True Stories from History and Biography

nt, that it ceased to be the seat of the governors of Massachusetts; for, assuredly, it would have been ominous of evil to the commonwealth, if the Chair of State had tottered upon three

med chair, discovered that its broken leg might be

ley, throwing himself down on the floor to look at it.

ed the broken leg, Grandfather told t

E-TREE

was a new line of business: for, in the earlier days of the colony, the current coinage consisted of gold and silver money of Englan

s. The Indians had a sort of money, called wampum, which was made of clam-shells; and this strange sort of specie was likewise taken in payment of debts, by the English settlers. Bank-bills had never been heard of. The

supply the demand, the general court passed a law for establishing a coinage of shillings, sixpences, and threepences. Captain John Hull

ttons of worn-out coats, and silver hilts of swords that had figured at court, all such curious old articles were doubtless thrown into the melting-pot together. But by far the greater part of

nces. Each had the date, 1652, on the one side, and the figure of a pine-tree on the other. Hence they were called pine-tree shillings.

ocket. But Captain Hull declared himself perfectly satisfied with the shilling. And well he might be; for so diligently did he labor, that, in a few years, his pockets, his money bags, and his strong box, were overflowing with pine

means so slender as some young ladies of our own days. On the contrary, having always fed heartily on pumpkin pies, doughnuts, Indian puddings, and other Puritan dainties, she was as round and plump as a pudding her

, in his rough way; "and you'll

ces; and the knees of his smallclothes were buttoned with silver threepences. Thus attired, he sat with great dignity in Grandfather's chair; and, being a portly old gentleman, he completely fille

Puritan laws and customs would allow him to put on. His hair was cropped close to his head, because Governor Endicott had forbidde

on. So when the marriage ceremony was over, Captain Hull whispered a word to two of his men-servants, who immediately went out, and soon returned, lugging in a

he mint-master, "get into

t any question of the why and wherefore. But what her father could mean, unless to make her husband pa

ohn Hull to the servants

d not lift this enormous receptacle, and were finally obliged to drag it across the floor. Captain Hull then took a key from his girdle, unlocked the chest, and lifted its ponderous lid. Behold! it was full to the brim of brigh

scales, while Betsey remained in the other. Jingle, jingle, went the shillings, as handful after handful

her's chair. "Take these shillings for my daughter's portion. Use her kindly, an

n head. He assured them faithfully, however, that he had found it in the [pg 041] pages of a grave historian, and had mere

w-a-days were paid as Miss Betsey's was, young ladies would

g