Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-01-16
The Pine Tree Shilling.
BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

Massachusetts, and coined all the money
tha, was made there. lie was in a new
line of business, for, in the early days OF
the colony, the current coinage of the
people consisted of the gold and silver
money of England. Portugal and Spain.
These coins being scarce. the people were
often forced to barter their commodities,
instead of selling them.
For instance. if a man wanted to buy a
coat. he. perhaps, exchanged bear-skin
for it, 1t he wished for barrel Of molas-
ses, he might purchase it with pile OF
boards Musket bullets were used in
stead Of farthings. The Indians had a
sort of money called wampum. which was
made of clam shells. and this strange sort
of specie was likewise taken in payment
of debts by the English settlers. Bank
bills had never been heard OF. There
was not enough of any kind. in many
parts of the country, to pay their minis
ters-so they had to take quintals of fish.
bushels of corn, or cords of wood, in
stead of silver or gold.
As the people grew more numerous. and
their trade with one another increased.
the want Of money was still more sensi-
bly, felt. To supply the demand. the
General Court passed law for establish
ing a coinage Of shilings, sixpences and
threepences. Capt. John Hull was ap-
pointed to manufacture the money. ard
was to have about one shilling out of ev-
cry twenty, to pay him for his trouble of
making them.
Hereupon, all the silver coin in the
colony was handed over to Capt. John
4 I,t+,r,I anl
! tankards, suppose. and silver buckles.
and broken spoons. and silver hits OF
swords that had figured at court-all such
curious articles were thrown into the pot
together. But by far the greatest part of
the silver consisted of bullion from the
mines of South America, which the Eng
lish Buccaneers (who were little better
than pirates,) had taken from the Span
iards and brought to Massachusetts.
Al this old and new silver being melt
ed down and coined. the result was an
immense amount of splendid shil!ings.
sixpences and threepences. Each had
the date of 1862 on one side. and the
figure Of a pine tree on the other side.
Hence they were called pine tree shillings.
And for every twenty shllings that he
coined. you will remember. Capt. Hull
was entitled to put one shilling in his
pocket.
The magistrates soon began to suspect
that the mint master would have the best
of the bargain. They offered him large
sum of money. if he would give up .ha,
twentieth shilling; which he was continual
ly dropping into his own pocket: Capt.
! Hull declared that he was perfectly satisfi-
ed with the shilling. And well he might
be, for SO diligently did he labor, that. in
few years. his pockets. his money bags,
! and his strong box were overnowinr with
the tree shillngs. This was probably the
case. when he came in possession OF
grandfather chair to rest himself in.
I When the mint-master had grown very
! rich, young man. Samuel Sewell by
name. came ACQUIRING his only daughter.
whose name do not know, but we will
call her Betsey;-she was fine he artv
damsel, by no means SO slender as some
| young ladies of our own days.
| On the contrary. having always fed
heartily on pumpkin pies. dough nuts
! Indian pud lings and other Puritan dain-
ties. she was round and plum as 4 pud-
1 ding.
With this round rosy Miss Betsev did
Samuel Sewell fall in love. As he was of
good character, industrious in business.
and a member of the church. the mint
master very readily gave his consent.
/ ''les. You may take her." said he in
his rough way. land you will find her a
heavy burthen enough"
On the wedding dav. as we may sup
pose. that honest Hull dressed himself in
plain colored coat. all the buttons of
which were made Of pine-tree shillings.
The buttons of his waistcoat were six
pences. and the knees of his small clothes
were buttoned with threepences Thus
attred he sat with great dignity in his
grandfather's chair; and. being a portlv
old gentleman. he completely filled it from
elbow to elbow. On the opposite side of
the room. between the bridesmaids. sat
Miss Betsey. She was biushng with all
her might. and looked like a full-blown
peony. a great red apple, or any other
round and scarlet object.
There. too. was the bridegroom. dress
ed in fine purple coat. and gold lace
waistcoa, with as much other finery as the
Puritan laws and customs would allow
him to put on. His hair was cropped close
to his head. because Gov. Endicott had
f, forbidden any one TO wear it below the
ears: he was very respectable young
man. and 50 thought the bridesmaids and
Miss Be,sey herself
The mint was pleased with his
new son-in law--especially as he had
said nothing at all about her portion. So.
when the marriage ceremony was over.
Captain Hull whispered word or two to
his men-servants. who Immediately went
out. and soon returned Juggling pair OF
scales. They were such pair as whole
sale merchants use for weighing: bulky
commodity was now to be weighed in
them.
daughter Betsey.' said the mint
master. "go into one side of the scales
Miss ResSev or Nrc Souan ,r ,ro ,,,,-.