The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-03-12
TWO GREENBACKS.
By O, g, ADAMS.

BYO. 9. ADAMS.
One led useless life, and was guilty
of enormous sins in the way of omission
The other passed through an honorable
be sure, greenbacks are not endowed with
life and free will; yet how people bow to
them, and strive to get them, and submit
to their power!
The two particular greenbacks the adj
ventures Of which it is the purpose OF
this story to relate were each of the de.
nomination of $40. One was a bright
new one. and was one of thick pile that
Law in the desk of a fat old fraud in the
shape of wealthy citizen, whose small
eyes sparkled complacently as he contem.
plated his hoard, and whose false tongue
pleaded poverty in reply to requests for
the payment of honest debts. That green
backs life was very monotonous one.
If it had had tongue to speak it would
have lifted up its voice in loud protest
at being penned up in such lonely
place, and begged to be allowed to see
something of the world instead of being
doomed to the dreary, useless life it was
leading.
Greenback No. was creature of more
fOrtuitous circumstances. 1t was not SO
crisp and clean as the one that was kept
in confinement, but its scars were honora.
BILE ones, won in a life of activity and hard
service We first behold it passing over
the black-walnut desk of a large manu-.
featuring establishment into the hands OF
sn honest-looking man with soiled clothes
and dustbegrimed face. For conven.
fence sake we will give the man q name
l. T,,1~. u
that is matter of little consequence as
regards the adventures of his greenback.
The first thing he did was to call at Sket-
ties grocery on his way home and pay
his weeks bill. This amounted to three
dollars and forty cents, and handing over
his ten.dollar greenback he received six
dollars and sixty cents in change. Further
along he stopped at the meat market and
settled up, paying out two dollars and ten
cents, having then remaining four dol
lars and fifty cents. With these two debts
off his mind he went home and sat
down to a good supper which one of the
best of wives had prepared for him.
Lucy, did old Garland saw that wood
THIS afternoon?" he asked.
"1es," was his wife's reply.
"Then I'll go around and pay him
after supper"
II: is so cold and stormy tonight
wouldn't 90 out. He can probably just as
well wait until some time when you
happen to see him."
mo" was Luke's reply. "He has
earned the money and may want it. 1t
~>rld.b be too bad to keep it from him.
All h, has comes from little jobs like this,
you know"
And after the meal was finished Luke
made his way through a driving snow
straight to the home of old Garland.
"Good evening, Mr.. Garland. (
thought would step around and pay
You for saving that wood. It's dollar,
I believe"
THANK We sir, thank ye," exclaimed
old Garland, while his wife looked up
which she was darning. "Yes, sir, that's
right. Much obleeged!"
Mot at all. 1t belongs to YOU"
"Yes, yes. You're right. But it amt
all of them as looks at it in that way"
is that sou"
"Yes; there's lots of little debts stand
in out that can't collect; and there's
Squire Clinch, in particular, as had ten
cord of wood in his yard, which I took
the sawin' of. I jest finished the job
yesterday, and of course asked for my
pay. But he allowed that he'd been doin'
me a great favor in givin' me such big
job, and said I'd have to wait a week or
two, as he was hard up"
esquire Clirch too hard up to pay for
his wood-sawing! That sounds like a
joke"
"Tain't much of joke for me, for I
need the money. had to borrow three
dollars of John Brady the other day to
buy some coal with, and he ought to be
paid. But I had only enough to get q
little -four with tonight, and was won.
derin' how I'd put John off. Howsum-
ever, I'll give him this dollar, and per-
haps he will wait for the rest. was
going to get pair Of new boots, too.
These old things let most too much cold
in when q man stands still all day sawin'
wood. But I'll have to wait till Squire
Clinch isn't so hard up!"
esquire Clinch doesn't act on the right
principle" said Luke, turning to go. II
hope he will pay you before long. Good
night"
"Good night, and many thanks to you u
On his way home Luke saw light
across the way in the village printing
office. He crossed the street and entered
"Good evening, Mr.. Quill" he said
"my time for your paper is just out, be
lieve. and l wish to pay for another 81,
months ahead"
"Ah, thank you, Luke; I wish all my
subscribers acted on your plan"
Don't they" asked Luke.
No, indeed. You would be surprised
If should mention the names of some O
our most wealthy men who owe for from
two to five years back"
"Well, l hope that won't ever be said
of me. The rich ones, I suppose, think
such small sums make no difference"
"There's where they are mistaken" re
piled Mr.. Quill. "The life of trade is in
these small sums. And poor mans dol
lar is worth more than q rich mans prom
Use, any time; for material and labor can
not be obtained without money"
Before returning home Luke bough
some delicacies for . Sunday dinner, I
weekly literary paper and his wife's re
ligious magazine. Besides, he gave ter
cents to little beggar girl, who held on
hand blue with cold from under thu
shreds of tattered shawl. When b,
finally reached home his pocketbook fel
considerably lighter, but his conscience