I am now an 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 cheque. 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 hanged 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 eight-anna pieces, and sixteen times better than the cheeky little annas. But I found a number of rupees of my own rank. but none so bright and new as I was. Most were old coins, dull and worn as I am alas! to-day.[the_ad id=”17141″]
Some of them were jealous of my smart appearance and made nasty remarks. But a very bold rupee was kind, and gave me good advice. He told me I must respect old rupees, and always keep the small change in their place. He summed up his advice with the remark, ” A rupee, is always a rupee, 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 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 in the pockets and purses of the rich.
I have no time to tell the hundredth part of my adventures, I have lived an active life, and never rested long anywhere. Anyway, I have had a better life than a rupee I knew who spent all his time locked up in a miser’s strong box. What a dull life!
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