Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-08-03
Sam 8 Four Bits.

ter of Long Eddy"
Sans Four Bits.
On Christmas Eve. sam hung up his
stocking by the dining-roo chimney,
looked up the Hue to see III dar was any
ting dar 10 stop Santa Claus from comm
down" and then trotted away to the
kitchen garret TO bed. neither he dream
ed OF Santa Claus. and If so, how his im-
agination pictured the little Dutch saint,
1t is impossible TO say; but one thing is
certain, he got up unusually early the neYt
morning. The day had scarcely begun
when Sans father Uncle Henry. and old
Aunt PhiIlis, his mother. were aroused
BY shout of "Chri,'mas glr. pappy,
Christmas cir, nanny. Christmas gi1
| done cotch you bofe," Tten sam hur-
ried on his clothes, and FASTENED over TO
the house 10 examine his stocking
There it was, just as he had left it. ex-
ccpt that it was full instead OF empty.
Full of what!
'I.ord-e-! what big awinge, What's
dis: 'nuddcr awinge. | spec'-no dis yer's
an apple Whoo ies' look ut the candy,
What else in dar?' Sam thought that was
all; but he took the stoc>lng by the toe
anu II. auu ouL uEODDctl "a SILVER
coin.
Money, Wonder how much dis is.
Bout lebenteen dollars, may be-Ts
gwine I" Ak NANNY"
So Sam ran TO show his father and
mother what Santa Clause had brought
him.
"Fo' bits in silber. :" said Aunt Philis.
"Bress my soul, | aint seed no silber be-
70 since reb times. Gimme dat money,
Sam, an let me put it away in de big
chist"
Now this didn't suit Sam at all. He had
seen great many things 80 into de big
chi>t" taat never came out again, and he
was by no means disposed to let his shin
ing "four-bit-piece" meet with such n des
tiny. NO, NANNY said he; please
jus let me keep it. | aint gwine to lose it.
Sides dat chist sits right up by de chimley
an OF Sanity might come down an open it,
an lake his money Oat agln."
Let the chile hab de money, PhilliS."
said Uncle Henry; ef he loses it, 'taint
much. an it ii learn him to be keertul.
Let him keep it,"
SO Sam kept his money. Baron Roths
child never felt as rich as he did. He
would sit about in corners, talking to him
self and lookin. at his 'four bits" II he
went across the yard he would stop every
few steps 10 fecl in his pocket, and see if it
was still inere. Indeed, never before did
iifty cents seem SO important 10 any one
since the time VIXEN
David and Goliath went out fur to fight,
Fur muffin but q sber half-a-doliar-
David up wild a brick, and hit Goliath such
lick,
Da, de people over Jordan heered him hol-
Ter"
Sam enjoyed his "awinge." his apple. hi.
"puckawns." and his candy; but the
charms OF all these-and they had many
paled before the brig ghtness Of the silver.
He was never tired of examining it. lie
wondered whether the bird on one side
was hawk, or buZzard, or q turkey.
He tried TO count the nOtches on the rim,
but, AS he didn't know what came after
five, he was obliged to give up the task in
despair.
When dinner-time came. Aunt Phllis
made Sam a little cake, and she pressed
the coin down on the dough SO as To leave
very beautiful impression. The cake
was baked, and although the mark of the
half-dollar became much distorted In the
cooking, still. if you looked very hard. you
could see what it had been. Sam thought
it a wonderful work Of art He carried 1t
of to the back gallery steps, and sat down
aud ate it; beginning at the edges, and
cdIiuU up W tuC uldiN> aulit hS hoN :"
round piece just the size of the coin, with
the impression on one side. Then he
played with it while, and finished by
eating it. also.
Time now hung heavy en- Sans hands.
He began to think, Or "study,' as he
would have expressed it. about What 10 90
| next
What he did next was to lay his flour
hits down on the ground near the steps.
and then walk off round the corner of the
house. Directly he came back, walking
slowly, and looking about as if he had lost
something. He kicked amoEg the grass
with his feet, shaded his eyes with his
hand, and appeared to be very anxious.
"Lemme see," said he, II come long
dis way yestiddy. an l reckon l los dat
money somewhar bout dis place. | mus
done dropped it out my pocket. Wonder
if anybody picked it up. Lawsy! l done
found it, Right under my eyes Ell ii had
been snake it would ha' bit me. nebber
seed de like sence OIL Hecky was pup!
| So saying, he picked up the money with
great demonstrations OF joy. Then he laid
| it down in another place. and marched OIL
| ss before.
This time. however, the play turned out
differently There was venerable Shang-
hal rooster that stayed In the yard that
very old and cross. and he aud Sam were
deadly enemies. Many q fight had they
had. and. although sam generally got the
best Of it. Old Jack used to give him
great deal Of trouble.
Now. just as Sam went around one cor
ner of the house. Old Jack stalked around
the other. closely examining the ground,
| In quest OF beetle or a worm, or some
other agreeable delicacy of that sort. The
brig ht piece OF silver attracted his eye, and
he advanced tOwatd it. He had not yet
determined whether or not it Was good 10
eat. and was about to begin closer ex-
| animation. when hack came the owner.
! At the sight Of his old foe, Old Jack seized
the coin and ran, intending to carry 1t of
aud inspect il at his leisure.
Sam set up y Tremendous yell. and gave
chase. Old Jack ran first in one direction
and then In another; but finding himself