Year: 1870

TRUE STORY.


Sarah Goodwin was the name Of
poor seamstress residing in the city of
New York. She was not wholey friend
less, but those whom she knew and
who would have aided her in her strug-
giles were very poor and could not. So
, she, a widow, and four boys from the
ages of four and nine years, struggled
through the Winters cold and Sum-
mers heat, providing her little family
with bread, and that was all. Her boys
were good children, always in home
after night'iall and giving their mother
every cent Of their little earnings as Of
ten as they found work to do. At last
the mother fell sick, and through
weary illness she had no other attend
ance than the occasional help Of
neighbor and the constant aid of her
poor little boys. 1t was touching to be-
hold their kind ways and to hear their
gentle words. Every body said that
they would be blessed in coming years
for their thoughtful love toward their
mother.


The widow recovered, but it was now
the middle of Winter, and their little
stock of fuel was almost gone. AS soon
as her strength permitted she walked
through the cold Ola cherries day to
the shop of her employer and told him
her pitiful story. But he said it was
hard times, her illness had made
room for others as destitute as herself,
and they had not one stitch Of work to
give her. With a sinking heart, but
praying to keep up her courage, the
poor woman toiled on from shop to shop
until it became late, and, what with
tears and darkness, she could hardly
see her way home.


"If Mr.. Hart had himself been there
she said to herself, bending to the strong
wind, and drawing her scanty shawl
closer about her form, Il know he would
have given me work"


As she whispered thus through her
chattering teeth a tall gentleman passed
by her, and as he did so something fell
upon the sidewalk and lay upon the
crushed show. Sarah paused. She had
heard the noise made by the little pack
eft, and strange impression led her to
search for it. o, joy! it was purse,
heavy and filled to the brim? yellow
and shining lay the gold within, as she
carried it toward a lighted window.


"My poor boys. they shall want food
no more" she cried; "this is gold. l
think that God must have put it in my
way, for he saw I was in despair"


Suddenly, like flash of lightning:
the thought occurred to Sarah that not
one cent of the treasure was honestly
hers. But a moment she fingered,
pressing the money with her numbed
fingers, the sorrowful tears chasing
down her cheeks; then, starting for
ward to find the owner of the purse she
walked hurriedly up the street, fearful
that the temptation, should she arrive
at her poor room and see her furnishing
children, might prove too strong for her
honesty.


Opposite the great hotel as she stood
thinking which way to take, she saw
the stranger enter. She knew him by
the long hair which curled on his shout
ders, and, timidly crossing the street,
she made her way into the hall, and
there, bewildered by the light, knew
not what to say, till twice asked by q
servant what she wanted. OF course
she could do no more than describe the
stranger by his tall stature and flowing
hair. But he had already gone out
again; she must call in the morning,
they said, and ask for Mr.. Ashcraft.


The next morning having eaten moth.
ing-for she could not touch a farthng
of the gold-she was admitted to a room
, where sat the stranger. He arose a.
she entered and gazed with curious air
till she presented the purse. Then h,
started with pleased surprise, laid dowl


his paper, took the gold carefully ano


counted it over.


at is all Safe" he said, "you have no
taken'-


= "Not one piece, sir" she cried eagerl,
! trembling as she spoke.


n "Iou seem poor,' said the stranger.
II am poor" she replied.
g "Got family, l suppose
). -Four little boys, sir; l am widow" !"
L "Hump! 80 suppose; that is the ol
2 story"


r "Ask Mr.. Hart, the tailor said tn
IS widow, stepping forward little; b
,, knows me well; he knows that thoug


am poor, am honest"