The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-10-17
The GOLDEN COIN.

The bright-iaced, sunny-hearted
boy,gazed in establishment on tie
mother and child. The scene was
new 10 him. lie wondered it this
was what they called poverty. His
eyes looked sadly upon the wasting
mother,but they glittered with Won
der when they turned toward Elsie.
Suddenly they filled with tears. The
want and woe, the barrenness and
desolation, were all too much for
him. He shudderea at the cold I'M
covered floor. lie gazed mournful
ly into the fireplace. His eyes wan
dered wonderingly over the max ed
walls. looking SO uninviiing and
cherries. Putting his hand in his
pocket, he gfasped the coin that his
mother had that very morning given
him. and drew it forth. "iou may
have that" said he holding it out to
the child.
"Oh, you are too coed! You ale
too generous, | fear" she said as il
she ought not to take it.
"MOlher will give me another il
! want" he said. "Take it, take it;
: you shall take it," and he was in.
stantiy gone.
1t was gold coin of the value OF
FIVE dollars.
Mother and child wept together
Then they talked OF the good boy
who opened his heart for them on
this New Years day. Then they
let their fancies run and grow wild
and revel as they choose. They
looked at the glittering piece. There
was bread. fuel. clothing, and every
comfort in its. depths. Now they
saw within its rim,pictures Of delight
and joy;visions OF smiling faces and
happy children; sounds Of merry
voices and the Ginning music OF
beils;the accent of innocent tongues,
and the laugh Of gladstone hearts,
All! what philosophers stone
was that coin. Low IL turned eve
rything first into gold and then into
happiness! How itgrouped around
kind cheerful friends, and filled their
ears with kind voices. How it gar
landed all the hours of that day with
evergreens and full blown roses
How it spread them q laden table
and crowded il with merry guests,
and those guests too,aII satisfied and
happy. Oh.what bright rays shone
forth from that trifling coin Of gold
Could it have been SO bright in the
mans or child's dark pocket! No,
else it had before then burned it.
way through, and lent its radiance
10 others. Could it have shOne with
such visions in the rich mans hands
No;slse his avarice would have van.
shed at once and h h.; heart would
have s.0wed with charity. No,no
It was only to the widow and hel
child that there was such a sheen
and emitted such brilliant ray, anc
revealed such sweet and WELDON,
visions. Only for such as they.
The night returned this angel DO,
to the bleak house, filled with hap
Piness and enlightened with joy;ba
he was not alone, for his mother wa
with him. Blessed boy. lie ha,
passed the whole of New Year
day making others happy. Ant
how much happier was be himself
How his little heart warmed ant
glowed to see that little child un
cover the basket he had brough
with him. and take out one BY on,
the gifts which were slowed there
and how oveUoyed he was to Sc,
his mother offer the sick woman
work and new home. to see tn,
D sick one suddenly grow strong ane
almost well under the influence o
kind Offices. He wondered if ,heil
happiness. could possibly be as deeI
Is his own; il this New Year wa.
IS bright 10 them as him. He knew
not how any one could be any hap
pier than he was at that moment
Years have rolled away into the 81.
lent past. The little girl, Elsie Gray
is q lady. Not lady only in name
but in deed,in hear, and in conduct
She dwells in a suburban cottage
and her husband is wholly devoted
TO her. Her husband i, none other
than the generous boy who,on the
New Years festival accos;ed he,
% tsndsrly in the street. and wen,
home with her. Her poor mother
sleeps quietly in the churchyard, Vet
she lived to know that God had pro-
vidsd for her child. She died re-
signed and happy.
Are there coins of either gold or
silver, that must be locked away
from sight at the beginning Of the
New Year!