Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-01-23
Ghildren's department.
THE COUNTERFEIT SHILLING.

THE COUNTERFEIT SHILLING.
A boy named Charles Harris, in country
town in England, had a counterfeit shilling
given to him, one day, by his cousin, Thomas
Downs, who was clerk in store. 1t looked
so much like good shilling, that hardly one
person in hundred would have noticed that
it was not good one. In coming home from
school the next day, Charles showed the shil-
ling to some of his companions. They asked
him why he didn't pass it? He said he
would not do that, because it was not right.
The boys laughed at this, and asked him to
come to old Dame Jones little shop, at the
corner of the lane, and spend the shilling in
nuts and candy. "You may be sure the
Dame will never notice it," said Harry Nor
gan, the biggest boy in the company, "for she
can't see very we'll, and then you can treat us
all round, and that will be jolly.'
Charles conscience told him that this
would be very wrong, and he said he couldn't
do it. But the boys all got round him, and
pressed him so much, that at last he yielded
and did it. His conscience troubled him
dreadfully when he came to the shop. He
hesitated; but the boys urged him on, and
he went in and passed off the counterfeit shil-
ling for good one. The boys thought it was
nice fun. They enjoyed the treat very much.
But Charles didn't enjoy it at all. He could
think of nothing but the mean, wicked thing
he had done. When he went to bed at night
he couldn't sleep. 1t seemed as if there was
thorn in his pillow that drove sleep away.
The next day, when he went to school,
Harry Morgan met him and asked him to do
his sums for him. II can't stop now" said
Charley. "But you've got to" cried Harry,
eff you don't III tell Of your passing coun-
terfeit money, and then you'll have to 60 to
jail" Poor Charley was terribly frightened.
How he wished he had never seen that coun-
terfeit shilling. He felt that it was very hard
for the boys who had urged him to do wrong,
now to turn round on him in this way. But
he saw how entirely he was in their power.
During recess there was a quarrel among
the boys. One of them who felt angry with
Charley said, "Pooh fellow that will cheat
poor old woman will do anything" This
was almost more than Charley could bear,
but what was he to do.
On his way home in the afternoon, he sud.
denly met his cousin Thomas Downs, who
gave him the shilling. "Hallo, Charley"
said Thomas, "let's see that shilling | gave
you"
Haven't got it," said Charley, turning
quickly away.
"stop; did you lose it, or give it away?"
"No," said Charley.
"Well, where is it You haven't spent it,
have you?"
1t was on the end of his tongue to say
"No." But Charley never lied, and great as
the temptation was, he wouldn't do it now.
"Ohp he cried, almost choked with grief and
shame, "what did you give me that counter
felt piece for? 1t has been dreadful tempta-
ton to me. I have passed it and what shall
I do ?" and the poor boy looked perfectly
wretched. His cousin was surprised and sorry.
He took him quietly by the hand, and walked
down lane where they could talk by them
selves Charley told his cousin all about it,
and asked what he was to do. Thomas told
him there was but one thing for him to do,
and that was to carry real shilling to the
old woman in the place of the counterfeit,
and own what he had DONE
"Couldn't 90 and put it under the shop
door," said Charley, cit will be just the same;
she'll get it, and not lose by the counter
felt"
"Just as we'll for her." said his cousin, "but
not as we'll for you, Charley. You know you
have done wrong If you are really sorry,
make clean work of it. Now, go like man
be honest about it. You have injured your
conscience by doing wrong; you must heal it
by doing right. Here, take this shilling,
give it you for my share in your trouble. 1t
will teach me lesson about putting tempta-
ton in the way of my friends. Go down to
the woman; own it all; ask her to forgive
you, and give her the good shilling in place
of the bad one"
Charley did so. When he got the counter
felt shilling he went down to the shore and
threw it into the sea. Then he felt great
load lifted off from him, and said to himself,
"Now, I'm free again. am not afraid Of
anybody now."
And this shows us how we are to get relief
from the trouble, when we have injured our
consciences by doing wrong to those about
us.-Erchange.