Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-01-15
TWO GREENBACKS.

TWO GREENBACKS.
| One led useless life, and was guilty O
enormous sins in the way of omission
The other passed through an honorabl
career of real service and well-doing. T.
be sure, greenbacks are not endowed wit
life and free-will, yet people bow to them
and submit to their power.
The two particular greenbacks, the ad
ventures of which it is the purpose of thi
story to relate, were each of the denomina
ton Of $40. One was a bright new one
and was one of a thick pile that lay in tn
desk of fat old fraud in the shape of
wealthy citizen, whose small eyes sparklet
complacently as he contemplated his hoard
and whose false tongue pleaded poverty il
reply to requests for the payment ofhones
debts. That greenback's life was yer,
monotoneus one. If it had had tongu'
to speak it would have lifted up it's voice
in loud protest against being penned up il
such lonely place, and beg to be allowed
to see something of the world instead o
being doomed to the dreary useless life i
was leading.
Greenback No. was creature of NOR,
crisp and clean as the one that was KEEP
in confinement. but it's scars were honor
able ones, won in life of activity an(
hard service. We first behold it passing
over the black-walnut desk of a large man
ufacturing establishment into the hands
Of an honest looking man with soilei
clothes and a dust-begrimed face. Fol
convenience sake we will give the man {
name-we will call him Luke Preston
though that is a Imatter Of little conse
quence as regards the adventures of hi!
greenback. The first thing he did was tt
call at Kettles grocery on his way home
and pay his weeks bill, This amounted
to three dollars and forty cents, and hand
ing over the ten-dollar greenback he rece
iyed six dollars and sixty centa in change
Further along he stopped at the>meat mar
ket and settled up, paying out two-dollars
and ten cents, having then remaining fou
dollars and fifty cents. With these tive
debts off his mind he went home and sa
down to a good supper which one of tn,
best of wives had prepared for him.
"Lucv, did old Garland saw that WOO,
this afternoon?" he asked.
eyes," was the wife's reply.
"Then I'll go round and pay him afte
SUPPER
SIT is cold and stormy tonight,
wouldn't go out. He can probably just a
well wait until some time when you hap
pen to see him.
sNo.'' was Luke's reply. "He has earn
ed the money and may want it. 1t woul
be too bad to keep it from him. All h
has comes from little jobs like this, yo
know"
And after the meal was finished LUX
made his way through the driving sno1
straight to the home Of old Garland.
"Good evening, Mr.. Garland. though
I would step around and pay you for saw
ing that wood. It's dollar, I believe"
'Thank ye, sir, thank ye," exclaimed oil
Garland, while his wife looked up over he
spectacles from a pair of socks which sh
was darning. es, sir, that's right. MUG
obleegedP'
ssNot at all. 1t belongs TO you.''
eyes, yes. You're right But it ain't a
of them as looks at il in that way.p
els that SOP"
eyes; there's lots of little debts stan(
ing out that can't collect; and there
Squire Clinch, in particular, as had tie
cord of wood i'll his yard, which I took til
saving of. I jest finished the job yeste1
day, and of course asked for my pay. Blu
he allowed that he'd been doing me grea
favor in giving me such a big job, and sal
I'd have to wait week OF two, as he we
hard up"
esquire Clinch too hard up to pay for HI
wood-sawing. That sounds like Joke. y
"Tain't no joke to me. for l need til
money. I had to borrow three dollars {
John Brady the other day to buy som
coal with, and he ought to be paid. BIZ
[ had only enough to get a little flour wit
tonight, and l was wondering how I'd PIT
John off. Howsumever, I'll give him tn
dollar, and perhaps he will wait for til
rest. was going to get a pair of ne
boots, too. These old things let most to
much cold in when man stands all da
cutting wood. But I'll have to wait ii
Squire Clinch isn't so hard up.'
esquire Clinch doesn't act on the rigl
principle" said Luke, turning to go. g
hope he will pay you before long. Goe
night"
Good night, and many thanks to you.
On his way home Luke saw a light aero:
the way in the village printing office. Fl
crossed the street and entered.
"Good evening, MI. Quill, y he said; ''m
time for your paper is just out, L believ
and I wish to pay for another six month
ahead"
"Ah, thank you, Luke; 1 wish all m
subscribers acted Oh your plan.''
'sDon't they? asked Luke.
"No, indeed. You would be surprise
if should mention the names of some {
our most wealthy men who owe for frol
two to five years back"
! swell, [ hope that won't ever be said {
me. The rich ones, I suppose, think sue
small sums make no difference
"There's where they are mistaken" L,
piled MI. Quill. s'The life of trade is
these small sums. And Door mans do