUaess toward 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 Of a cherless day to the shop of her
employer, and told him her pitiful story
But it was hard times her illness had made
room for, others as destitute rs herself; in
fine, they had not one stitch Of work to give
her. With a sinking heart, but praying
to keep her courage up, the poor woman
toiled on from shop to shop until it be-
came late, and what with tears and the daIk
ness, she could hardly see her way home.
'If Mr.. Hart himself had been there" she
soliioquized, bending to the strong wind,
and drawing her form, II know he would
have given Inc work."
As she whispered thus through her chat
,tering teeth, n tall man, with a long, gray
beard, passed by her, and as he did so, some
thing fell to the sidewalk, and lay upon the
,crusIed snow. Sarah paused she had heard
the noise made by the little packet, and a
mysterious impression led her to search for
it. o, Joy it was a purse, heavy, and filled
to the brim; yellow and shining lay the
gold within its strong meshes, as she carried
it toward a lighted window.
my poor boys, they shall want food nc
more" she calculated fervently this is
gold. God put it in my way; he saw | was
de~spairing."
Suddenly, like a flash Of lightning, the
thought occurred to Sarah, that not one cent
of the new-found treasure was honestly hers.
But n moment she fingered, pressing the
money with her numbed fingers, the sorrow
FIJI tears chasing Gown her thin cheeks, ther
SlNrllDH tOrWaTu 10 0pu the owner OF ln(
purse, she walked hurriedly up the street
fearful that the temptation. should she ar
rive at her poor room, and see her hungry
children, might prove too strong for her in
tegrity.
Opposite the great hotel, as she stood hes
titating what way to take, she saw the stran
ger. enter. She knew him Ey his long singu
lar beard and tiinidly crossing the street
she made her way into the social hall, an
there bewildered by the light, knew no
what TO say till twice asked by a servan
what she wanted. Of course she could d
20 more than describe the stranger by hi
tall stature and strange heard. But he ha
already gone out again; she must call on tn
morrow, they said, and ask for Mr.. Ashcroft
The,next mornipg, having eaten nothing
fer she could not touch a farthing Of tn
gold, she was admitted into the room wher
sat the stranger. He arose as she entere,
and gazed with a curious air till she presses
ted the purse. Then he started with please
surprise, laid down his paper, took the gol
land deliberately counted it over.
1t is all safe he said: you have not {;
ken
Not one piece, sir she cried eagerl
trembling as she spoke.
,Yousgem poor remarked the strang
.carelessly.
4 am poor, she replied.
Got q family, ] SUPPOSED
-Four little boys, sir. | am a widow
.'Humph, humph, so l supposed; tina
the old story
ASK Mr.. Hart the tailor cried the wi
Nv. stepping forward a little he knows I
well; he knows if ! am poor, | am homes
A bright red .spotiturned on her cheeks
she spoke, spd she forced back the tears.
Nov confess said the stranger, risi
and walking to qpd .ftp before the fire, ''c
fess that you expected q large reward
this.n
] did think, perhaps and she turn
with quivering lips II the door.
Stop, stop, cried the stranger; you KIN
you never would have returned the pu,
had you not expected to be paid for it.
Sir, said the widow, her tone indigna
her thin form towering; and o. the with
ing rebake in her voice and manners.
The stranger paused, holding tue purse