The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-03-26
HAS BEEN ASLEEP.
A Missouri School Teacher Finds
The War is Over.

st. Louis, Marsh 2l,-Yesterday, Just
after dinner, an old man made a small
purchase of William Cook, who handles "a
butcher shop at 220l Clark avenue, and
rendered in payment 500 bill, confeder-
ate money, of the issue bearing a litho-
graphed picture OF JEFF DAVIS. Mr.. Cook
scanned the bill moment, and then the
stranger, wondering what the man mesnt.
At first it occurred to him that be was deal
| lag with q cOunterieiter, and started 70 call
F, an officer. On second thought he cOusid
cred that the man was insane "r that some
thing other than fraudulent intent actuat-
ell the stranger, az the very face of the bill
would betray il across the street.
Going back, he studied his Gus
toner for few minutes, and
this is what be saw: An old diminu.ive
man, dressed in the old-fashioned home
spun butternut, with hickory shirt, neat,
but slightly thrsadbare, and one of the
real old kind of silk hats, with the nap
well worn away. There was luxurious
growth of hair, hat had grown down to
the neck, and started back up again, FORM
ing sort Of trough, met at the front sides
by the ample vhiskers, so dense that the
spring sunshine could not penetrate them.
That of the countenance left visible Sas
somewhat Shrunken by age, but had the
smooth, milk and water appearance pecu-
liar to an old man who has never been ex-
posed to the weather and has cultivated his
conference.-the fact, it was one OF khOSe
faces which Carlyle characterizes as Being
so supremely healthy that the dirt will not
stick to them.
I'D like my change, mister" finally
sa the old gentleman, unaware that he
was being utilized as an object lesson in
physiognomy.
''Pm serry," replied Mr.. Cook, "but this
bill is worthless"
The old man stared in amazement and
profered no reply as the bill was handed
back With the remark, mo sir, that is a
Confederate bill, and valueless
Finally he reached out delicate hand
for il and said, "You must be mistaken,
sir, for there Is JED Davis own pic,ure on
it"
"Bnt Confederate money il useless now.
Ever since the south surrendered there has
been no chance to redeem it, and no one
would take it,"
THE South surrendered? don't un-
de rstand," and the old gentleman was
more nearly dumfounded than ever.
"Why the South, msn?" he remarked, after
pause. Then he explained that he had
just got the bill, amongst others, in ex-
change for farm which he owned about
forty miles back from Lincoln, Mo. He
had been teaching school, he said, for
thirfy-hve years In the back country there,
from one "destrict" 10 another, and he I'd
always understood that the South hal
gained its point. He had sod his farm,
got part of the money in Confederate cash,
and would have taken all, he said but that
he wanted to go to st. Louis, and having
understood that il had been coded to the
Union, took some United States gold, as he
wanted to make grand tour on the cars,
which he had never seen.
Haven't you read how the war closed. |
in the newspapers ?" queried the butcher. |
Law me, | haven't seen a paper for
nigh thirty years. You're fooling about
that bill-it must be all right"
Sergt. Worcester and a patrol officer
were standing on the opposite corner, and
to them Mr.. Cook referred the school |
master, saving he would abide by their de-
cision. The stranger accosted them, and
they recounted to the innocent pedagogue
4 synopsis of United States history for
twenty-five years. The old gentleman had /
to lean against brick wall for support.
He was so frank, and evidently so un-
that they let him go his way
in peace, after he paid his bill with gold
and be left munching a piece of bologna