The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-07-06
A BAD HALF DOLLAR.

d DhD u LIZ JULIAN
The first time became cognizant OF
my own existence | was in a wooden
box with number of other pieces, all
of the same denomination as myself.
Our number was constantly increasing
as the cover of the box was raised at
short intervals, and a grimy-faced man,
wearing linen apron, threw in score
or so of similar illegal tenders. but |
had no idea that l was spurious, and |
was quite unaware that my mother was
a soft leaden pipe and my father hard
tin kettle. l knew that l was very
bright, but so were the other coins that
were poured in hot upon me, but be-
lieved that was worth half a dollar, as
my face represented, and l am sure
that my companions were as guileless
as l was.
Generally we were lifted from the
box in patches and carried away for
distribution, but l was taken out alone
one night because the man with the
grimy face and linen apron wanted a
Yarmouth bloater and a pint of beer for
his supper. He bought the bloater first,
l suppose, because the old woman who
owned the huckster's shop was more
easily deceived in the matter of bad
coins than the bartender. He had no
trouble in passing me, tor the old wo,
man was half blind and wholly stupid
She gave him the change and dropped
me into the drawer.
laughed as l fell, for, like all bright
young things, was pleased with my
change of quarters. The ring of my
laughter evidently startled the Other
CONS around me. They drew away from
me and whispered together. 1 could
hear the subdued tones of their voices
and it struck me at the time as little
strange that they were not in the least
like my tones. Still | had no suspicion
that l was counterfeit. l was so very
glossy and brilliant that l fancied the
glory of my appearance had embar.
rassed my new companions, all of whom
were of comparatively ancient date and
some very much worn.
81 will show them," l thought, ''thai
l am a democratic coin," and l rubbed
in a friendly way, against a dull old
quarter with hole in Its breast, and its
milling by long handling rubbed nearly
smooth. But the mutiated coin die
not meet my advances IN a kindly
spirit. 1t recoiled from me, and, ad
dressing me in severe but silvery ac
cents from the opposite side of the
drawer, said: Excuse me, sir. There
can be no bond of sympathy between
you and me. | am worth my weigh
in the mint, at all events, but you art
not worth the trouble of weighing" anc
then | le armed, for the first time, that
was composed OF base mixture of til
and lead. l never laughed again.
The next morning, when the old wo
man tried to pay the milkman with me
she found that she had taken a ba(
coin. She was very much distressed
but, though poor, she was pious, ant
she asked the parson what she ought t,
do with me.
"Nail it to your COUNTER" said tn
minister, with uncompromising honesty
and l shuddered as l heard him.
counterfeit fifty-cent piece with a hol
through it is a worthless coin, indeed
The old woman could not persuad
herself to take the clergyman's sdvic
at once. She let me lie in her pocke
for couple of days, and slowly ar
rived at the conclusion that l was nc
so bad as | looked, and in this belle
she dropped me into the poor plate o.
Sunday, after listening to an impressiv
charity sermon from the eloquent min
lister who had told her to nail me t,
the counter.
The deacons discovered my worth
less character at once. They were a
just and kindly men. They had no wis
to give me to those in need of char
table assistance, but they did not thin
there could be any harm in paying tn
Pastors alary with me, and | was 500
in the ministerial purse.
My new owner was greatly surprise,
and little ashamed, too, when tn
young man in the drug store handle,
me back to him after he had offere,
me in payment for a glass of sod
water. The effervescing beverage wa
gone, and he had no more money i
his pockets, for he was not a well-pai
preacher. The situation was embar
RAISING, but the young tradesman oblig
lngly said that any time would do for
settlement. As soon as he was on tn
road that led to the parsonage, whic