Alternate Ending for Young Goodman Brown

“Faith! Faith!” cried the husband. “Look up to Heaven, and resist the Wicked One!” (Hawthorne, 1835, pp 614).

Even as he spoke, a light appeared to be shining forth from the moon. As it grew closer, the Evil One covered his eyes and shrank back into the darkness. Goodman Brown peered out over the wizards, the witches, and the score of church members of Salem village noticing their images change from those he recognized to creatures of the night. The altar where he stood lost its meaning and became a rotting piece of wood.

“My dearest husband, I fear death is upon us.”

“My love and my Faith,” replied young goodman Brown taking his wife into his arms. “I would face a thousand deaths if you should but be saved from this dark hour.” Faith buried her head in her husband’s chest as the light surrounded them. Young goodman Brown was ready to meet heaven in the arms of his loving wife.

“Fear not my child,” a voice rang out behind him. Young goodman Brown found himself standing alone at the altar. He turned to find the light radiating from a man dressed all in white with a white cloak around him. He held a shepherd’s staff in one hand. Upon his feet were simple sandals, but the earth beneath them seemed to sing with the joy of being trod upon.

“I cannot believe it is you who has come to save me in my guilty hour. And what of my poor Faith?” asked goodman Brown to the man before him.

“I shall never leave you to your own demise, my friend. Follow me and I will lead you back to your Faith.” He stepped forward into the wood which seemed to come to life around him. The gloom of the trees disappeared leaving behind a peaceful silence. Young goodman Brown stepped off the rotting altar and followed the man in white into the awakening forest.

“How shall I ever forget what I have seen here tonight?” inquired he of the man leading him from his despair.

“Verily, this world is given to the devil, but take heart, my friend. There is one shining in the darkness even at this very hour.” Ahead on the road a figure appeared. Goodman Brown hid his face behind his companion fearful of who else would be in the woods, on this night of all nights, and with what purpose they wait. Hope resumed in his heart when he beheld the Reverend Samuel Willard.

“Good work, my friend,” the light in the darkness was saying. “Soon there will be an end to all this madness.”

“I am but one man,” the Reverend Willard replied watching flowers bloom under the feet of the man in white as they stood in the shadowy wood.

“Ah, yes, but one candle can light a whole room, and one spark can light the flame of an entire country. Fear not, my good Reverend, this is not the only man I doth lead back to his Faith this very night.” Goodman Brown’s heart ached as he heard the sound of his beloved wife. How his life will change evermore after this night.

“Come, my friend, and journey with us this night.” The company set off again making their way out of the ever brightening wood. With each step toward the edge of the wood, a person joined the company each time the man in white knew them by name. As each person joined, the sky grew brighter. Young goodman Brown stepped out of the dreaded wood at sunrise with the man in white, the Reverend Willard, and forty-nine others. Goodman Brown looked back into the now merry wood and beheld the path that had been dark and full of shadow was vivid and covered in purple and yellow flowers.

The followers of the man with the shepherd’s staff departed quietly but joyfully to their homes. Young goodman Brown and his companion walked alongside the road and pursued their way back to Faith.

“And what shall become of me after my evil deed?” inquired goodman Brown to his companion as they neared the place where they would part company.

“There is no evil deed in which you shall be named,” said the man of light handing goodman Brown his shepherd’s staff. “I pray thee use it well.”Although perplexed at its meaning, goodman Brown took the staff with gratitude.

“Return to your Faith, she is waking and seeking your face.” At this, his companion departed leaving young goodman Brown turning the corner of the meeting house to look upon his love and Faith.

Running from the threshold was his dearest Faith with her pink ribbons playing in the wind. With a new joy in his heart, he held his Faith and kissed her before the whole village.