The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-06-27
A SILVER DOLLAR.
BY ARTHUR G. GRIssoM.

BY ARTHUR q. GRleSOM.
The Green Mountains were beauti-
full in garb of perfect white, their
huge, council forms strongly outlined
against the dun winter sky. The snow
lines limit was abruptly marked a
thousand feet above the level, and the
dark earth below, with its bleak, brown
sbrubbery, afforded contrast as novel
as it was beautiful.
At the foot of the mountains, peace
ful aud picturesque lay the village of
Meadowvale. which was like many
towns of rural New England. The
place possessed no distinguishing chat
ac.eristic: it was one of the sleepy old
haunts that abound in the Vermont
hills, with no claims to fame, no ambi-
tion, no distinction but existance. Not
startling event marked its municipal
record, and its progress for score of
years could be told in a breath.
Climbing upward from the village
toward solitary and dilapidated little
hut which hung on the mountain-side,
was a slender, wan-faced boy, poorly
clad Tor that season of the year.
Through his ragged shoes his hands
lacked mittens, and his jacket and pant
aloons were thin aud tattered.
But his eyes were bright aud his ex
preston showed spirit of honesty
and resolution.
The path was steep and rugged, and
presently the boy paused for breath.
He seated himself on convenient
rock, aud gazed with msancholy air
down upon the village.
All the region was silent. 1t was
early morning, and not Yet time for
the sound of the wood-chopper's axe to
echo through the mountains. Volumes
of white-fringed smoke rose hesitatingly
from the chimneys of the little wealth
erworn dwellings,, aud vanished in the
hungry atmosphere. Far down wide
irregular street, almost at the end, he
could discern his own humble home,
dearly beloved, for he had never known
a better.
From one of his patched pockets the
boy drew half-dozen old coins, of al
most no intrinsic value, and began to
jingle them in his hand. The sound
was pleasant to him. 1t was not often
that he heard money rattle, aud altho-
| ugh these pieces were practically val
ueless, they were his own, aud as they
ratified musically he could imagine them
gold. He really priced them highly,
not for what they would purchase
that was little, indeed-but for their
age and their peculiar character.
Two or three weeks before some
Boston dealer in old and rare coins,
having somehow secured his name and
address, had sent him catalogue with
descriptions and prices of ancient
money pieces, and it had interested
him. Straightway he had become a
coin collector. In the bottom of one OF
the old bureau drawers where his
mother kept odds and ends, he remem-
bered to have seen some curious old
copper cents, large in size-two or
three times as large as ordinary cen,
pieces. Eagerly he went to learn theil
dates, but none of them was quoted a,
any price.
These odd coppers his mother haG
saved as relics of her girlhood, since
they had been the first money she hat
ever owned, and now, being given t.
him, they served to establish the
foundation of his collection. But JUS
there his collection stopped. He ha
no money to pay for other coins, no
did he know of any one who had com
to exchange. So he was not much G
collector after all.
As he ratified the copper and fanc
ed it gold, he began to think what h
would do with so much money, and tn
shadow on his face lighted and h
eyes danced.
Medicine for mother that woul
make her well right away-that tn
first thing" he soliloquized, "The
Mary should go to that type,writin
school in the city and learn to be
type writer, and then get position {
twenty dollars a month. SIe's bee
dreamin' of that this long time-ev
since she read that peace in the pape
Theu-then' I'd have a new pair
shoes, sure's I'm a livin' boy. \
secondhand shoes of Sam Ragland
then"
This fine air castle was sudden
dashed to ruins by the sound of appr
aching footsteps, and, turning arouu
- he beheld boy of about his own ag
but heavier and warmly dressed, CO..
ing down the steep path.
The newcomer carried gun on
showlder, and wore belt of cartride
about his waist. AT his heels trott
S dog, big, shaggy fellow, that c,
tainly had no claim TO beauty. T
animal resembled his master in this
spect, for the latter had course, [
pleasant features and an awkwa
body.
"Hullo, Henly" said the you
sportsman, famillarly. "You seem
> haye lots of money this morning.
heard the chink of your coins way
- yonder?"
Harry Henly smiled family. IN
very much money" he said shortly.
"Has old Miser Brown paid J
Off"
cH' "Not yet, was the reply. M'm
my way up now to finish the job, 9
then he'll pay me, | suppose. I'll
through about noon, | guess, Th
). are some old copper cents mother g
'.97 me-"
,'97 "Let me look at EN-" said the 9th,
"a He leaned his gun against the T,
,.ss where Harry was, and sat down OIL
ri rock near by.
s4S 81 tramped up the mountain to
oo something 10 shoot, but l haven't 8
=, cottontail this morning" he remt
ed. "This afternoon I'm goin' owe
nee Carriers Pond; hear there's a lot
ducks over there
. "He took the coins in his hand ,
glanced owe, them carelesslY.
"All copper cents, amt theyf" 1
he.
=, ''I wish one ofem was dated l,
SAM" exclaimed Harry.
"Why''