The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-01-13
THAT TEN DOLLAR BILL.
MANY DEBTS PAID IN A DAY.
Who Was Left Out?


WHO w DIS A6lt OUt:
Correspondents to Tn. CoMMoxwzALrn.J
CoTToNvILLE, Jan. l, 1893.
Mr.. EDITOR Now that the crop is
about disposed of perhaps few lines
from old Cottonville may not be amiss.
For several years, In fact ever since
the gold standard boom reached u.s.
there have been rumors of impending
war and bloodshed in our midst. 1t
appears that some of our people had
accounts which they could not collect,
the debtors claiming that they could
not get the money with which to pay
them and some of the creditors became
a little impatient and threatened to
declare war, hoist the black flag,
march into the enemy's territory and
collect their claims by force of arms.
But happily this calamity has been
averted, for the present, at least.
A few days ago a stranger passing
through stopped near the blacksmith
shop, fed his mule and while the mule
was eating tried to sell the blacksmith
a box of corn cure, but failed, as the
blacksmith had no money to buy with.
After the stranger left the blacksmith
went out to collect up the scattered
fodder left by the mule, to feed his
calf, but was SO overcome by finding
q new, crisp ten dollar bill that he for
got all about the fodder and his hall
starved calf bleating in the back yard
and went Into his shop dreaming OF
the happy long ago, before the gold
standard wave rolled over Cottonville
but he soon came to himself and as
he had not seen a ten dollar bill for
such long time before he concluded
that he would mark this one 30 that
II he should ever see 1t again he would
know 1t. So he prospeeted around
till he found small piece of vacant
territory down in the southeast corner
of the bill and there he preempted and
staked off small lot and planted his
initials, "B. 81, in ink.
By this time.he remembered that he
owed the butcher ten dollars balance
on an old debt that had stood the
storms of many winters, but as the
butcher was man acquainted with
blood he felt little timid about ap-
preaching him in his strong hold
Nerving himself, however, as best he
could, and waving the ten dollar bill
In his hand as sort of flag of truce
he ventured to approach the butch
Or shop where the butcher received
him, or rather the bill, with counte-
nance betraying great establishment
at the sudden acquisition of wealth by
the blacksmith.
The butcher was, if possible, more
excited than the blacksmith had been
and many wild suspicious chased each
other In quick succession through his
brain, but he soon regatned his self
possession and went over and paid the
da1ryman ten dollars on an old account
that had been standing ever since he
first voted with the old Sorehead club.
The da1ryman thanked him and put
right off and paid the: carpenter ten
dollars on an old account that had been
standing ever since long before he
built the third pie counter for the old
Sorehead Office hunters club.
The carpenter went out and paid the
wheelwright ten dollars balance on a
pair OF wheels made during the first
Cleveland administration.
The wheelwright went and hunted
up the timer and paid him ten dol
lars which had been due eyer since the
third Popullstic-fuslon-R Republican pow
WOW was held in his cellar.
The timer was delighted and went
and paid the shoemaker ten dollars on
the family shoebill which had been
running ever since before he voted the
fusion ticket the first time.
The shoemaker felt that he ought to
pay the tailor but the old debt had be-
come SO faded and motheaten that he
was ashamed to mention it; but he
finally decided and went and paid the
tailor ten dollars on the old account.
The tailor went down to the doctors
Office and paid him ten dollars on an
old account that had been standing
ever since the night he sprained his
throat shouting at Third party wran.
gle In the back room at the old Sound
Money clubhouse.