Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-03-12
TWO GREENBACKS.
BY o. 8. ADAMS.


of enormous sins in the way OF omission.
The other passed through an honorable
career of real service and well-doing. TO
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 ad-
ventures of which it is the purpose OF
this story to relate were each OF the de-
nomination of SO. One was bright,
new one. and was one of a thick pile that
Law in the desk of fat old fraud in the
shape of a wealthy citizen, whose small
ewes sparkled complacently as he contem-
Mated 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.
IL il had had tongue to speak 1T 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 1t was
leading.
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 life of activity and hard
service. We first behold it passing over
the black walnut desk of large manu-
featuring establishment into the hands OF
an honestrlooking man with soiled clothes
and dust-begrimed face. For conven-
fence sake we will give the man name
we will call him Luke Preston-though
that is matter Of little consequence as
regards the adventures of his greenback.
N q Al. Ln in pall of
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, paving 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 good supper which one OF the
best of wives had prepared for him.
"Lucy, did old Garland saw that wood
this afternoon ?" he asked.
eyes," was his wife's reply.
"Then I'll go around and pay him
after supper"
II. is so cold and stormy tonight l
wouldn't go out. He can probably just as
well wait until some time when you
happen to see him."
"No," was Luke's reply. He has
earned the money and may want 1t. Ii
would be too bad to keep it from him.
All he has comes from little jobs like this,
you know"
And after the meal was finished Luke
made his way through driving snow
straight to the home of old Garland.
aGood evening, Mr.. Garland.
thought I would step around and pay
you for saving that wood. It's adollar,
believe
"Thank We sir, thank ye," exclaimed
old Garland, while his wife looked up
over her spectacles from a pair OF socks
which she was darning. Yes, sir, that's
right. Much obleegedl"
"Not at all. 1t belongs to you"
Eyes, YES. You're right. But it amt
all Of them as looks at 1t in that way"
is that SOY"
"Yes; there's lots of little debts stand
in GU. that / can't collect; and there's
Squire Clinch, in particular, as had ten
cord of wood in his yard, which | took
the sawin' of. / jest finished the job
yesterday, and of course asked for my
pay. But he allowed that he'd been dom
me great favor in givin' me such big
Job, and said I'd have TO wait week OF
two, as he was hard up"
Esquire Clinch too hard up to pay Tor
his wood-sawing! That sounds Ike a
joke
"'Tain't much of a joke for me, for l
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 had only enough to get
little -four with tonight, and was won,
derin' how I'd put John off. Howsums
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 man stands still all day sawin'
wood. But I'll have to wait till Squire
Clinch isn't SO hard upi"
Squire Clinch doesn't act on the right
principle" said Luke, turning to 60.
hope he will pay you before long. Good
night
Good night and many thanks to you
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 ;