Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-04-13
TIle smoo1Il shilIine.

That piece won't 60, sirl" observed the
man behind the counter, handing me back
again shilling so worn that nothing could
be seen on either side of il but dali sill
very lustre. and no perceptible figure. I
took it and replaced il in my purse But
as rode homeWard my meditations we're
of the shilling 1t t0oat 90 be said; but
Why not 1t is no doubt genuine coin.
For ten, twenty, or even City years, il has
been in constant circulation. The hands
of some thousands Of persons have beld il.
It bas sparkled as pretty toy in the tiny
fingers of some sweet child ; il has been
cIutched by the ferruginous hand Of the mi
ser. It has lain upon the glazed eYeball
Of youth 10 the shroud; clinked in the ILL
Of the liquor dealer; been tossed 10 the
street musician as an inducement to him to
cut short the agony Of his organ. Il has
travelled through all the States. passing cur
rent from the sesboard TO the remotest in.
terror. and never at discount Il has
been exchanged in its time for commodities
enough to make any beggsr Cgesus--
TO multiiudes it has brought over and oV-
er again. in some shape. the worth Of .
shilling. Others have possessed and lost it,
but obtained no equivalent Il was their
fault, however, and not the shilling's. But
now the tideis turned. The faithful piece
of money would seem to be delinquent. "It
won't 60" Why not? again asked. Be-
cause il is smooth. Its surface tells no tals
that we can credit. It bears not the i'm
press Of the mint, or the government insig-
MIA No head. date or pillars does it show.
A coin must have impressions or il is only
play media, or a silver button mould.
Smooth pieces of silver "Won't 60" any
better than if they were bits of my grand
mothers spoons. or those famous old knee
buckles that figured on my gFandfather's
small clothes The genuine current coin
must have the genuine stamp.
Here. Tbought /. is lesson for US Our
minds. hearts and lives must bear the right
impressions, or we cannot pass current in
good society. o! little worth is be IN life,
Of whom the smooth shilling is type. The
man on whom you can see no head or date,
or stars, or pillars, or eagls-notbing By
which it could be guessed he was e pluri-
bus uuunl." his expression only the dullre-
semblance of tsrnished silver, his eyes Of
pewter in which there is no speculation"
bis soul unmarked With any trace or bond
of moral obligation, of generous sympathy,
of Christian fervor; everybody IS resdy to
say to him as said the madesman of the
shilling. "tbst piece won't goI sir" 10
ouqht not to 90. It has been loosely DRIFT
ing about long enough. Il is time it was
returned to the mint as bullion, to be re-is-
sued, to receive the stamp of man. Ali
here is the faul: with him. Il was the
original sin of bis education that no Deep
strong, correct impression was made upon
lis nature He bad no pious mother to
urrow his soul with her tears; no godly IA
her to drive landmarks deep into the sub
stance Of his spiritual existence. The pull
,it did not raise along the margin Of his af.
ections and breastwork of faith, and hope,
md fear of God. The sanctions Of the BIZ
lie are either unknown or unheeded. 50
hat no Image and superscription" Of d.
,ine truth was ever inscribed upon him
' hen in the mint of his years. his plastic in
ancy. The world. the flesh and Satan
ave made him rough enough. but no trace
# the divine government is on him. no stamp
4 the powers above. He is smooth for all
uch impressions. and therefore he cannot
'ass current Reader, are you parent,
eacher, pastor, Christian. lover of
our race? Put your stamp upon the
oung. Prepare the die with She greatest
are. Improve your opportunity. Make
our mark. Let it be deep and indellible.
Iet each immortal coin. each living soul be
harged with the image. not Of an earthly
ueen or emperor. bu, with the features Of
ur heavenly King. with the radiant iines
{ the Redeemer's face, and then il shall
e legal tender in the church below and at
he gates Of the new Jerusalem-C Coners-
atioaalist.
-i0e-