The Stolen Nickel (1912)
Little Billy Harmon wants very much to buy a live mud turtle from a small boy friend of his, but his father and mother do not believe in giving little boys money to spend. Now it so happens that the next day Billy meets little Bessie Smith on some little errand, carrying mother's pocketbook, full of small change. In showing it she drops the money and Billy helps her to pick it up and it isn't until she has gone on her way that he discovers a five-cent piece which they had not noticed, and then the temptation assails him and after some little struggle with himself, he finally yields and puts the coveted coin in his pocket. He buys the turtle and then his conscience begins to trouble him and he sees visions and dreams. The next morning he is unable to eat any breakfast and finally decides that the only way out of the difficulty is to go to work to earn the money and pay back the full amount. This he proceeds to do in installments, one cent at a time, the fourth cent being bargained for with his mother for washing the dishes. She leaves him to his task to go to a woman's society and he drops a plate. Of course, he feels that this ends everything, and leaving a note to the effect that a white rag hung out as a signal that his mother is not mad will be the only means of bringing him home again, he goes forth to get his last penny. This is hard to earn and he is finally obliged to sell his pocket knife, a cherished treasure. And then he returns the five pennies to Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Smith, noting the difference between five pennies and one nickel, understands what the small boy's problem has been. His father, coming by, is told by Mrs. Smith of the circumstances and goes home to tell the little mother where they stand. Of course, when they understand the boy's temptation and what it had led to and how he had worked the problem out for himself, the white rag is immediately hung out and they decide to give him five cents a week to spend for himself.
All Releases
Domestic
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International
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Worldwide
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GenresComedy
Drama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| Bannister Merwin | Director |
| Bannister Merwin | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Yale Boss | |
| Robert Conness | |
| Mary Fuller | |
| Philip Tannura |
