Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-06-25
The Counterfeit Dollar



day, and bonght a pair Of chickens of the old
huckSter woman. The lady offered a five dol
lar bill which the huckster could not change
A man making some purchase at the same time
offered 10 oblige the huckster by taking the
bill, and giving five dollars for it. lie gave
them to her, and she returned 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 it back to the market
woman, who insisted upon her taking good
dollar instead, saying that she would see the
man who had given her bad one, the next
time he passed aud make him take it back.
Quite willing not to lose the dollar, tne lady
consented. few days afterwards she passed
the stall again, and stopped to ask if the w0-
man had yet seen the man who had given her
the counterfeit dollar.
"Laws, no honey" was the reply. wasn't
going to let you keep it, being as you are my
best customer but just passed it off, the
very next time had to make change, and no
fuss Never you mind honey, the woman as
gave ii TO, served me the same trick last
week. ] was glad to get chance to pay her
off,"
clam very sorry it is going any further"
said tho lady. 81 came here on purpose to
get it and destroy it. l thought could better
afford TO lose it that many another. Now |
shall always be sorry did not do my duty
when had it in my power.''
CLAWS, then, wish I'D kept it, for Peg
Blye, who gin it too, will likely pass il OF ON
some poor bodyi and it does seem AZ tss sst thaaSe
how. will just see ii Peg has got it yeIEi
you're willing to wait bit.'
No Peg had not got i'll She would have
scorned to keep it so long. But chOOng her
victim with some discretion, among thoSe she
called the big-bugs, she gave it to u rich, mid
die Dpnl man NvhnaA linnprs were cold. thai
he was less particular in examining his change
than usual. Arriving at nome, lie found the
dollar bad, but could not remember at wha
stall he had received it.,--so in great indigna-
ton at the dishonesty of these hucksters, ht
had to make up his mind IS pocket his loss.
He went TO church regularlyt-Or rather to
Methodist meeting-but OF all things he ha
ted poor plate, which was passed around 1ol
contributions every Sunday. Yet lie generally
put something into it, because folks eyes
were upon him. The next Sunday when j
came round he maliciously put therein The
counterfeit dollar. &c There" thought he, "yot
are welcome 10 that 2''
lie did not blush, or look or feel ashamed
Observers would never know the cheat. How
| ever, when the preacher read in the Bible
lesson about Ananias and Sapphira, he had Il
comfort himself with the remembrance that thu
age for miracles is past.
That afternoon, lady called upon him an
complained that counterfeit dollar, which sh
had given TO such a huckster, had been trans
terrcd to another, who had given tito him. Sh
eak come to redeem that dollar, as her con
science troubled her about it, and she SUP
| posed it was still in his possession OF course
The avaricious man always took great car
| oil his reputation. lie protested that the maj
ket-woman must have been mistaken, as b
could show her every gold dollar in the house
and they were all good. She must have give
| it to some other man.
The lady was so sHre, that she hestated, an
was inclined to urge the matter, when tho Ill
lncky wife said to her husband -
| GO George, you put gold dollar on the poo
plate. That must have been it,"
Shame and anger suiiused his face but Ii
said plausibly :-''Oh, perhaps so did Mt
think of that Now, what a pity shoul
have observed more closely. But will max
it up another time.'
81 feart d it would beso. 1t has gone to til
poor, who can least bear its loss,'' said tho Il
dy sadly. "But il is my fault, and l mu.
trace 1t out. WHO is your pastor, sirl''
Being informed, the persevering lady calle
upon him.
| To go back little. When the deacon,
whatever he may havO been called, saw I'll
little gold coin deposited amidst the copp,
and small silver on tho plate he was passin
around the meeting, he was rejoiced and
he was also treasurer, he took the amour
home and placed it in the fund. The mini
ters to that church are supported altogetht
by voluntary contributions, and the time b.
ing come for paying the allowance to the
pastor, it was counted out, and TO make chanl
some money taken from the poor fund-th
counterfeit dollar being part of it.
The good man received his pittance wi
JOY, which was shared by his needy wife al
their ninc children. There was much plauil
/, | "a g IN ihn
sum. All extravagant hopes from it we
brought into due compass, and every doll
appropriated in the most absolutely necessaI
manner. The iather retired to write a serm,
/, upon the bounty of God, and the wife. wi
was banker and disburser, went to put aw,
the money. Then she detected the base col
WIN indignant flushing cheeks she took it
8 her husband.
+ so" he said, &c it is hard, hard But 1
: Lord will teach us how to do without it.
= feeds the young ravens.''
DO you think it would he wrong to pass
{ husband l mean at some Of those rich dI
: goods stores. l can't very well do without |
,, new gown We are so poor Others won
ID mol miss u. IL came TO us ms good one. v
O. need not be particuar.''
" U, wife, was the reply, " this is ten
tatlsn OF Satan. Passing a counterfeit dol
$ is just the same as telling lie, and setti
- other folks to tell lies, too. Throw it into I
Is fire, that it may deceive and disappoint no q
else, and forget we ever had it. Thatis is all
can do.''
4 The wife, discontented and sad, returned
., her work of mending the children's clothes.
~ ~ Her eldest daughter, girl of II, was ironi
b l., the kitchen. She came in with woful ia
o. saying:
'sMother, 's dear, look here | Fathers b
q linen neck-cloth was hanging on the chair, .
of baby pulled it off and switched the corner