Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1909-11-12
TIL WEAK SPOT
IN HIS ARM0R,
BY M. QUAD.

fifty years old:
Six evenings per week Deacon Car
ter went to the postoffice he aver
aged only about four letters per year.
but his trips to the postoffice were
made just the same. On one particular
evening letter was handed him which
excited surmise and curiosity. 1t was
postmarked at New York, and it had
business look and feeling. Those
standing around when the letter was
passed out looked for the deacon to
open it then and there and give them
chance to comment; but, greatly to
their chagrin, he placed it in his pock-
ct and started off home. On reaching
there he ought to have sat down and
opened his letter. but something re.
strained him. He said nothing of it's
receipt even. and it was not opened
until his good wife threw shawl over
her head and went over to a neighbours
to have bit of gossip.
Deacon Carter trembled when he
carefully cut the envelope of that mys-
FERROUS letter with table knife and
saw greenbacks in it. Yes, there We're
two dollar bill and a one dollar bill.
and both were brand new and full of
crackle. Who had sent him money?
Why had it been sent? His heart was
beating faster as he unfolded a type
written letter accompanying the cash.
1t was from party in New York. The
party had heard of the deacon and
was going to trust him with a great
secret. The party was manufacturing
greenbacks-not counterfeits, but the
genuine thing, same as the inclosed,
same as those turned out by Uncle
Sam. The party felt that he had at
least moral right to do this. All gov
ernments were Oppressors; all individ-
uals had a right to better their condi-
ton. He was lettering his and at the
same time not hurting the government
or any of his fellow men. In fact he
was .benefting the country by putting
more money in circulation and making
it easy to get.
The church to which the deacon be-
longed wanted to raise the minister's
salary; it wanted to repair the spire
of the edifice; it wanted to replace the
old pew cushions. The congregation
was waiting for the deacon to lead off
with liberal subscription, but as a
matter of fact he was hard up, hav-
ing been aiding some of his relatives.
He looked at the bills before him and
hankered. If he had only $50 he
would ask for no more Would it
harm the government or any one else
for him to get the $50 in the way sug-
gested?
"Of course it would" said the good
man to himself as he heard his wife
returning and hastily pocketed the
money and circular, and he went to
bed determined to return the epistle
on the morrow. He awoke with the
same determination, but his wife was
to be the cause of change of heart.
At the breakfast table she said:
"Joab, we are out of brown sugar."
"Umv'
1--WE must have tea today
"Umv'
"And you'll have to take my shoes
to Smiths and get 'em fixed. l got
my feet damp last night"
An hour later Deacon Carter started
dollar in his pocket, but as he was
about to enter the store the idea came
to him to hand out the new dollar bill
received in his letter. No second
thought came. He handed it over
when his purchases had been made,
and the merchant. received it and made
change without word. That settled
matters. The money was not coun-
terfeit, and no one was being harmed
by handling it. That afternoon a let
ter was written to the party in New
York. The deacon started out to say
that he would 5uy $50 of the money.
but made it 5000 instead. He would
go to the city at any date and take
500 in Uncle Sans money with him.
He knew where he could borrow that
sum for few days. He would deal
Just once and no more.
Then followed a considerable CORE
spOndence. A date was set for the dea-
con to show up. and he was so strong
~ advised to take $500 instead of the
lesser sum that he agreed. He had to
sell one of his cows, two hogs and two
calves and do some borrowing to make
up the amount. and he had to dodge
many questions from his wife. but the
day finally arrived when he started for
the city. He was ''come along" at
last. He was to be met at the depot.
and he was met. The man who met
him gave word. and the deacon re-
piled when a couple of detectives ar
rested both.
At the police station the deacon
showed his letters and told his story.
while the green goods man took care
to say nothing. The deacon was not
arrested. He was simply talked to
and sent direct home.
Don't you imagine that the people of
this town have ever heard these things
of Deacon Carter. am giving you a
private tip in telling you, and his
standing has not in the least been i'm
paired. Only when Thursday evening
n,1l ~ IN