The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-03-22
Changing a $500 Bill.

Looks are deceiiful, as all of Us find, sooner
or later, by bitter experience.
We recollecl an incident which occurred
few years since which illustrates the folly
of trusting 10 appearances, and which will
/ be remembered by many who are well ac-
quainted with one OF The parties, wealthy
/ caule-broker of birmingham, Mass.
I Il tchanced that The broxer-who is unni-
versally known by the cognomen of Uncle
'Vanus-was sitting in The hotel office in
Framiugham with friend, playing game
of checkers, when fashionably dressed
young man stepped up 10 The bar, called
for a cigar, and. having lighted ii, said with
an air oil arrog gauce, TO the bar-keeper;
"You will have 10 trust me for this cigar
as have no change unless" he added,
somewha, bomba sticalIy, "some of you
here can change me a Eve hundred dollar
BILL"
"Well,D said Uncle 'Vanus, looking up
slowly from his checker board, perhaps
eau change bill Tor the young man If ne
wants 10 pay for his cigar"
"You !" said the young man, somewhal
I
dressee old man, and then, with wink to
the byslanders TO call attention 10 the capi-
tai joke he was about to perpeirate, he
continued "You change il Well, since
you are so kind, perhaps you will change
me a couple of them" said be, s'appng
down Two notes of FIVE hundred dollars
each upon the table with considerable
emphasis
"Don't joggle the checker-board," said
Uncle 'Vanus, slowly, as he replaced three
or four pieces that had been joslled from
their squares by the young mans emphatic
action then drs wing huge roll rom the
pocks, Of his we'll worn pantaoons, he
carefully counted out, in notes of all sizes,
colors and denomna lions, the required
SUN, handed them over to the young man
and pocketed the two clean Boston bank
notes of five hundred dollars each that lay
before him, saying, "PTehaPs you would
ike two more of them changed 2"
The young man, with an air OF bravado,
thinking he had stumbled on some drover
/ who had happened to have only one thou
sand dollars in his pocket, crammed the
heap of bills the old gentleman passed TO
him into one pocket, and drew iorih two
other fve hundred dollar notes from anoih-
/ er pocket, with glance OF triumph 10 the
! byslanders, who began 10 gather aronEd,
| and banging them upon the table said
! "Prehaps do won't you change them
old buster !'
! "Don't joggle the checkers" said The old
man, az The draughls danced again upon
their squares, and pIunging his hand into
his other pantalooL's pocket, he hshed up
another apparently Promiscuons heap of
bank notes, which he smoorhed out, and
rapidly counted The required amount, which
abou; used up The supply, and then pushed
them over to The young man, pockeIiag in
return the two large notes.
The tide was evidently against The young
braggadocio. and be felt ii in the halt sup
pressed laughter that was elciied from the
lockers on. A bold coup was necessary 10
regain The ground he had lost, and he al
once decided upon it.
"Prehaps, my old cock, you think thai's
all the money I've got, and prehaps you
may have the rags about you for these Two
beauties, F." said he. as he hired two one
thousand dollar noles out upon toe table,
before the old man.
"Preuy we'll crowed my baniam,r said
the latter, as he keenly scTutdnzed the
notes. 'If you keep on through life you
pear 10 have begun 1t. prehaPs you may
have rags aboul you that you mou't get rid
of SO easiIy.n Then plunging his hand into
a capacious pockel somewhere under his
lefl arm, he drew forth a huge, plethoric
calfskin wallet in which he deposited the
two one thousand dollar notes. aud from
which he handed the omount in orners OF
smaller denominations saying, as he did so
IF you would like few more of those
changed just baud 'em out, for the game is
waiting"
The young man evidently felt that the
game tOas waiting and il began to be appa-
rent 10 him ICho was he game so he hast
lily gathered up The money and prepared 10
leave, when he was stopped by Uncle Van
US, who said
'If you have got change enough, my
friend prehaps you had better pay for that
cigar Any broker in Boston will give you
Boston bills for the pile that you've got IN
yonr pockets for fair commission and,
he continued, with grin, you had better
step into the city and take up the uole you
were senl to pay, instead OF swapping your
money around here among cattle drovers"
The young man Ih.ew down dollar on
the coanler, and vanished amid shout of
laughter from those who had Witnessed this
scene, while Uncle 'Vanus quietly seated