The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-09-01
"PICKED UP."-pr .oLlrA1Rr.

-. hthCA aOVo us
own powers in any matter, or those Of an antago-
INST, that he hnds himself 8 picked up as, for
instance, when a politician expects to continue in
Office and finds himself turned out-a lover builds
his hopes on a maiden. and some more fortunate
swain cuts him out-a passenger embarks on a
boat with the promise Of going immediately, and
don't get off for two days-or when some chole.
Tic little man undertakes to whip another. and
gets thrashed himself. A case analyses to
these, as a certain Congressman used to say, oc-
Cured on board one of our steamers, in which an
old boatman. the mate, was sadly 9 picked u2
and as he confesses the fact to ease his conscience
more fully. we will give his confession publicity.
A busiling, farmer looking customer stepped on
hoard the boat he belonged to. a few minutes be.
fore she pushed out. and holding a $40 bill on
the bank of Missouri. begged him to change il.
The mate thinking it a good bill to stow away.
held II out 10 the clerk and asked il it was GOOD.
oh, yes.' says the clerk. : beautiful money. 4
and passed on up to the cabin, leaving the mate
with his bill. Good as wheat, stranger saws
the mate. IN cash it! and forthwith pays him
over Indiana small bills in exchange. In a few
minutes off went the boat. and as she wendell her
way down the stream, the clerk and mate came
again in contact.
We'll. Ike says the clerk. who burned Won
with that counterfeit X on the hank of Missouri q
'Comnterfeit! exclaimed Ike, what do you
mean?'
mean says the clerk, : that the Missouri
IN you showed me at starting is rather a bad 10,
of money. Where did yon get it?'
why. cuss your %picture,' says the mate, |
gave good money in change for that bill on the
strength of your recommendations =
Good Lord = burst in the clerk. ha ha .ha-
ho-ho no! were you SO confonnded green? WHY,
it's an old Missouri counterfeit, of the worst kind !:
and here half a dozen more joined in, laughing az
Ike's loss.'
He fret InopuIco 10 IN f.ux III n,s:~.. llI
but. on second thought, he carefully folded it up,
and let off his wrath by stirring up the hands,
individually and collectively. The boat had
nearly reached Smithland, when an old fashioned
quiet looking deck passenger came to the mate
and asked as a particular favor. that he would
look over any ba nix bills the clerk might give in
change, as he was not acquainted with western
money, and was afraid he might get some spuri.
Gus or deprecated paper passed upon him.
What kind of money have you got 2 inquir-
ed Ike.
"A twenty on a Philadelphia bank answered
the passenger.
Maybe | can change it for you,' says Ike ca
gerly.
Il only wish you could earnestly chimed in
the stranger.
How will that do? inquired Ike. handing ont
his spurious $40 Missouri bank bill, and a $40
gold piece on top of it.
81 have have no objections says the stranger.
{ If the Missouri bill will pay fare
Try it, says Ike and the bills were passed.
each pocketing the exchange with a nervous kind
of alacrity. As they sped along, every now and
then the mate would steal a fnrtive glance at the
deck passenger, which would be followed on his
part by an anxious look in return.
d that fellow muiteTed the mate, 8 I
wish he would get on shore > and at the wood.
yard ne tried to leave him ; but the stranger hop.
ped on board and sneaked way back ON the deck.
where the uneasy conscience of the mate would
carry him. every now and then, to see if the pas
senger's counteRance betrayed suspicion. Atlength
they reached Smithland, and the cause of The
mates disqniet stepped on deck and left The boat.
After assuring himself that he had not returned,
Ike INDUCED in a chuckle at his success, and
while they were steaming up stream, he entered
the clerks office, with a broad grim on his coun.
tenance, threw his $50 bill on his desk, and
asked him to furnish small bills in exchange for
the fimsey.'
What tickles you so, Ike 2 inquired the
clerk.
Ike leaned back. and indulging in a gufaw, re.
lated he had picked up a greener one than him
self by an exchange. The clerk looked at the
bill, examined one of Presbury's Detectors. and
there found his ftoenty fully described as a well
known counterfeit! 1t was the clerks turn
now, and his roar at Ike's second mishap drew
the attention of others, who joined in the laugh at
The mates expense. Ike gave his hat a twist,
stuck it tight on his head, and went below with.
out saying a word but The way he made things
move around decks during that trip was lastly
and his own movements strongly betrayed a dis
position to pick up some deck passenger and
throw him overheard .-St. Louis Reueilie.
PURCHASED BY THE GovERNMENr.-We un-
derstand that the new and beautiful steamboat
" cambridge" which vas lately bailt for Capt.
| IN II urn t, x~. L.. -. II