The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-05-22
Select Stern.
THE COUNTERFEIT DOLLiR.

\ richly dressed lady, followed by a
mhil-Scrvant, stopped at markct-stall
one saturday, and bought Il pair Of chick
ems OF the old hnckstcr wnnlan. The
lady offered five dollar bill, which the
hnckstcr could not change. A man
making some purchases at the same time,
offered to obliSc the huckstcr BY taking
the bill and giving her five gold dollars
Tor 1t. lie gave them to her, and she
returned the just change to the lady,
The latter had not walked square
before ste discovered that one OF the
gold coins was counterfeit. She took it
back to the market woman, WHO insisted
upon her taking Il good dollar instead,
adding 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 AFTER
wards she passed the stall again, and
stopped to ask if the woman had yet seen
the man who had given her the counter
felt dollar.
CLAWS, no, honey was the reply,
81 wasn't going to let you keep it, be
inc as you are my best customer; but |
just passed it the very next time had
to make change, and no fuss. Never
YOU mind, honey, the woman us | gave
it to served me the very same trick last
week. | was glad 10 get chance to
pay her Off"
"I am sorry that it is going any fur
thcr,' said the lady. " cane here on
purpose to get it and destroy it.
thought | could better afford to lose it
than many another. Now Shall always
be sorry | did not do my duty when l
had it in my powcr.'
Laws, then, wish Id kept it, for
Peg BY, who Gin it to, will likely pass
it off ON some poor body, and it does
seem fair that the big-bugs should lose
what must be lost anyhow. will sec
if Peg has got it yet, you're willing to
wait Bit"
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 higbugs, she
gave it to mddlc-a@cl man, whose
fingers were so cold that he was less
particular i'll examining his change than
usual. Arriving at home, he found the
dollar bad, but could not remember at
which stall he received it: 50, in great
Indignation at the dishonesty Of those
huckstcrs, he made 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 every Sunday for
contributions. Yet he generally put
something into it, because folks eyes
were upon him. The next Sunday, when
it came round, he maliciously put there
in the counterfeit dollar. "Therc,"
Thought he, " you are welcome to that :"
lie did not blush, or look, or feel
ashamed. Observers would never know
the cheat. However, when the preacher
read the Bible lesson about Annanias
and Sapphira, he had to comfort himself
with the remembrance that the age for
miracles is past.
That afternoon lady called upon him
and complained that Il counterfeit dollar
which she had given to such huckstcr,
had been transferred to another, who had
given it to him. She had come to re-
deem that dollar, as her Coincidence
troubled her about it, and she supposed
it was still III his possession Of course.
The avaricous man always took care
of his reputation. lie protested that
the market woman must be 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 hcsi-
tatcd, and was inclined to urge the mat
ter, when the unucky wife said to her
husband
Gcorgc, you put gold dollar on the
poor plate. That must be it,"
Shame and anger sufIuscd his face ;
but he said pla,sibly, " Oh, perhaps so !.
] did not think of that Now what a
pity l should have observed more
closely. But | will make it up another
time"
q feared it would be so. 1t has
gone to the poor, who can least bear its
loss" said the lady, sadly. But it is
my fault, and must trace it out. Who
is your pastor, sir -