andtheshillingjumpedandrattledforjoy,whenitwasputbackagainintothepurse.

hereitlayamonganumberofforeigncompanions,whowerealwayscomingandgoing,onetakingtheplaceofanother,buttheshillingfromhomewasalwaysputback,andhadtoremaininthepurse,whichwascertainlyamarkofdistinction.manyweekspassed,duringwhichtheshillinghadtravelledalongdistanceinthepurse,withoutintheleastknowingwherehewas.hehadfoundoutthattheothercoinswerefrenchanditalian;andonecoinsaidtheywereinthistown,andanothersaidtheywereinthat,buttheshillingwasunabletomakeoutorimaginewhattheymeant.amancertainlycannotseemuchoftheworldifheistiedupinabag,andthiswasreallytheshilling'sfate.butoneday,ashewaslyinginthepurse,henoticedthatitwasnotquiteclosed,andsoheslippedneartotheopeningtohavealittlepeepintosociety.hecertainlyhadnottheleastideaofwhatwouldfollow,buthewascurious,andcuriosityoftenbringsitsownpunishment.inhiseagerness,hecamesoneartheedgeofthepursethatheslippedoutintothepocketofthetrousers;andwhen,intheevening,thepursewastakenout,theshillingwasleftbehindinthecornertowhichithadfallen.astheclotheswerebeingcarriedintothehall,theshillingfelloutonthefloor,unheardandunnoticedbyanynextmorningtheclothesweretakenbacktotheroom,thegentlemanputthemon,andstartedonhisjourneyagain;buttheshillingremainedbehindonthefloor.afteratimeitwasfound,andbeingconsideredagoodcoin,wasplacedwiththreeothercoins."ah,"thoughttheshilling,"thisispleasant;ishallnowseetheworld,becomeacquaintedwithotherpeople,andlearnothercustoms."

"doyoucallthatashilling?"saidsomeonethenextmoment."thatisnotagenuinecoinofthecountry,-itisfalse;itisgoodfornothing."

nowbeginsthestoryasitwasafterwardsrelatedbytheshillinghimself.

"'false!goodfornothing!'saidhe.thatremarkwentthroughandthroughmelikeadagger.iknewthatihadatruering,andthatminewasagenuinestamp.thesepeoplemustatalleventsbewrong,ortheycouldnotmeanme.butyes,iwastheonetheycalled'false,andgoodfornothing.'

"'thenimustpayitawayinthedark,'saidthemanwhohadreceivedme.soiwastobegotridofinthedarkness,andbeagaininsultedinbroaddaylight.

"'false!goodfornothing!'oh,imustcontrivetogetlost,thoughti.anditrembledbetweenthefingersofthepeopleeverytimetheytriedtopassmeoffslylyasacoinofthecountry.ah!unhappyshillingthatiwas!ofwhatuseweremysilver,mystamp,andmyrealvaluehere,whereallthesequalitieswereworthless.intheeyesoftheworld,amanisvaluedjustaccordingtotheopinionformedofhim.itmustbeashockingthingtohaveaguiltyconscience,andtobesneakingaboutonaccountofwickeddeeds.asforme,innocentasiwas,icouldnothelpshudderingbeforetheireyeswhenevertheybroughtmeout,foriknewishouldbethrownbackagainupthetableasafalsepretender.atlengthiwaspaidawaytoapooroldwoman,whoreceivedmeaswagesforahardday'swork.butshecouldnotagaingetridofme;noonewouldtakeme.iwastothewomanamostunluckyshilling.'iampositivelyobligedtopassthisshillingtosomebody,'saidshe;'icannot,withthebestintentions,laybyabadshilling.therichbakershallhaveit,-hecanbearthelossbetterthanican.but,afterall,itisnotarightthingtodo.'

"'ah!