St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-09-07

| sH'h5o WILL all
Cant spare it," said Collins. ~
tell ye, Maria, money is skerse. Un-
Gle Lem Hutchins was in here les
now, an he says he sees by the pa
per that there amt no money to be
had anywheres.
Then ensued some desperate, down.
east haggling, but Collins was firm.
He wasn't in the market for blue
berries, except on a basis of "store
pay" The women lost their tenn
pers presently and left the store, af-
ter which Collins bit off a large
piece of tobacco, and sat down to
ruminate on the financial situation.
BY and by Mrs. Hutchins came in
with four dozen eggs, but she would
not trade for anything but blueber-
ries, and Collins wouldn't pay cash.
He suggested paying the eggs to Mr..
Hutchins' account, but the lady said
that her account and her husbands
were two separate affairs, and she
took her eggs home again.
Uncle Lem came back about this
time and he said that he didn't think
that Blake was treating him right.
He wouldn't pay we, eh ?" said
Collins.
Said he would when Ruff Webb
paid him" replied Uncle Lem. "pve
a darned good mind to sue him for
it."
"Ruf Webb" repeated Collins, and
he pulled his chin whiskers tn ought
fully.
Uncle Lem took up his clans and
departed, breathing vengeance on
Blake. By and by Webb dropped
in.
I'm sorry to bother ye, John"
said he, "but George Blake has been
dunnin' me for three dollars an odd,
that | owe him. He says he's goin'
to sue me. 1t seems that his wife
borrowed Uncle Lem Hutchins' pa
per an read something about money
being skerse. That set Blake onto
me. Now, if you pay me the three
dollars an odd that you owe me-"
Couldn't to save me-" protested
Collins. There amt that much in
the bag"
And he beat a mournful tune on
the counter with the little canvas
pouch.
II dunno what I'm goin' to do,
John" said Webb. "If he sues me,
why"
You'll sue man by the name O.
Collins. That's natural, Ruf, but it
amt what call kind"
II can't help it, John. Moneys
mighty skerse. The paper says so,
an every man ought to have his
own"
But how's he goin to get it !
There's people around here, that
owes me money. I'll bet there's
more'n twelve dollars OWN me this
minute. If there's any goin' to law,
why I'll take a little shy at it my
self"
Finally Hutch:ns went over to Isle
au Haut to see a lawyer. He was
so fortunate as to select day when
the legal gentleman was intoxicated.
The odds were about five to two,
on, anyway. There was a curious
thing about Lawyer Hobbs; when
he reached certain stage of intox-
ication he became honest. Yea,
more he became liberal. In this re-
markable condition of body and
soul he not only advised the old man
Hutchins to keep clear of the law,
but he also set out a demij John
of old Medford rum which was sharp
enough to shear sheep. The conse-
quence was that Hutchins returned
to Cow island in a frame of mind
which made him forget that money
was tight; or, if he remembered it,
he could not in that condition con-
sistently complain of it. How he
got back at all is deep-sea mystery,
for as he sat in the stern of his little
sloop boat she seemed to him to
carry more spars than full-rigged
ship.
He rolled into Collins store about
dark.
John" he said, money is easier.
What's your little bill ?"
"Three dollars and eight cents, 4"
he said, and he got the money.
"Sit right down here, Uncle Lem, "
he continued, while l run over to
Ruff Webb's house."
Hutchins selected chair from the
row which he saw standing against
the wall, and by good luck he got
the one which had real and valid
existence. He was asleep when Col
Inns returned; but presently he was
awakened by the entrance of George
Blake.
"Uncle Lem here?" asked Blake.
ooh, there he is. / ran over to set
tie for that hay. Ruff. Webb just
forked over to me, and here's what
| owe you"
Money don't seem to be so skerse
as it was OH the island" Blake con-
timed turning to Collins. II guess
Uncle Lem must a. got some over to
Swans island"
That rumor was current next
morning, and by noon everybody