Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-01-06
miscellaneous.
THE COUNTERFEIT QUARTER.
4 QUESTION or CONSCIENCE,

There II lay--as bright aud shining as any
Of its brethren, and TO a merely casual obser-
yer, az well entitled to the name It bore.
And yet, it was unmstakably counterfeit, and
an easily discovered one beside. When or
where it was madc-by whom-or for what
purpose, we know not. At the time when
we would first introduce It to our readers, il
was with quantity Of other small change
safely enclosed in the hand Of young man
who, accompanied by friend, spraug lightly
from the steps Of an omnibus aud took his
way toward the business part Of the city.
Nothing more provoking, hc exclaimed.
" than being Obliged 20 change bill in an
omnibus. The driver always grumbles. and
rightly enough too, ior the passengers arc ina
noycl at the detention aud the unfortunate H.
diyiduo who ha, forgotten to supply himself
with a sxpencc runs the risk oi receiving half
dozen bad sixpenccs or shillings, simply be-
cusc he has not brass enough to keep dozen
people waiting while he looks at his change
Aud here is ease in point Just look at
this quarter. As complete counterfeit ~
You often meet with
at j.. indeed" returned the friend
+" Should you know the driver if you met him
again2'
'N Not l. lie is but one among thousand.
Let him 90, will get rid Of IT, No fear OF
my being a loser
I" threw its counterpart into the river
this morning, Harry
And why Push it about. 1t is worth
twenty-five cent. as long as YOU can get it
for it"
d" Possibly, but the question Is, where vii
il stop lu whose hands viii it become
or the orphan.'
these things Take care Of number one in
the first place. Counterfeit money will be
passed"
L" But | will not be the one to pas, it, Take
my advice aud put that quarter where none
will find it,
'' shall certainly rid myself Of it as soop
as possible" was the equiyocal reply, and the
friends parted for the day.
Ten minutes after, the glittering quarter
was with quantity Of other loose change
swept careiessly from the counter of a we'll
known cigar store and safely deposited in the
drawer below, while its previous owner leisure.
~ placed two prime cigars in his ease, and well
satisfied with the exchange proceeded on his
walk II was a matter of too little conse-
qucncc to cause anything more than mo-
mentary feeling Of yexation in the retailer Of
extra fine cigars and best chewing tobacco,
when the trick was dicoyered. 1t was only
to keep it moving and no one need be a loser.
So it was passed of upon the first short-sight-
ed customer, and he in his turn still deemed
it best to keep II moving and in settling am
old account at his tailor's, threw it in with
the odd change. So it passed from one TO
another, until, somewhat the worse for wear,
it was safely lodged in clothing store where
wewill leave it for the present and beg the
reader TO accompany us to another port Of the
great city, an obscure street, it is true, but
where many honest hearts may be found.
In one Of the poorest of the many poor
apartments which formed enc of those build
ings often erected for the accommodation of
the poor, sat respectable looking middle
aged woman, busily plying her needle by the
dim light OF a tallow candle. There was an
air Of neatness in her appearance, and in the
arrangement Of the seauty furniture Of the
room, which showed sense Of propriety not
always found to accompany extreme poverty.
Two little children were quietly sleeping upon
a straw bed in one corner Of the room, and ON
a small cot lay another somewhat older, also
I
sleep, which e,inces mental disturbance, or
bodily suffering.
The mother razed telrluly upon her eldest
born. In happier days, when kind husband
had stood by her side oguard her from liles
ills, Ella had been her darling and her pride
and even now, in want and sorrow, her bright
smile and words of love could cheer the ach-
ing heart and give new strength TO the weary
frame.
" Dear Ella" she murmured. The fever
is on her now; she viii soon awake. Poor
child she needs better care than can give
her"
\ distressing fit of coughing now awaken.
ed the little sufferer.
" Dear mamma she whispered as soon as
she could regain her breath, do lay aside
your work for tonight You have done
enough and you are tired. Lie down by me
aud rest
IS Not yet, dearest. It is still early. You
know | must finish this work tomorrow"
4" Oh, how wish could help you. Did
| not begin to sew quite neatly before | was
in p"
." You did, darling, and you will again be-
fore many weeks, ! hope But do not talk,
for it brings on that bad cough Try TO sleep
again.
81 will, mamma, but first give me water.
My mouth is so parched.'
The mother held the cool water to her lips.
She drank little, and then with a quiet
" thank you" lay back upon her pillow, but
there was still wishful look upon her coun-
tenance, and her mother said, tenderly:
3" Is there any thing else can do for you,
Ella ?"
No, mamma. | was only thinking of th,
nice lemonade that father made for me one
when / was sick with the measles. 1t WI
very foolish of me to think Of it," she col
tinued as she heard an involuntary sigh frol
her mother, but the water does not tast
good, now | am sick
Again she slept, and the wearied lnothe
resumed her needle Tear after tear stol
down her cheek as she bent over her task
" Poor child p she murmured. " 1t seems
hard that must deny her so triaing luxury,
but alas there are so many absolute necessi-
ties to be provided. Perhaps if work an
hour or two longer, might complete anoth-
er garment before tomorrow evening, and
then | should receive a little more than ex-
pected. | must buy coal if possible, for it is
so hard to make poor Ella comfortable with
the blocks the children pick up Half
bushe will do, and then there must be bread
and candles. promised the children bit of
salt fish, but will coax them to wait, and
will 90 without the tea which hoped to have
bought and the dear child shall have lemon
and little loaf sugar, as she did when she
had the measles. Poor thing how well she
remembered the lemonade which her father
made for her"
Animated with the hope of procuring this
little luxury for her suffering child, the weary
fingers moved still faster, and it was not un-
til busy sounds told the near approach of
morning, that the task was relinquished, and
the almost exhausted woman throw herself