Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-24

UAis o4o0 ASSA - 49, - zE1&AV lCAtGUu VI
youth there is no sus word as FAIL. -
tTo BE sot'lsuap
From the CID Paper.
s THE C0UNTERFllIT SHILLING.
Dick Manning wess into Mr.. Ashton's
store, where his eopslp Ihomas Downs was
looking over some aalA There, Dick
said he, showing seed oif money towards
hinnson the counter here 5 eonnserfeit
shilling you pray - fEss.. How do
syol know is .arr.sisl !. xs.d i Il
iaasaas VI ~. "a yoa & III See 3
it has ayellowish, brassy bok, which real
silver never has-silver is white But it
will pass said another boy; somebody
passed it to you, why don't you pass it on
somebody 2 Because if one fellow cheats,
1t Is no reason why should answered Tom
Downs. Well, what shall I do with itr
asked Dick, balancing il on his forefnger
: Do any thing you please, except pass it,
answered Thomas. and presently Dick pock-
eted the piece and went out of the store.-
lie showed it to several Of the bows, and
none of them guessed it was counterfeit un-
til he tod them. Come, treat us on it,
cried Henry Morris. No, no; it is against
the laws to pass counterfeit money if he
does he'll get taken up shouted four OF five
of the boys. Dick keptit great while in
his pocket, but how often when he passed
the confectionery at the shop windows was
he tempted to pass it. They wont know
it's counterfeit he would say to himself =
But you know it, whispered still small
voice.
One Saturday afternoon, party of boys
went down to the Neck, two or three miles
from town, to play on the rocks and each
crabs. On their return, they passed cIus-
ter of small houses. in one Of which poor
old woman had kept beer and cakes for ma
ny years. She was a kind, pleasant old
creature, and as the earnings of her little shop
helped to maintain at idiot son, people Of
the town seldom passed by there without
buying of her, and the children were often
sent down with kind charities to the good
dame. She's got some chestnuts,' said the
boys looking at the shop window. But
none of them had any money. Dick
said Henry Morris, now's the time to pass
your shilling she'll never know it. YOU
may be sure Of that Yes, yes, said two
or three, while the rest had hastened on:
would it not be a good joke? Come Dick
No, 1t would be mean to cheat this poor
woman, said one the better BOYS. She's
got specks; she can see for herself,' said an
other. Oh, it would be such good ioke,'
cried Henry Morris !; besides, the chestauts
-Oe.r,O. Bsuk -srra frssr- Aoa,Ss~o Asure yorp
will never get found out
Meanwhile Dick had drawn the sh;llino
from his pocket and looked at the chestnuts
in the window, which t're boys declared
would be such treat or the rocks. The
voice within said, No, Dick but some how or
other the boys voices were the loudest. and
the chestnuls looked tempting, and thew
wanted him 10 treat, and il would pass for a
joke. At last Dick wentinto the sbop: his
conscience smote him as he entered, but in
he went. aud out he came with great pa
per OF ehestnuts, and away he ran, the bows
after him. nor did he stop till he came 70 q
pile of rocks, behind whth he threw HIM
self on the sand. 'There they are cried
he, throwing the paper to the boys as soon
as they got up with him. EAnd what did
she say? they asked. 'She never susnect-
ed, said Dick. She looked very mach
pleased, and put it in her drawer. and said
Thank We, sonny The BOYS set IN
shout of laughter, but Dick did not ioin in
it. l do not know how thev enioved their
chestnuts, but | do know that when D,ck's
mother asked him about the excursion he
told her nothing about them; and after he
went 10 bed, 1t did not appear such good
joke, after ALL to cheat poor OLD woman
out Of her chestnuts. Turn it which wav
he would, the affair had mean and shabby
look, and Dick felt very much ashamed Of
himself
The next day, when he went to school,
Henry Morris met and asked him to do his
sums for him. : | cau't; | can't stop to-
answered Dick. But you've got to-, cried
Henry; if you don't, I'll inform against
you, and you'll have to go to Jail for passing "a
counterfeit money; l will Poor Dick was
terribly frightened. How he wished he was
innocent. But as it was, he found himself
bondman to wicked idle boy, who kept
threatening to inform against him if he did
not do as he wished, and Henry's demands
were pretty hard sometimes. Indeed, Dick
had so little confidence in Henry, that he
was constantly afraid lest the police-of1icers
might be at his heels, and and@Se sie was very mis-
cradle. Dick despised Henry, but guilt
made him serve him. There was quarrel
about something at recess one oav' when
one of the boys feeling angry with Dick said.
Pooh !! fellow that would cheat a moor
old woman, will do anything To be twit-
ted IN this way was almost too much for
poor Dick to BEAR He wanted to knock
the boy down; but, alas, he touched upon
truths which Dick had no heart to fight for !:
and now Dick keenly felt what bad friends
bad boys are, for the. very boys who urged
him to buy the chestnuts, were the first to
turn against him.
On his way home he suddenly met his
cousin Thomas Downs. sHalloo' said
Thomas, let US see the shilling 1 gave Won
Hav'nt got it, answered Dick, hurry wing by.
Stop; did you lose it, or give it away ?'-
No, said Dick Well, where is it Won
hav'n mt passed it?' 1t was on the end q
his tongue to say No. but Dick never lied
and great as the temptation was, he could
{ not lie now. Poor Dick, thus holden with
the cords of his sins, turned very red. and
it seemed as if the veins in bis face would
burst. Oh he cried, choking with morti