23 The Leather Shillings! is sauce for [the] goose is sauce for the gander,” however; & I was myself “What on one occasion made the victim of relying on hinges” contradicting “leather – another old adage nothing like leather.” The incident I am about to – “there’s relate will show to what straits poor father was often reduced to secure absolute necessities, either for his business or for food for [the] family. It was well known in [the] family, th. I had scraped a few shillings together by thrifty means. These shillings were deposited in a box under lock & key; but alas! also with leather hinges! Father being hard put to it for a little ready cash, removed the hinges, & at the same time (or borrowed) the said few shillings. The question appd. “removed” to have been with him, conceal the abstraction from me, until they cd. be “How replaced?” He cut four pieces of leather, of the size of shillings, & wrapped them up in the identical paper (or rag), out of wh. [the] images & superscription of her majesty had just been taken! Each time I visited [the] box, I of course glanced to see if the valued treasure was still intact; & being satisfied with the & “outward visible form,” I never looked further for [the] inward & tangible reality, until one day, having obtained another sixpence, I went to my horde to deposit 24 the additional coin, when, lo! the silver birds had flown the Bank was broken – – – & leather shillings were substituted for sterling silver! Of course, I bemoaned the loss of my treasure with heartfelt sorrow; but, upon proper explanation became pacified, & the money was duly replaced, & all amicably arranged. I recollect mother calling me privately to one side, & interrogating me as to I had “where obtained the funds?” Tho’ it was known th. I had saved a little cash, she did not
23 The Leather Shillings! “What is sauce for [the] goose is sauce for the gander,” however; & I was myself on one occasion made the victim of relying on “leather hinges” – contradicting another old adage – “there’s nothing like leather.” The incident I am about to relate will show to what straits poor father was often reduced to secure absolute necessities, either for his business or for food for [the] family. It was well known in [the] family, th. I had scraped a few shillings together by thrifty means. These shillings were deposited in a box under lock & key; but alas! also with leather hinges! Father being hard put to it for a little ready cash, removed the hinges, & at the same time “removed” (or borrowed) the said few shillings. The question appd. to have been with him, “How conceal the abstraction from me, until they cd. be replaced?” He cut four pieces of leather, of the size of shillings, & wrapped them up in the identical paper (or rag), out of wh. [the] images & superscription of her majesty had just been taken! Each time I visited [the] box, I of course glanced to see if the valued treasure was still intact; & being satisfied with the “outward & visible form,” I never looked further for [the] inward & tangible reality, until one day, having obtained another sixpence, I went to my horde to deposit 24 the additional coin, when, lo! – the silver birds had flown – the Bank was broken – & leather shillings were substituted for sterling silver! Of course, I bemoaned the loss of my treasure with heartfelt sorrow; but, upon proper explanation became pacified, & the money was duly replaced, & all amicably arranged. I recollect mother calling me privately to one side, & interrogating me as to “where I had obtained the funds?” Tho’ it was known th. I had saved a little cash, she did not
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