The Kanzas news., 1857-11-07
From Arthw's Magazine.
The Counterfeit Dollar.

From Arthur's Magazine.
The Counterfeit Dollar.
A richly dressed lady, followed by man
servant, stopped at market stall one Satur-
day, and bought pair of chickens of the
old huckstes woman. The lady offered a
five dollar bill, which the huckster could
not chage. A man making some purchases
at the same time, offered to oblige the huck
ster by taking the bill, and giving five gold
she returned the just change to the lady.
The latter had not walked square be-
fore she had disconered that one of the gold
the market woman, who insisted upon her
taking good dollar instead, saying that she
would see 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 consented. A few days afterwards she
passed the stall again, and stopped to ask
if the woman had yet seen the man who
had given her the counterfeit dollar.
'Laws, no, honey" was the reply. ''I
wasn't going to let goa keep it, being as you
are my best customer; but I passed it the
very next time I had to make change, and
no fuss. Never you mind, honey, the wo-
man as I gave it to served me the very same
trick last week. was glad to get chance
to pay her off,
"I am very sorry it is going any fur
ther," said the lady. Il came here on pur-
pose to get it, and destroy it. I thought l
could better afford to lose it than many an
other. Now shall always be sorry that I
did not do my duty when I had it in my
power"
'.Laws, then, wish I'd kept it, for Peg
Bly,, who I gin it to, will likely pass it of
on some poor body and il does seem fair
that the big bugs should lose what must be
lost anyhow. I viii just see if Peg has
got it yet, if you're willing to wait Bit
No-Peg had not got it She would have
scorned to keep it so long. But choosing
her victim, with some discretion, among
those she called big-bugs. she gave it TO a
middle-aged man, whose fingers were so
cold that he was less particular in examin-
ing his change than usual. Arriving at
home, he found the dollar bad, but could not
remember at what stall he had received it
SO, in great indignity at the dishonesty OF
those hucksters, he had made up his mind
to pocket his loss.
He went to church regularly-or, rather.
to Methodist meeting-but of all things he
hated the poor-plate, which was passed
around every Sunday for contributions. Yet
he generally put something into it, because
folks eyes were upon him. The next Sun
day, when it came around, he maliciously
put therein the counterfeit dollar. ''There, -
thought he. ''you are welcome to that !''
He did not blush, or look, or feel ashamed
Observers would never know the cheat
However, when the preacher read in the
Bible-lesson about Ananias and Sapphira, ht
had to comfort himself with the remembrance,
that the age for miracles is past.
That afternoon lady called upon him
and complained that a counterfeit dollar
which she had given to such a huckster, hac
been transferred to another, who had giver
it to him. She had come to redeem tha
dollar, as her conscience troubled her abou
it, and she supposed it was still in his pos
session, of course.
The avaricious man always took grea
care of his reputation. He protested tha
the market-woman must be mistaken, as b,
could show her every gold dollar in hi'
house, and they were all good. She mus
have given it to some other man.
The lady was so sure that she hesitated
ana was ihcnne0 20 urge the matter, WheT
the unlucky wife said to her husband
George, you put gold dollar sou tn.
poor-plote. That must be it's
Shame and anger suffused his face bu
he said, plausibly, s'Oh, perhaps soi Idis
not think of that Now what a pity
should have observed more closely
But viii make it up another time"
81 feared it would be so. 1t has gone t.
the poor, who can least bear its loss" sait
the lady sadly. ssBut it Is my fault, and
must trace it out. Who is your pastor, sir?'
Being informed, the persevering lad.
called upon him.
To go back little. When the deacon
or whatever he may be called, saw the ittl
gold coin deposited amidst the copper ami
small silver on the plate, he was passin!
around the meeting, he was reioiced, ant
as he was also treasurer, he took the amour
home and placed it in the fund The min
issers to that church are supported alto
gether by voluntary contributions, and th,
time being come for paying the aIlowanc,
to their pastor, it was counted out, and t.
make change. soma money taken from th
poor fnnd-the counterfeit dollar being
part Of H.
The good man received his pittance viii
Joy; which was shared by his needy wifi