The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1899-03-28
HIRAM,s HALF DOLLAR.
He Dropped 1t in the Hat at Zeke's
silver wedding and Wanted
1t Back.

Last spring Zeke Murch and his wife
celebrated their twenty-ifth wedding
anniversary. Zeke lives on a side hill
farm in one of the outlying districts
in Maine town. He and his wife have
always worked hard and been saving
as folks have to be who make dollar
out of a farm in this particular part of
the Pine Tree state.
Among their visitors that night were
Hiram and Mirandy Treat. Now the
Treats were even more saving than the
Murches, and the latter were said to
be snugger than the bark of yellow
birch.
But they felt in duty bound to give
something. Not having bought any
plate, they could not add to the col
lection of pickle jars and casters which
adorned the sitting-room table, SO they
waited till the hat was passed.
Passing the hat may strike some
readers as a novel feature to introduce
at wedding anniversary, but Ezekiel
didn't propose to let anyone go away
without a gentle hint that those who
accept invitations to silver wedding
must settle in the white metal.
"For the benefit of those as didn't
have a chance ter get a present, we
viii now pass round the hat an those
as feel moved SO to do can add their
piece of silver" explained the host
When the hat reached Hiram he
pulled out his wallet, carefully abstract
ed a half dollar, looked at it lovingly
and then dropped it into the chapeau.
That night, after they got home, Hi
ram and Mirandy were talking it over,
speculating on the probable value of
those two pickle jars and trying to set
tie in their minds how much was put
into the general collection.
"There was so cents that give 'em, -
said Mirandy.
What" cried Hiram, "you give so
cents?"
"Why, yes, Hiram, we cal-lated to
give 'em that much, you know. We
talked it over beforehand, and agreed
that we could spare it,"
'But Lord bless ye, wife, said the
husband, quivering with excitement,
don't ye, can't we, understand ]
dropped a half dollar in the hat my
self?''
It was late hour before the two
ceased talking about that lost coin, and
the next morning Hiram was no more
reconciled to the accidental generosity
than the night before.
All summer long it worried him, and
he couldn't keep from thinking how far
that half dollar would have gone in
trade.
Lately Hiram and Zeke had settling
up of some old accounts for wood and
labor. Their figures tailed, and after
the money had shifted hands Hiram's
thoughts reverted :, that unintended
gift.
''Zekiel,' he began, softly.
''Yes, Hiram"
"You remember that silver wedding
of yours last spring?" He was begin
ming with diplomatic evasion of the
real point at issue.
80, yes" Zeke remembered all about
that
''Wa'aI, when the hat was passed
round, ye remember put in so cents? p
''Yes, Hiram, I remember"
''Wa'al, unbeknown to me, my wife,
Mirandy, she put in so cents"
.sYa'as," said Ezekiel, slowly, but very
carefully avoiding any show of under
standing.
''Wa'aI, we didn't intend to give but
one of 'em, and I want you to give me
back the half dollar that Mirandy give
ye."
Ezekiel said nothing
Its no more'n right ye should,
|, pleaded Hiram. "We didn't intend to
gin ye but half dollar. Wecan't spare
that other so cents nohow. I've wor
ried about it all summer long an
made up my mind to speak out to ye
about it. I've thought it all over an
Mirandy, she's thought it all over an
we sartinly can't spare the so cents"
Ezekiel had been gathering himself
for burst of scorn.
''Wa'al, of all the dog-gonedest NEAR
critters 1 ever sot my eyes on ye're
leetle the wust! No, I won't give
ye back your half dollar!'
But Hiram wasn't going to be touched
by scorn. The justice of his cause lee
him to make one last appeal.
''No, L amt mean, Zeke, for here I've
waited till now without sayin' word
Just think on it, Ze<e, you've had the
. interest on that half dollar for over
six months an you oughter be all fail
an willin' to give it back to me. Won't
ye, Zeke?"
But Zekiel's ear was deaf to pleading
and he still retains the half dollar
Lewiston (Me.) Journal.