Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-11-16
THE pINE-TREE sHILLINGs.

was new line OF business Ior, IN the
early days of the colony, the current coin-
age consisted of gold and silver money
of England, Portugal. and Spain. These
coins being scarce, the people were often
forced to barter their commodities instead
of selling them. For instance. if man
wanted to buy coat, he perhaps chang.
ed bears skin for it If he wished for
barrel of molasses, he might purchase
it with pile of pine boards.
Musket-bullets were used instead of
farthings. The Indians had a sort of
money called wampum, which was made
of clam shells; and this strange sort of
specie was likewise taken. in payment of
i-.i-is- Il 1'.,s.I,sh sAa4lars RanLhills
had never been heard Of. There was not
money enough of any kind, in many
parts of the country to pay the salaries
of the ministers, so that they sometimes
had to take quintals of fish, bushels Of
CoTu, VI Gurus VI WOou, tnstcdu Vi siiNef
or gold.
As the people grew more numerous,
and their trade one with another increas.
ed. the want of current money was still
more sensibly felt. To supply the de-
mand. the general court passed a law for
establishing coinage OF shillings. SIX
pences, and threepences. Captain John
Hull was appointed to manufacture this
money, and was to have about one shil-
ling out of every twenty to pay him for
the trouble of making them.
Hereupon all the old silver in the col
ony was handed over to Captain John
Hull. The battered silver cans and tan
kards, suppose, silver buckles, broken
spoons, silver buttons of worn-out coats.
and sllver-hilts of swords that had fgur-
ed at courts, such curious old articles
were doubtless thrown into the melting
pot together But by far the greater
part of the silver consisted of bullion
from the mines of South America, which
the English buccaneers-who were little
better than pirates-bad, taken from the
Spaniards and brought to Massachu-
sets.
All this old and new silver being melted
down and coined, the result was an i'm
mense amount of splendid shillings, six
pences and threepences. Each had the
date, 1862, on one side, and the fig
ure of o pine-tree on the other. Hence
they were called pine.tree shillings.
And for every twenty shillings that he
coined. you will remember. Captain John
Hull was entitled to put one shilling into
his own pocket
The magistrates soon began to suspect
that the mint-master would have the best
of the bargain. They offered him large
sum of money if he would but give up
that twentieth shilling which he was
constantly dropping into his own pocket.
But Captain Hull declared himself per-
fectly satisfied with the shilling. And
well he might be; for so diligently did
he labor, that in few years, his pockets,
his money bags and strong-box were
overfowing with pine-tree shillings.
When the mint-master had grown very
rich, young man named Samuel Sew
ell, came courting his only daughter.
"Yes. you may take her." said he in his
rough way land you'll find her heavy
burden enough r.
On the wedding day, we may suppose
honest John Hull dressed himself in
plum-colored coat, all the buttons Of
which we're made of pine-tree sbillings.
The buttons of his waistcoat were six
pences. and the knees of his small clothes
were buttoned with silver threepcnces.
The mint-master was pleased with his
new son-in-law. especially as he had
courted Miss Betsey out of pure love.
and had said nothing at all about her
portion. So when the marriage ceremo-
ny was over. Captain Hull whispered a
word to two of his men servants. who
: Immediately went out. and soon return
ed. Juggling in . large pair OF scales.
Daughter Betsey," said the mint mas
ter, ..get into one Of these scales"
"And now" said honest John Hull to
the servants. "bring that box hither."
The box TO which the mint-master
pointed, was huge, square, iron-bound
oxen chest. Captain Hull then took
key from his girdle. unlocked the chest,
and lifted its ponderous lid. Behold
it was full TO the brim Of bright pine
5 tree shillings fresh from the mint. Then
the servants, at Captain Hull's command.
heaped double handfuls ofshillings into
, one side of the scales while Betsey remain.
| ed in the other. Jingle. jingle. went the
. shillings, as handful after handful was
!, thown in. till. plump and pODderous as
! she was, they fairly weighed the young
r lady from the floor.
Q There. son seweII," cried the hon
sst mint master, resuming his seat In
: Grapdfather's chair. stake these shil-
: lings for nay daughters portion. Use
{ her kindly and thank heaven for her.
: It is not every wife that is worth her
!. weight In silver. er."-Hasotlsoy7ae.
4 ...~..~1 ,o