Upon consultation, it was the general verdict that there were men in the county who would keep it if they had picked it up.But the assembly manifested the liveliest interest in the incident.One suggested Toe River.Another thought it risky to drop a purse on any road.But there was a chorus of desire expressed that we should find it, and in this anxiety was exhibited a decided sensitiveness about the honor of Mitchell County.It seemed too bad that a stranger should go away with the impression that it was not safe to leave money anywhere in it.We felt very much obliged for this genuine sympathy, and we told them that if a pocket-book were lost in this way on a Connecticut road, there would be felt no neighborhood responsibility for it, and that nobody would take any interest in the incident except the man who lost, and the man who found.
By the time the travelers pulled up at a store in Bakersville they had lost all expectation of recovering the missing article, and were discussing the investment of more money in an advertisement in the weekly newspaper of the capital.The Professor, whose reform sentiments agreed with those of the newspaper, advised it.There was a group of idlers, mica acquaintances of the morning, and philosophers in front of the store, and the Friend opened the colloquy by asking if a man named David Thomas had been seen in town.
He was in town, had ridden in within an hour, and his brother, who was in the group, would go in search of him.The information was then given of the loss, and that the rider had met David Thomas just before it was discovered, on the mountain beyond the Toe.The news made a sensation, and by the time David Thomas appeared a crowd of a hundred had drawn around the horsemen eager for further developments.
Mr.Thomas was the least excited of the group as he took his position on the sidewalk, conscious of the dignity of the occasion and that he was about to begin a duel in which both reputation and profit were concerned.He recollected meeting the travelers in the morning.
The Friend said, "I discovered that I had lost my purse just after meeting you; it may have been dropped in Toe River, but I was told back here that if David Thomas had picked it up, it was as safe as if it were in the bank.""What sort of a pocket-book was it?" asked Mr.Thomas.
"It was of crocodile skin, or what is sold for that, very likely it is an imitation, and about so large indicating the size.""What had it in it?"
"Various things.Some specimens of mica; some bank checks, some money.""Anything else?"
"Yes, a photograph.And, oh, something that I presume is not in another pocket-book in North Carolina,--in an envelope, a lock of the hair of George Washington, the Father of his Country." Sensation mixed with incredulity.Washington's hair did seem such an odd part of an outfit for a journey of this kind.
"How much money was in it?"
"That I cannot say, exactly.I happen to remember four twenty-dollar United States notes, and a roll of small bills, perhaps something over a hundred dollars.""Is that the pocket-book?" asked David Thomas, slowly pulling the loved and lost out of his trousers pocket.
"It is."
"You'd be willing to take your oath on it?""I should be delighted to."
"Well, I guess there ain't so much money in it.You can count it [handing it over]; there hain't been nothing taken out.I can't read, but my friend here counted it over, and he says there ain't as much as that."Intense interest in the result of the counting.One hundred and ten dollars! The Friend selected one of the best engraved of the notes, and appealed to the crowd if they thought that was the square thing to do.They did so think, and David Thomas said it was abundant.
And then said the Friend :
"I'm exceedingly grateful to you besides.Washington's hair is getting scarce, and I did not want to lose these few hairs, gray as they are.You've done the honest thing, Mr.Thomas, as was expected of you.You might have kept the whole.But I reckon if there had been five hundred dollars in the book and you had kept it, it wouldn't have done you half as much good as giving it up has done;and your reputation as an honest man is worth a good deal more than this pocket-book.[The Professor was delighted with this sentiment, because it reminded him of a Sunday-school.] I shall go away with a high opinion of the honesty of Mitchell County.""Oh, he lives in Yancey," cried two or three voices.At which there was a great laugh.
"Well, I wondered where he came from." And the Mitchell County people laughed again at their own expense, and the levee broke up.
It was exceedingly gratifying, as we spread the news of the recovered property that afternoon at every house on our way to the Toe, to see what pleasure it gave.Every man appeared to feel that the honor of the region had been on trial--and had stood the test.
The eighteen miles to Burnsville had now to be added to the morning excursion, but the travelers were in high spirits, feeling the truth of the adage that it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have lost at all.They decided, on reflection, to join company with the mail-rider, who was going to Burnsville by the shorter route, and could pilot them over the dangerous ford of the Toe.
The mail-rider was a lean, sallow, sinewy man, mounted on a sorry sorrel nag, who proved, however, to have blood in her, and to be a fast walker and full of endurance.The mail-rider was taciturn, a natural habit for a man who rides alone the year round, over a lonely road, and has nothing whatever to think of.He had been in the war sixteen months, in Hugh White's regiment,--reckon you've heerd of him?
"Confederate?"
"Which?"
"Was he on the Union or Confederate side?""Oh, Union."
"Were you in any engagements?"
"Which?"
"Did you have any fighting?"
"Not reg'lar."
"What did you do?"
"Which?"
"What did you do in Hugh White's regiment?""Oh, just cavorted round the mountains."
"You lived on the country?"
"Which?"