The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-08-12
From BaLbou'S Dollar Monthly Ma2oeine
THE HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL.
BY ANsoN B. CLIFFORD

Mr.. John Somers was a merchant, do
ing business in thriving country vii
lage. He bad two clerks in his mploy
both of then faithful and industrious, bu
with some difference iu minor points o
character. Peter White wss twenty -tw,
years of age. the child Of a now Widowed
mother, aud in his choice Of a profession
be had only been governed by the desir,
to yield to his mother and self the sures
means Of honest support. Walter Stur-
gis was of the same age, and equally as
honest, but be paid more attention to out
ward appearance of things, than did hi.
companion. For instance, it CALLED him tc
be obliged to put on bis frock and overalls
and help pack up pork, potatoes. and SO
on; white Peter cared not what be did SO
long as bis master required it, and it wa
honest.
One day, Mr. Somers called the two
young men into his counting and
closed the door after them. His coun-
tenauee looked troubled, aud it was some
moments before be spoke.
Boys be said, at length, 81 have been
doing very foolish thing. | have lent
my name to those l thought my friends,
aud they have ruined me. gave them
accommod alton notes, and they promised
soleunly that these notes should not pass
from their bands save to such Ben as
might accept. OF course | took their
notes in exchange. They have now fall
ed and cleared out, and have left my pa
per in the market to the amount of seven
thousand dollars. | may arise again,
but | must give up my business. Every
thing in the store is attached, aud L am
left utterly powcrless to do business now.
| have looked over your accounts, and |
find that owe you about one hundred
dollars each. Now | have just one hun
dred dollars in money, and the small
piece of land on the hid side just back of
the town house. There are four acres OF
this land, have been offered a hundred
dollars for it repeatedly, by those who
have land ajoiniug. feared this blow,
which has come upon ne, and convey
ed this land to my brother; so now he
can convey to whom be Pleases. Now l
wish you would make your choice. If
could pay you both in money L would
butsss | caunot, one of sou must take the
land. What say your You, Waltsr,
have bceu with me tho longest, and you
shall say first
Walter Stursis hcstated some momens
and thee said:
I'm sure | don't want the land, unless
| could sell it right off,
'Ah, but that won't do, retained Mr..
Somers. If you take the land you must
keep it. We're you to sell it, my credit
ors would say at once you did it for me,
that pocketed the money.
Then | am willing to divide the hun
dred dollars With Peter, for if had the
land should do nothing with it.
'Oh you need not divide the IN oney, for
I can easily raise the hundred dollars on
the land. Ny brother will do that
But imagined that you would prefer the
land, for knew the soil was good though
quite rocky. However, what say you,
Peterl'
why l will take the land, returned
Peter, 'or | will divide equally With Wal
ter-each of US take halt the money and
half land
But what should want with the landl
said Walter. i could not work on it, |
-I-should hardly like to descend from
a clerks ship TO digging and delsing in a
blue froek and eoW-hidc boots
Then it is easily settled rejoiDed Pc.
ter, 'for | should prefer the land
Walter was pleased with this, and be-
fore night be had the hundred-dollar bill
in bis pocket, and Peter had the wsrran-
tee deed of the four acres of land upon
the hillside. Both the young men be-
longed in the village, and had always
lived there. 1t was ouly FIVE miles from
the city, and of course many city fash
ions we're prevalent there. 1t was under
the influence of this fashion that Waltar
Sturgis refused to have anything to do
with the land.
Times were dull, and business was
slack, even though it was early spring
Peter Whites first object. after having
got the deed of bis land, was to hunt
up some kind of work. Had he been
mechanic be might have found some place
but be knew no trade except that of sales
man and bookkeeping. A whole week
be searched in vain for employment. but
at the end of that time be found an old
farmer who wanted hand, though be
could not afford to pay much But Pc
ter finally, ard with the advice of Mr.,
Somers, made an arrangement OF this
kind: &c would work for the old far
mer (Mr. Stephcns) steadily until the
ground was open. and then be should
have half the time to devote upon bis
orn lnnd aud In nnrt naunent for bis