Goodman Brown's Children

For one of my classes, I was asked to write a story detailing what happened to Young Goodman Brown’s children. This is what I came up with

Over the years the now Old Goodman Brown stayed with his wife Faith, as a proper man should, and even though his faith with her was gone, they bore four children. They raised these children all to be goodly and true, and true and goodly they became. They became learned in the ways of the lord and were taught their catechism by the Goodman himself. All the people of the village agreed that these children were some of the most well behaved children they had ever known.

The first of these children was Devotion, a girl of exceedingly strong morals and sound mind. Everywhere she went her head was hung in prayer, a few bangs hiding her eyes as she elevated herself to God. She never spoke, and when she did, those who heard her always benefitted from what she had to say. Noone ever questioned her, for they knew she was of a pure heart. Devotion went to church every Sunday, and sang the loudest of any at the congregation, along with her mother. With her father, she was always kind, and always showed him love, even though she couldn’t understand him. She had a strong, angular face in a thin mouth. Her red locks were always tied up in a bun behind her, except for a few small strands in front that couldn’t reach. These hung down in front of her eyes, but she never bothered to brush them away. She always dressed plainly. When she became of age, she devoted herself to the church. She was a respected member of the cloth and was honored in her death.

The second child was a son that Goodman decided to name Tolerance, much to the confusion of the others in the village, since that was a name which wasn’t ever used before then. Tolerance was a mischievous child, but not so much that people didn’t enjoy his company. He was always willing to listen and help with problems. Everyone in town agreed that he was one of the friendliest people there, befriending everyone from the lowest beggar to richest man; from the most decrepit of people to the godliest saint. He had a bright face and slightly disheveled brown hair. His eyes seemed to look into your very being. He rarely went to church on Sundays, preferring instead to study for himself, but he still read the Bible and prayed every night. Old Goodman had a fondness for him, and talked with him for long periods of time, divulging some of his darkest secrets to his son. Of all the children, Tolerance was the only one who knew what happened in the woods, Yet he still remained very loving of his father. Once, as a teenager, he took it upon himself to enter these same woods. He saw many sight which he refused to divulge, but otherwise remained unchanged. When he was old enough, he left the village to start a career for himself and see the world. He died somewhere in Africa.

The third child was a daughter named Honor. She was a beautiful girl with a lovely face, big blue eyes, and curly golden hair which she tied back in a ponytail. She usually had a serious expression on her face. She rarely laughed or smiled, though those who have seen her do either claim that it is truly a sight to behold. When she became old enough, many boys tried to win her hand, but she always played hard to get. However, if one were to try hard enough she might reward them with a kiss. Boys who were kissed by her recalled the experience as one of the greatest moments in their life, and even though that was all they got, forever held her in their hearts. Sometime in her twenties, she married a man named Discipline, (Changing her name to Honor Ann Discipline) and they had a long happy life together.

The last and unsaid favorite child of Old Goodman Brown was a son whom he named after himself. Young Goodman Brown in his early years was very much like his father. He was devoted to the church and went there every Sunday with his family. His father treated him with all the respect in the world and his mother pampered him. After his father’s death on the insistence of his brother Tolerance, he entered the woods and spent the night there. When he came out he was forever changed. He looked upon everyone with suspicion, including his brothers and sisters. Only Tolerance was able to calm him, and gradually through Tolerance’s guidance, he was able to live normally again. He soon befriended his sister Honor, but never gave Devotion more than passing respect. Until the day he died, Devotion was never able to be a part of his life again. A year after entering the forest, Young Goodman Brown left the town with Tolerance. Sometime in his fifties Tolerance died, and Young Goodman Brown started spending more time with his sisters and Honor’s husband. He never went to church again. When he died his sisters carved on his tombstone. “Here lies Goodman Brown, who, like his father, was troubled with the world, yet he remained strong and true, and lived with Honor in end.”