Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-02-15

One evening tnat l TOOK tea with an
intimate friend Of mine, while we were
seated at the table, Mr.. Baker, my
friend 8 husbands, while absently feel.
ing in his vest pocket, found FIVE dollar
note which he had no recollection OF
putting there,
Halloal" be exclaimed, that is no
place for you. should have put you
in my pocket book. Here, wife, don l
you want some ready money! and he
threw the note across the table to her.
" Many thanks, she replied; money
is always acceptable, although | have no
present need of it She folded the
note and put it under the edge of the
tea tray, and then proceeded to pour
out the tea and attend to the wants OF
her guests.
At her right sat Mrs Easton or Aunt
Susan, whom we all knew as an aequain-
tance who, from time to time, spent a
week with Mrs. Baker Her visit was
just at an end, and she was about to
return home that evening. As Mrs.
Baker was pouring out her tea it oc.
Cured to her that she was in her aunt s
debt for certain small matters, and when
she had the opportunity, she pushed the
Aote uuder her plate, saying;
Here, aunty, take this five dollars in
part payment of my debt.
+" Very we'll, she replied, "but the
money does not belong to me. owe
you fifteen dollars, my dear Grace. which
you lent me last Saturday. / had to pay
the taxes on my little house and had not
the ready money, and Grace lent it to
me, exclaimed Aunt Susan.
Grace, an orphan, was cousin to Mrs.
Baker. She aud her brother Frank
boarded With her, aud made very pleas
ant addition to the family circle She
was studying music, and her brother was
clerk in mercantile establishment.
As soon as Aunt Susan received the
note, she handed it to Grace, saying.
/" ! will give you this nov on account,
and the rest as soon as | get it..
"All right, answered Grace, laughing,
"aud since we all seem in the humor to
pay our debts, | will follow suit. Frank,
| owe you something for music you
bought me; here is part Of it; and she
threw the bank note across the table to
her brother, who sat opposite.
We we're all highly amused 10 see how
the note wandered around the room.
This is a wonderful note, said Mr.
Baker, f" only wish somebody owed me
something, and | owed somebody some
thing, so that | could come into the ring.
You car" said Frank. /" owe Mrs
Baker, or you, it's all the same for my
board; herewith pay part of it,
Amid general laughter, Mr., Baker tool
the note, and playfully threw it again t
his wife, saying, Its yours again
Lucy, because what belongs to me be
longs to you. 1t has completed tn,
round, and we have all had the benef
Of il.
"And now it must 90 around again,
replied She gaily. " | liae to see money
circulate; it should never lie idle. Auni
Susan, you take it; now have paid you
ten dollars.
Dear Grace, here is another five dol
lars on my account" said Aunt Susan
handing it to Grace.
"And you, Frank, have received ter
dollars for the music you bought me,
said Grace, handing it to her brother.
And | pay you ten dollars for my
board, continued he, and the note once
more rested in Mr.. Bakers hands The
exchanges were as quick as thought
and we were convulsed with lau gbter.
Was there ever so wonderful an ex
changer exclaimed Grace.
=" It's all nonsense, cried Mr. Baker
Not in the least, answered his wife
It's all quite right
Certainly" said Frank, when the
money belongs to you, you could dispose
of it as you would | have the same
right. II is fair kind Of exchange, al
though very uncommon :"
1t shows the use Of money said
Aunt Susan, " 1t makes the circuit Of
the world, and brings its value to every
one who touches it "
And this note has not finished its
work yet, as will show you, my dear
husband, fyou will give it to me again,
said Mrs Baker.
p" | present you with this five dollar
note, said Mr.. Baker.
Aud give it to you, Aunt Susan
owed you fifteen dollars, and have paid
my debt.
+" You have, my dear friend, without
doubt; and now, dear Grace, pay you
my Indebtedness, with many thanks fol
your assistance "
g | take it with thanks, Aunt Susan,
replied Grace; and now the time hai
come when this wonder working, this in
exhaustibly rich bank note must be
divided, because don't owe Frank five
dollars more. How much have | to pay
yet.
Two dollars and aixty.two cents,
replied Frank.
i" Can you change itY'
Let me see; two thirty eight; yes
there is the change; the spell is broken
Grace, and you aud divide the spoils.
This bank note beats all ever saw
How much has it paid? Let us counl
up said Grace.
Mrs. Baker gave Aunt Susan fifteen
dollars which Aunt Susan gave me-
gave Frank twelve dollars and sixty.twC
cents---Frank gave Mr.. Baker ten dol
lars, altogether ffty-two dollars ant
sixty-two cents.
It's oil nonsense, | tell you" cried
Mr.. Baker, again, you all owe eacf
other what you owed before.
Yoa are deceived, my dear, by the
rapid, unbroken race this little sum has
made; to me it is as clear as daylight,
replied Mrs. Baker
II it is all nonsense, how could the
note which you gave Mrs. Baker, il moth
ing to me or 10 you be divided between
us two2' asked Grace.
Mr.. Baker didn't seem to see it verl
clearly, but the others did, and the,
often relate this little history for tn,
amusement OF their friends.
A Boston man has been fined TO
throwing a cup Of coffee at Christin