Autobiography of a Coin

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A COIN

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A COIN

Outline:-

1.               A newly minted coin; paid out from a bank.
2.               In mixed company in a shop-keeper’s cash drawer.
3.               An old rupee’s advice.
4.               Lost in the gutter; life among the poor.
5.               An active life; better than life in a miser’s strongbox.

I am now and old coin, and have been in circulation for many years. But I can still remember my early youth. My active life began when I was paid over the counter of a bank, along with other new rupees, to a gentleman who cashed a checque. I went off jingling in his pocket’ but I was not long there, as he gave me to a shopkeeper. The shopkeeper looked pleased, and banged me on the counter to see if I were genuine. Then he threw me into a drawer, with a lot of other coins.

I soon found I was in mixed company. I took no notice of the greasy copper coins, as I knew they were of very low caste. I was condescending to the small change, knowing that I was twice as valuable as the best of them, the half cent pieces, and ten times better than the cheeky little pennies. But I found a number of coins of my own rank, but none so bright and new as I was. Most were old coins, dull and worn-as I am, also! to-day.

Some of them were jealous of my smart appearance, and made nasty remarks. But a very old coin was kind, and gave me god small change in their place. He summed up his advice with the remark, “A coin is always a coin, however old and worn.”

Then the drawer was opened and I was given in change to a young lady, who put me into her purse. But the purse had a hole in it; and as she walked along the street, I fell out and rolled into the gutter, where I lay for a long time. At last a dirty boy picked me up; and for some time after I was in low company, passing between poor people and petty shopkeepers in dirty little streets. But at last I got into good society, and most of my time I have been...