Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-10-23
THE COUNTERFEIT DOLLAR.

THE COUNTERPART UOLLAh.
A rich dressed lady, followed by a mai
servant, stopped at market stall one Sat
urday, and bought . pair Of chickens o
the old huckster woman. The lady offer
ed five dollar bill which the huckste
could not change. A man making som'
purchases at the same time, offered t.
oblige the huckster by taking the bill, ant
giving FIVE gold dollars for it. He gave
them to her, and she returned the JUS
change to the lady. The latter had moi
walked a square before she discovered thai
one Of the gold coins was counterfeit
She took it back to the market woman
who insisted upon her taking gold dollar
instead, saying that she would see the m,u
who had given her the bad one, the next
time he passed, and make him pay it back
Quite willing not to lose the dollar, the Ia
dy 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.
claws, no, honey" was the reply. 81
wasn't going to let you keep it, being as
you are my best customer, but ! just pass
ed it the very next time had to make
change, and no fuss. Never you mind
honey, the woman as l gave it to served
me the very same trick last week. was
glad to get chance to pay her off,"
81 am very sorry it is going any furth,
err" said the lady. ~ came here on pur
pose to get it and destroy it. l thought
could better afford to lose it than many
another. Now shall always be sorry l
did not do my duty when had it in my
power"
claws, then, I wish I'd kept it, for
Peg BY, who I gin it to, will likely pass
it of on some poor body and it does
seem fair that the big-bugs should lose
what must be lost, anyhow. will just
see if Peg has 60, 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, with some discretion, among
those she called ig,bugs, she gave it to a
middlcaged man, whose fingers were SO
cold that he was less particular in exami.
ming his change than usual. Arriving at
homo, he found the dollar bad, but could
not remember at what stall be had receiv-
ed it; so, in great indignation at the dis.
honesty OF tnose nucAsleis, ne nau maue
up his mind to pocket his loss.
He went to church regularly, but Of all
things he hated the poor-plate, which was
passed around for contributions. Yet be
generally put something into it, because
folks eyes we're upon him. The next
Sunday, when it came around, be malici,
ously put therein the counterfeit dollar.
"There," thought be, "you are welcome to
that! !"
He did not blush, or look or feel asham-
ed. Observers would never know the
cheat However, when the preacher read
in the Bible lesson about Ananias and Sa-
phira, he had to comfort himself with the
remembrance that the age for miracles is
past.
That afternoon, lady called upon him,
and complained that a couuterfeit dollar,
which she had given to such buckster,
had been transferred to another, who had
given it 20 him. She bad come to re-
deem that dollar, as her conscience troub.
led her about it, and she supposed it wa,
still in his possession, Of course.
The avaricious man always took great
care Of his reputation. He protested that
the market woman must be mistaken, as
he could show ber every gold dollar in the
house, and they were all good. She must
have given it to some other man. The la.
dy was SO sure that she hesitated, and was
inclined to urge the matter, when the un-
lucky wife said to her husband:
"George, you put gold dollar on the
poor-pla that must be it"
Shame and anger suffused bis face; but
he said, plausibly, "Ob, perhaps so! l
did not think Of that! Now what pity
l should have observed more closely
But l will make it up another time"
81 feared it would be SO. 1t has gone
to the poor, who can least bear its loss,"
said the lady. "But it is my fault, and l
must trace it out. Who is your pastor,
sir ?"
Being informed, the rersevering lady
called upon him.
To 60 back little. When the deacon
saw the little gold coin deposited amidst
the copper and small silver on the plate, be
rejoiced, and, as he was also treasurer, he
took the amount home ard placed it in
the fund. The minister was supported alto
gether by voluntary contributions, and the
time being come for paying the allowance
to their pastor, it was counted out, and to
make change, some money taken from the
L