Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-10-10

THE COUNTERFEIT DOLLAR.

THE COUNTERFEIT DOLLAR.
A richly dressed lady, followed by man-ser-
want, stopped at a market stall one Saturday,
and bought pair Of chickens of the old huck
ster woman. The lady offered FIVE dollar bill
which the huckster could not change. A man
making some purchases at the same time, Offered
to obge the huckster by taking the bill, and
giving FIVE gold dollars for it. He gave them
to her, and she returned the just change to the
lady
The latter had not walked a square before she
discovered that one OF the gold coins was coun-
terfeit She took it back to the market woman,
who insisted on her taking good dollar instead,
saving that she would see the man who had Civ
en- her the bad one, the next time he passed,
and make him take it back.
Quite wiling 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. " | wasn't
going to let you keep it, being as you are my
best customer but just passed it the very rext
time had 10 make change, and no fuss Never
you mind, honey, the woman as | gave it to,
served me the very same trick, last week. was
glad to get chance to pay her off,
:" am very sorry it is going any further said
the lady. O. came here On purpose TO get it.
and destroy it. thought could better afford
10 lose it than many another. Now ! shall al
ways be sorry did not do my duty when | had
ii in my power
Laws, then, wish I'd kept it, for Peg Bly,,
who gin it to, will likely pass it off on some
poor body AMI it does seem fair that the big
bugs should lose, what must be lost, anyhow
will &c pa, has Al vo,t'tp will
ing 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 the big-bugs, she gave 1t to middle-aged
man, whose fingers were so cold that he was less
particular in examining his change than usual
Arriving at home, he found the dollar bad, but
could not remember at what stall he had receiv-
ed it so in great indignation at The dishonesty
of those hucksters, he had to make up his mind
to pocket his loss.
He went to church regularly---or rather, TO
Methodist meeling-bui Of all things, he hated
the poor-pate which was passed around for con-
tributions every Sunday. Yet he generally put
something into it, because folks eyes were upon
him. The next Sunday when it came round, he
malicously put therein the counterfeit dollar
"There " thought he, lyon are welcome TO that" !"
lie ulu moi Dluelf, OF lOOk, OF Ittl dsndllleu.
Observers would never know the cheat. Ho "
ever, when the preacher read in the Bible-les-
son about Ananas and Sapphira, he had 10 com
fort himself with the remembrance that the age
for mi aces is past.
That afternoon a lady called upon him, and
complained that a counterfeit dollar. which she
had gwen 10 such huckster had been trans
ferrcd TO another, who had given 1t to him. She
had come redeem that dollar, as her conscience
troubled her about it, and she supposed il was
still in his possession, OF course
Tue avaricous man always took great care of
his reputation. He protested that the market
woman must have been mistaken, as he could
show her every gold dollar in the house, and
they were all good. She must have given it to
some other man.
The lady was so sure, that she hestatcd, and
was inclined TO urge the matter, when the un-
lucky wife said to her husband:
George, you put gold dollar on the poor
plate. That must have been it,"
Shame and anger sutiused his face; but he
said plausiby, Oh, perhaps so did not think
of that Now what pity | should have OBJ
served more closely. But will makeil up an
other time"
81 feared it would be so. 1t has gone to the
poor, who can least bear its 'ss," said the lady
sadly. " But it is my fault and must trace it
out. Who is your pastor, sir 7"
Being informed, the perseycring lady called
upon him.
To 90 back little. When the deacon, or
whatever lie may be called, saw the little gold
coin dep ,sited amidst the copper and small sill
yer, on the plate, he was passing around the meet
in :, he was rejoiced and as he was also treas
urer he took the amount home and placed it in
the fund. The ministers to that church are sup
ported altogether by voluntary contributions and
the time being come for paying the allowance to
their pastor, il was counted out, and TO make
change, some money from the poor lund-the
counterfeit dollar being part of il.
'rhe good man received his pitlance with joy,
which was shared by his needy wife, and their
nine children. There was much planning and
plotting as to the spending o. the small sum. All
extravagant hopes from il were brought into due
compass, and every dollar appropriated in the
most absolutely necessary manner. The father
retired TO write a sermon upon the bounty of
God, and the wife who was banker and disburs-
er, went to put away the money Then she de-
tected the base coin. With indignant flushing
cheeks, she took it TO her husband.
"Oh > he said, Z" it is hard, hard But the
Lord will teach us how TO do without it. He
feeds the young ravens"
Do YOU think it would he wrong to pass il,
husband | mean at some OF those rich dry
goods stores. | can't do very we'll without my
gown. We are so poor Others would not
miss it. 1t came to US as good one. We need
not be too particular"
"Oh, wife," was the reply, " this is tempta-
tion of Satan. Passing a counterfeit dollar is
Just the same as telling lie, and setting other
, folks to tell lies. too. Throw it into the fire
| that it may deceive and disappoint no one else
and forget we ever had it. That is all that we
can do"
The wife, discontinued and sad, returned tc
/ her work of mending the children's clothes Hel
eldest daughter, girl Of twelve, was ironing il
the kitchen. She came 10 with a woeful face,
saying:
>" mother, dear, look here Fathers best lin
en- neck.cloth was hanging on the chair, and ba
by pulled il off anil switched the corner of it in