The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-12-26
A Half Dollar and its Lessons.


Half Dollar and its Lessons.
One day Sullie Gaines and his little
sister were feeling quite grand. for their
mamma had given them permission to
go to market and buy some veal outlets
and peas for dinner she gave them
money for this, and a penny each to
spend as they chose. They were specu-
lating, as most little folks would do
under similar circumstances, what they
would buy with their pennies, and wish
ing they had more they knew by expe-
rlence that penny does not go very far.
OF course, Sullie would like to buy a
whole regiment of wooden soldiers,
hobby-horses and drums, and Pet an
army of dolls of all sizes, sets of dishes,
etc. AS she was going over her list, she
stopped suddenly and picked up some
thing on the walk, exclaiming, "Oh,
Sullie, see isn't this real money? It's
got a green back.
eyes, indeed" said her brother, ex-
aiming it carefully; 80 and make
fifty. Gents spells cents yes, its
fifty cents. We can have it for our own,
cause we found it. Now we can buy
lots o things, " he said, not having much
idea of money but fifty cents sounded
large. 80 they walked along with their
two heads close together, planning how
they would use the precious half dollar
They had just concluded it was best to
take it home and tell mamma about it.
which was right, when they heard a
loud, angry voice behind them, saving
III teach yer ter lose money this ere
n NJ
yer see | tell yer to find it; find it,
say. Whack whack went a stick on
the thinly covered shoulders of little
boy no larger than Sullie. The woman
looked dreadfully. so heated and so
angry. Sullie and Pet, half frightened,
backed up close to friendly fence to
let them pass.
"Ill skin you alive if you cont find
it., continued the angry woman. 81
worked hard blessed half day for that.
yer lazy hound.
The boy was trying to stammer some
thing about he didn't mean TO-" but
whack ! whack went the merciless
whip, from the pitiless hand, while the
boy was so blinded with tears, and
choked with sobs, he could not have
seen fifty gold dollars had they been
strewn before him. He and his mother
had gone nearly half block before our
little pair recovered themselves enough
to move on, then Sullie exclaimed, ooh,
Pet, l didn't think of it before, maybe
it's the very money we found" opening
his hand to look at it,
What shall we do she's a dreadful
woman she'd say twas hers anyway if
we ask her then if 'twasn't hers, 'twould
be too bad for her to take it we want it
so much, too, said Pet, her toy visions
tieetlng away ut the prospect of losing
the money.
II wouldn't want it if twas hers
let's run and ask her anyway. guess
that's what mamma d like us to do ;
then just hear that" Whack whack !
went the whip again.
That decided the children, and Pet
said as they ran, "Maybe she'll stop
whipping the poor boy if we give it to
her. They called loudly to the woman,
but she was too angry to hear or heed,
until Sullie touched her arm and asked,
SIS this yours ?" He held the money
out; she snatched it quickly, with,
"Where'd you find it -
ON the walk, tween Washington
and Grove streets" answered our hero,
bravely.
Yes" said the boy CHATS where
thought it blowed out o. my basket"
No thanks TO yer tbs found, the
woman said, and without even thanking
Sullie, she turned and walked rapidly
away. The boy dropped upon the walk,
rested his head upon his knees, trem-
bling with pain.
"Poor boy" said Pet, sympathiz-
ingly, "are you dreadfully hurt? Why,
your shirts all torn, and your backs
awful red. Oh dear, how it must hurt. y
ooh, it doesn't hurt so drefe. I'm
used to it. / gets nothing else from
mornin till night where she is, the
boy said, rubbing his neck and arms
where the cruel blows had taken off the
skin.
"Who is she-that woman, mean?
asked Sullie.
why, she's my mother; but she
won't be long. l mean to run away
she'll never see me gin, the longest day
she lives.
"Poor boy you may have my penny,
said Pet.
"And mine," said Sullie, dropping il
in the thin, starved hand
"Thank We, thank ye; I'll buy Q
couple of rolls with 'em. | haven't had
anything to eat to-day. Tn glad she's
got her half dollar, or IL never git q
bit o. bread from her GIN
Sullie and Pet walked on in silence q
few minutes then Sullie said:
"I'm glad we took her the money
cause I've found out two things"
What are they p asked Pet, wonder
ingly. ,.--
and how good papa and mamma are is