Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-10
The sham COunterfeiter.


Il
need to take them to an honest, hard-working
old fellow, Jacob Carnes by name, who, like
most cobblers | have met with, was what is
called long-headed fellow. Jacob was
good politician, and could he have had the
directing the affairs of the nation, do not
hesitate to say that we should never have
groaned under an income tax. A stern dis
ciple of Joseph Hume, my old friend Jacob
would have the most rigid economy in national
expenditure. Every budget the Chancellor
of the Exchecquer brought out cost him
many groans and sleepless nights; and when
his model statesman, Joseph Hume, died,
Jacob verify believed that England would
speedily 20 to the dogs.
But Jacob was jovial fellow withal, though
somewhat addicted to grumbling. He had
merry twinkle in his eye, and could tell many
a good story, the fun of which he seemed to
relish most heartily. have spent many plea
SAINT hours in Jacobs little shop. where there
was but little room for company; my seat was
on the window-sill, and there | loved to sit
and listen to old Jacobs eloquent denuncia-
tions of extravagant expenditure, and trades
against the suplneness of professed refomers
One evening when 1 called upon Jacob to
fetch away pair of boots had given him to
heel, found him very gloomy the hammer
going as usual, but without the accom-
paniment of whistle or song. On a little
bench opposite to where he sat at his work, /
observed half-crown living.
Good evening, friend Jacob; whats the
news?"
Good news, / think YOU said; bad enough
for me, can tell you
"Why, Jacob, what's the troube?'
There" said he, picking up the half-crown
and tossing it to me, ''look at that and tell me
what you think of it."
sit is a bad onel" | exclaimed.
"A bad one! You think so, do you? Well,
so do l."
PRAY, where do you get it?'
Took it from customer. Heeling pair
of boots, one shilling, change elghteen-pence.' y
somebody you know, L SUPPOSE"
NO a confounded foreigner If | had my
will, I'd send 'em all out of the country, back
to where they came FROM"
Jacob, you would not be so illiberal I'm
sure; why you're a foreigner yourself-at
least, YOUR grandfather was"
.sAh, well; he was a respectable man; he
was no smasher, going about robbing honest,
hard-working men,"
$50 this smasher was a foreigner, was he =!
Do YOU think YOU would know him again il
you were to see him?"
'Sure | would. III just describe him to
you. Tall about your height; fair hair, red
whiskers, beard, and mOustache! blue eyes
stoops in his walk: scar an inch long on his
left cheek; lost joint off the forefnger of hi:
left hand; hands very dirty, stained probably
dress loose brown paletot, grey waistcoat and
trousers, wide-awake hat"
We'll, really, Jacob, must give you credit
for being close observer. am pretty sure
| should recognize the gentleman If | were tc
meet him."
Il hope if YOU do meet him, YOU will hold
him till / come
was sorry for Jacob. Halfa-crown may
appear an Insignificant sum to some people
but it the price of half days hard WORK
to Jacob. But had cot the fellows portrai
in my minds eye-thanks to Jacobs descrip
ton-and had some hope | might meet witt
him.
a few days subsequent to Jacobs ill-luck
| was, early one evening, passing througl
Aldgate, when stepped into coffee house tt
obtain some refreshment. | was great,
fatigued, having had no rest for two night
previously; and while perusing the evenin;
paper, after partaking of my chop and cup o
tea, incontinently dozed off TO sleep.
W ME asleep udt d uTSdll. U
Jacobs counterfeit. | thought saw grouI
of people men and women in great agitation
standing in circle in the open street, wit
their palms extended, and in each silve
coin. Suddenly they turned their heads, an
all looked in the same direction. My eve
followed theirs, and saw man whom l I'm
mediately recognized to be the man whor
Jacob had described so minutely to me. II
ran; the crowd all joined in pursuit. | a
tempted TO run too; but, in making the effol
to do 50, / dropped my newspaper and
awoke
| rubbed my ewes, felt very confused
looked round tor the smasher, but recognizin
where | was, | closed my eyes again an
dropped asleep.
Again l dreamed dream. This time
thought | was in the coffee house reading
newspaper; 1t was nearly dusk. Presently
seemed that, in the gloomy shadow OF th
box within which was seated, man slide
up to me. and laid his hand on my wrist; III
contact of his heavy clammy hand on n.iI
gave me a cold chill. and l shuddered. Pu
ting his mouth to my ear. he whispere
hoarsely:
DO you want to buy any queer sotts'
''Queer soft" said /, whats that?"
He laughed ironically, showing hideor
mouihfnl of big teeth.
lyon call vourSelf a detac,;ve and nret1 y