The Man Who Stole A Meeting-House 1878, From "Coupon Bonds"

"The Man Who Stole A Meeting-House" by J. T. Trowbridge is a witty story from the 1800s that uses humor to look at how being greedy can make a person act foolishly. The story is about a man called Jedwort, who is so cheap that he tries to steal the town's old meeting-house. Told through the memories of the narrator's friend, we hear about Old Jedwort and his family, highlighting how Jedwort's need to save every penny affects them. The story gets exciting when Jedwort tries to make the abandoned church part of his property. As the town and his family get upset, unexpected events, like the meeting-house burning down, cause Jedwort to lose his mind for a short time. In the end, Jedwort recovers, and he sees that things have gotten better for his family while he was unwell, showing us the value of forgiveness and the strength of community.