Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-09-04
miscellaneous.
lFrom Arihur's Home Magazine
THE COUNTERFEIT DOLLAR.
BY A. L. OTIS.


day and bought pair Of chickens Of the
huckster woman The lady offered five
dollar bill. which the huckstor could not
change. A man making some purchase at
The time. offered 20 oblige the huckstcr by
taking the bill and giving five gold dollars
for it, lie gave thom TO her, and she return
ed the just change to the lady.
The latter had not walked square before
she discovered that one Of the gold coins was
counterfeit. She took il back 20 the market
woman who insisted upon her taking good
dollar instead, saying that she would soc the
man who had given her the bad one the next
time he passed, and make him take it back.
Quite willing not TO lose the dollar the
lady at once consented A fcw dar after
words she passed ,he stall again, c.s togped
to ask ii the woman had yet seen TIE man
who had given her the counterfeit dollar.
Laws no, honey. was the reply. want
going to let YOU keep It, being as you are my
best customer; but Just passed it Oft, the
very first time had TO make change. and no
fuss Never you mind my honey, the wo-
man as ] gave it TO. served me the very same
trick last week ! was very glad to get a
chance to pay her Off.
am very sorry it is going any further
said the lady. ! came here ON purpose to
get it and destroy it. | thought ! could bet
ter afford to lose it than many another. Now
/ shall always be sorry that did rot-do my
duty when had it in my power
Laws. then ] wish I'd kept it. for Peg
Blye. who gin it to, will likely pass it on to
some poor body and it does not seem fair
that the big-bugs should lose what must be
lost, anyhow. win just see if Peg has got
ityet, if YOU are willing to wait bit.
p, No-Pcg had not got it She would have
scorned to keep it so long. But choosing
her victim with some discretion. among those
She called the bg-bugs. she gave it TO a fich
7 middlo-aged man. whose fingers were So cold
d that he was less particular In examining his
change than usual Arrived at home he
found the dollar bad. but could not remein-
Der at what stall he had received IL; so in
great Indignation at the dishonesty of those
, huckstors. he had to make up his mind to
pocket bis loss.
He went to church regularly-or rather
to some meeting-but Of all things. he hat
D ed the poor plate which vas passed around
for contribution every SUNDAY. Yet he gene
rally put something into it. because folks
y. eyes were upon him The next Sunday when
=. it came round, he maliciously put therein the
! counterfeit dollar There, thought he, you
:. are welcome TO that
# ed i'' "'' "'' ''''' "'' '''D "s' 49, ''''''
Observers would never know the cheat
" However, when the preacher road in the BIZ
bic about Ananias and Sapphira he had to
comfort himself with the remembrance that
- the ages of miracles had past
= Tisai 1fletis5oa l~-ly e4-iild uileai h.fa ame
~ complained that counterfeit dollar which
i she had given TO such huckster, had beer
transferred to another. who had given it to him
- She had come 20 redeem that dollar. as hcl
conscience troubled her about 1t, and she sup
posed it was still in his possession, of course
The avaricious man always took great care
OF his reputation He protested that tho
market woman must have been mistaken. a.
' he could show her every gold dollar in tho
y house, and they were all good. She mus
have given it TO some other man.
The lady was so sure, that she hesitated
and was inclined to urge the matter, when th'
y uulucly wife said -
IL George, You put a gold dollar on the poo
plate That must have been it.
Shame and anger suffused his face; but IA,
II said plausibly; Oh, perhaps So ] did no
H. think of that Now. what pity. | shoul'
nc have observed more closely. But | will max
" " it up another time
" the poor who can least bear its loss, said tn
'n lady sadly. But it is my fault, ! must trac
H., it out Who is your pastor, sir
uo Being informed, the perseverng lady calIe
upon him.
70 20 back little. When the deacon, q
whatever he may be called, saw the gold con
. deposited amidst the copper and small silver
ma on the plate as he was passing around tn
i, meeting, he was reoiced and he was ais
L. treasurer, he took the amount home and pla'
ed it in the fund, The ministers to th1
,r- church are supported altogether by voluntar
Ia contributions and the time being come ic
bo paving the allowance to their pastor 1t wa
me counted out and to make change, some nor
ann ev takon from the poor fund-tbe counterte
cir dollar being part of it,
~ The good man received his pittance wii
bo iov. which was shared by his needy wife an
children There was much planning an
orr plotting as to the spending Of the small sun
~. An extravagant hopes from it were brougl
oral into due compass, and every dollar appropr
81 ated in the most absolute necessary manne
mn The father retired to write sermon on u
,,,p bounty of God, and the wife, who-Sas banl
ce or and disburscr, went TO put away the mo-
WIN ey. Then she detected the base coin, Wi
l;of indignation flushing hor checks, she took 1t
the her husband.
in O. he said, it is hard, hard But the Lo
nse win teach us how to do withoutit. He fee
hat the young ravens
eor Do you think it would be wrong to pass
,le husband? | mean at some of those rich d
oGt goods stores l cant very well do witho
;st- my new gown. 1t came to us as good on
,rc- We need not be too particular.
to Oh, wife, was the reply this IS tempt
m ton of Satan Passing counterfeit dollar
on lust the same as telling lie. and setting OF
or folks to tell lies too. Throw 1t into
on fire, that it may deceive no one else, and tc
nm get we ever had it. This is all we can do
aw, The wife discontented and sad, returned
ght her mending of the children's clothes. II
the oldest daughter, girl of twelve, was from
in the kitchen She came to her mother WI
the woeful face, saying
tied Mother dear look here Fathers b
i of linen necl-cloth was hanging on the cha
,ere and baby pulled it off and switched the &C
pap, ner oft into tho fire, 1t was half burned
0, if before could put it out What will fail
do
ling The child was reproved too sharply ior +,
taking more heed, and went crying to