22 WALL STREET AND THE WILDS 



the bank. Slapping my one-dollar bill hard 

 down upon a counter which was just level with 

 my eyes, I shouted: 



"I demand specie!" 



Specie didn't come — at once — but there was 

 a gathering behind that counter while spectacled 

 eyes looked down upon me. I don't remember 

 what was said, but I knew the moment was big 

 with fate, and I felt that I was another Samson 

 with my arms around the pillars of a modern 

 temple of Dagon. I was distinctly disappointed 

 when the teller finally pushed within reach of 

 my hand four Spanish pillar quarter dollars. 



In the families of the country clergy of that 

 day the possibility of meat upon the table was 

 open to discussion, but that the boys of the fam- 

 ily must be sent to an academy was seldom ques- 

 tioned. I don't like to think to-day of the in- 

 roads made on the slender family purse by my 

 years later at Andover. In after years I lav- 

 ished mere money in return, but could never feel 

 that I had reduced that sacred debt. 



