Evening journal., 1910-06-09
A THIRTY
CENT WAR
BY NJ QUAD
Copyright, 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

This is a story of Delhi and tie thr-
ty cent war
A travelling tinker was the prime
cause of the war. though he was inno-
cent OF intent. He came along to the
house Of Deacon Hooker one day and
asked for pots and pans to mend. One
Of the cave troughs on the house had
been leaking for months, and the dea-
con told the tinker to go ahead and
fix it. The bill was 80 Gems. The
tinker was 10 call at the deacon's
gristmill after dinner and get his
money. He called, and he got it, and
he found Elder James Davis there
settling up an account. The elder had
a farm Just outside the village. and
he sold produce to the deacon and set
tied up once a month. This was sos
tlement day. The elder was paid hls
bill with the exception Of 80 cents.
The tinker moved on. the elder moved
on, and the deacon went to work. and
peace and good will reigned until nev
settlement day. Then the elder goot
naturedly remarked that there was 81,
cents coming to him. The deacon
good naturadly denied #.
These two good men had been friends
for years. They were both pillars in
their respective churches. Their rep.
utations could not have been better.
You would have thought that over
such a small matter as 30 cents one
IN. fho ofhar would bor,o ..f~o- 49,.
and yet we all know that it is the lit
tie things that raise the biggest rows.
When We come down to a two cent
dispute we call il a matter OF princi.
pie. These two men argued about that
30 cents until they lost their tempers.
The elder said he would sue for it.
and the deacon said the elder had
turned TO the gum game in his old
age. Neither one of them remembered
the tinker. In less than a day the
village of Delhi was stirred. Inside Of
two days it was taking sides. Within
a week war was declared all around.
Yes. sir; paid him that 80 cents"
Deacon Hooker was explaining. Il
gave him three ten-cent pieces. and if
that doesn't make 30 cents then can't
count. Wed got all figured up on the
bill when turns TO him and says:
Elder, it's all correct, and 1 owe
you 30 cents on the last settlement.
Here it is. It's powerful good weather
for this time o. year."
And the elder was explaining:
"The deacon. he was owing me 80
cents on the last settlement. and as he
didn't say anything about it 1 thought
it had slipped his mind. I waited
awhile and then said
Deacon. don't you remember, there
was 80 cents my due when we settled
up last?
That's what I said to the deacon,
and ] smiled as 1 said It. But what
does he do but say he paid it over
yes. sir, says he paid me three ten-cept
pieces. / thought the deacon was an
honest man. but I can't think so any
longer. I've said I'd sue. and 1 guess
shall"
There had always been some ques-
tion about Deacon Hooker having the
right to throw a mill dam across the
creek to furnish water power for his
mill. The matter was now gone into
by lawyer, and it was found that he
was trespasser and must tear down
his dam Elder Davis had lately built
a new horse barn. Some folks said it
trespassed on the public street Dea-
con Hooker went at it and showed that
IL did, and it had TO be moved back.
Enos Hackett was in love with the
Widow Spooner. In fact. they were
engaged. Enos took one side Of the
controversy and the widow the other.
and that marriage didn't come of.
She said that Enos was opinionated.
and he said she was a bigot. 1t was