University of Virginia Library

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80

SIR, YOU OWE ME A CENT.

[ILLUSTRATION] [Description: 677EAF. Page 080. In-line Illustration. Image of a young boy tugging at the sleeve of a gentleman.]

OTHER things may be great,”
said old Roger with a nod,
“besides what 's called so;
some very little thing, if 't is
done well, can be a great one;
in impudence, say, for instance.
Yesterday a boy
asked me pitifully for a four-pence;
I gave him what I
thought to be one, and passed
on. Presently I felt a twitch
at my coat-tail, and looked
round, and there stood the boy.
`Sir,' says he, `you owe me a cent — this 'ere won't
pass for but five cents — it 's crossed!' I gave the
little rascal a shilling at once; I could n't help it. The
thing was sublime, — admirable; hang me if it was n't.”
And the little man struck his cane violently on the
ground, and laughed happily at the supreme impudence
displayed in the affair.