St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-05-19

| tuat tuc ONcTCOJl tu1t nIu Decn Stocu
was worth forty dollars. and the plated
spoons at least ten dollars, found i;
necessary to 60 to her own room and
have a good cry. 1t was not SO much
the value of the lost articles rs the feel
ing that it was her fault, and that her
husband might possibly be SO far left
to himself as to tell her so. At all
events. she would lose little of tina:
fine character for good sense with
which. to her great satisfaction. he had
endowed her.
The day did not pass very pleasant
ly. Callers came and she could not
help telling her story. but it was joke
to the best-intentioncd among them;
and. as the dinner hour approached.
she felt very much indeed like running
away.
However. of course, she was Obliged
to stay. Her daughters were paying a
visit to some cousins. and there was no
one else to preside at table. Besides.
she could only have put off the evil
moment She went up stairs and got
out some spoons she kept in reserve.
and waited for the impending moment
She hoped that her husband would, at
least. be in good humor. and not
when things went wrong with him-a
little cross.
Mr.. Christy. however. returned that
evening in high good humor. More
over. he had an overcoat upon his
arm. Could it he that he had come
back for il, after all. and that the theft
had been limited to the spoons and the
counterfeit bank note?
Il thought you went without your
coat" she said. with little rejoiccful
leap of the heart, as she seemed to rec
ognize the garment by its form and
color.
But Mr.. Christy laughed.
80 did," he said. so did. No.
this is a new coat. bought it for Viii
liam. My son William is as tall as l
am. and nearly as stout. and this fits
me snugly-snugly. came across it
in queer way. 1t is quite a bargain.
You see. it looks entirely new"
..Ycs. it certainly does" said Mrs
Christy. land exactly like yours. too.
dear. Aren't you jesting?"
NO. no. no." said her spouse. .You
know l only bought mine a week ago.
l presume it is the newest style, and
William has none yet. He means to
get a cheaper one. So to-day. while I
was in the Office. in walked an old
man-a venerable old gentleman.
.'Sir. says he. i am . man who
does not find himself getting on well
and am forced to try going about
among the gentlemen. l am tailor.
1 have made an expensive overcoat for
a agentlcman. Fifty dollars was the price.
and he did not pay me. So when he
had it on his back one day said: ''Sir.
pay me-" And he said: you may
wait until am ready" This is your
honest Christian against a poor jew
''.Ycs. yes said ]. but l UNDER
stand he had not true Christian princi-
pies. my good friend
VERY well. ] believe not said my
old man. But when this happened
exercised my cunning. l said to him:
"'Vcry well. sir. will wait. But l
see there is button loose. will fas-
ten it for you. have silk and needle
here
'''Ah.' said he. just like YOU to leave
it that way;' and off comes the coat
"'You shall get it again next day af-
ter never said l. So away walked.
l would sell it for thirty dollars. which
is very cheap.
II lookel at the coat. which he un-
folded from paper.
Guess it will fit my son. said I.
I'll try it on and well scc.'
$50 it did.
Said l, now. you see. do this TO |
make up to you. rs far rs can. for the |
other fellows rascality.'
".You are an honest gentleman said |
he. and will repay you by great
bargain. must sell my solid silver |
spoons. l meant to melt them. not to ex-
pose my poverty. but you shall have
the dozen for ten dollars
We'll. of course. ! jumped at that"
MIR. Christy here laid the spoons on
the tablc-.'and took out little fifty
dollar bill"
Forty said I. but he had somc-
thing else.
My wife is trying to sell her shawl
he said.
..Well. looked at the shawl he shook
out
You shall have it for five dol
lars. as a sample Of my generosity. The
said.
well. knew you d like it. my dear.
1t looks like one l used TO admire you
in when l courted you-rcd center.
cashmere border" and Mr.. Christy
shook out the folds-the old shawl
Mrs. Christy had exchanged for the
vases that morning. She knew that ut
once. She could not mistake it. But
as she looked at her husband. beaming
and twinkling with good humor. she
could not bear to utter the truth out
right.
Thirty for the coat and ten for the
spoons" he said. merrily, and five for
the shawl; and this is all have out of
my little fifty-dollar bill. Poor old fell
low! The last five he had in the world.
he said. Hullo! What is this?" Mr..
Christy put on his glasses and looked
at the bill. "Your name is written on
il in red ink. my dear Caroline
oh. This is counterfeit
Why. what in thunder
''Oh!' cricsl William, at this moment
entering at the door. THAT'S = bill