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Jug of Silver
An underprivileged boy is determined to guess the amount of money in and thereby win a jug of silver coins so that he can do something very special for his sister
47 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1949
5 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Truman Capote
346 books7,298 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Truman Capote was an American writer whose non-fiction, stories, novels and plays are recognised literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and In Cold Blood (1965), which he labeled a "non-fiction novel." At least 20 films and TV dramas have been produced from Capote novels, stories and screenplays.
He was born as Truman Streckfus Persons to a salesman Archulus Persons and young Lillie Mae. His parents divorced when he was four and he went to live with his mother's relatives in Monroeville, Alabama. He was a lonely child who learned to read and write by himself before entering school. In 1933, he moved to New York City to live with his mother and her new husband, Joseph Capote, a Cuban-born businessman. Mr. Capote adopted Truman, legally changing his last name to Capote and enrolling him in private school. After graduating from high school in 1942, Truman Capote began his regular job as a copy boy at The New Yorker. During this time, he also began his career as a writer, publishing many short stories which introduced him into a circle of literary critics. His first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms, published in 1948, stayed on The New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks and became controversial because of the photograph of Capote used to promote the novel, posing seductively and gazing into the camera.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Capote remained prolific producing both fiction and non-fiction. His masterpiece, In Cold Blood, a story about the murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, was published in 1966 in book form by Random House, became a worldwide success and brought Capote much praise from the literary community. After this success he published rarely and suffered from alcohol addiction. He died in 1984 at age 59.
Truman Capote was an American writer whose non-fiction, stories, novels and plays are recognised literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and In Cold Blood (1965), which he labeled a "non-fiction novel." At least 20 films and TV dramas have been produced from Capote novels, stories and screenplays.
He was born as Truman Streckfus Persons to a salesman Archulus Persons and young Lillie Mae. His parents divorced when he was four and he went to live with his mother's relatives in Monroeville, Alabama. He was a lonely child who learned to read and write by himself before entering school. In 1933, he moved to New York City to live with his mother and her new husband, Joseph Capote, a Cuban-born businessman. Mr. Capote adopted Truman, legally changing his last name to Capote and enrolling him in private school. After graduating from high school in 1942, Truman Capote began his regular job as a copy boy at The New Yorker. During this time, he also began his career as a writer, publishing many short stories which introduced him into a circle of literary critics. His first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms, published in 1948, stayed on The New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks and became controversial because of the photograph of Capote used to promote the novel, posing seductively and gazing into the camera.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Capote remained prolific producing both fiction and non-fiction. His masterpiece, In Cold Blood, a story about the murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, was published in 1966 in book form by Random House, became a worldwide success and brought Capote much praise from the literary community. After this success he published rarely and suffered from alcohol addiction. He died in 1984 at age 59.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 26, 2017
TRUMAN Capote is a master of his craft. He knows how to grab your attention, which is exactly what he does with 'Jug of Silver'.
The author writes about the Valhalla drugstore, which is owned by his uncle Mr. Ed Marshall, where he works after school. On the left of the store was a tobacco-magazine counter. Beyond this counter was a soda fountain. The drugstore does pretty good business and is the gathering place of Wachata County. Its owner loves playing dominoes with his best buddy, an Egyptian called Hamurabi.
However, when a villainous man called Rufus McPherson opens a second drugstore directly across the courthouse square, most of Mr Marshall's clients are snatched away. Installing fancy equipment such as electric fans and colored lights, providing curb service and making grilled-cheese sandwiches does the trick for Rufus.
An old American drug store with soda fountain.
One day Mr. Marshall has an amazing idea. He has an empty wine jug filled to the brim with dimes and nickels. The First National Bank does the job for him. He then places it on a counter. Every customer who buys anything worth a quarter is allowed to make a guess as to the amount in the jug. Every person's guess is noted down in a register. On Christmas Eve the person whose guess comes closest to the exact amount will get the entire contents of the jug as a prize.
The guessing game is good enough for Mr. Marshall to make him regain all his lost business.
Appleseed focuses on the 'Jug of Silver'.
One mid-November, a stranger called Appleseed makes his first appearance in town along with his sister Middy. Middy has jagged teeth. She wants to become an actress but first wants to get her teeth fixed. When Appleseed, who is actually just a boy, comes to know about the jar he is thrilled to bits. But he does not have a quarter to buy something which would then entitle him to make a guess. He announces that he would be making a guess as soon as he has the money. He badly wants to win so that his sister’s wish could be fulfilled. Middy says that she was sure that her brother was going to win as he was born with a caul (also known as a cowl) on his head.
Caul is a membrane that covers the head and face of a newborn baby. Caul births are an extraordinarily rare event, and babies born in this way are sometimes said to have been “born with a veil,” or “born in a shirt.” Fewer than one out of every 80,000 babies are born with a caul, which can lend a child’s face a strange, alien appearance. In the light of this, it is not surprising that throughout human history many strange superstitions have been attached to babies born with cauls. Medieval Europeans considered caul birth a sign of good luck, and thought the caul meant the child was destined for greatness. Even today, in Russia, a very lucky person is said to have been “born in a shirt.” While there is no reason today to hold to these kinds of superstitions, it is worth noting that some very influential and important people have been born with a caul, including Charlemagne, Napolean, Lord Byron and Sigmund Freud.
A baby during caul birth.
Finally, just two days before Christmas, Appleseed makes his guess: “Seventy-seven dollars and thirty-five cents.”
On Christmas Eve, not only Mr. Marshall’s drugstore is packed like sardines, but also the street outside his drugstore has a throng of onlookers as they are impatient to learn the name of the winner. Appleseed, Middy and their fiddle-playing elder brother are the last to arrive. Appleseed volunteers to open the manila envelope which contains the prize-winning figure. While murmuring the figure there are tears in his eyes and he cannot announce it loudly, causing vexation among the onlookers. He has certainly lost; why else would he cry? Or has he won? Is he shedding tears of joy?
Do read the story to find out.
Truman Capote poses for the camera.
Here is the link to read the story:
http://bakersenglishclass.weebly.com/...
October 12, 2012
I don't normally review kids' books, but I found this rare edition of a single story of Capote's, bound in a glossy 1986 classroom binding. The binding is rather feminine, two shades of polka-dot pink and mauve. When I flipped through to look at the illustrations, I found at the end (p 48) a rendering of the character Middy, who looks surprisingly like Scout from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee included Truman Capote in her novel as Scout's friend Dill, so it's not surprising to find her showing up in Capote's stories, though Capote's characters are slightly more hyperbolic than Lee's.
The story is simplified for a tween audience, as it should be. There is, however, a small undercurrent of realism that shines through. Most of the characters are Mayberry-esque, except the red herring Egyptian dentist Hamurabi. I'm not sure what Capote intended with this character – perhaps he just meant to squeeze in some history. I was surprised at the ending – the cover calls it "A Classic Story of Will Power" – which if you read it, you'll find it's more a classic story of luck or "juju".
The most fascinating thing about the story is that the narrator's sex is never revealed – a difficult trick to pull without inhibiting the plot, but it's done well. This, coupled with the effeminate cover design, amuses me. I imagine all those small-town, church-going mums reading this cute little story to their daughters, and wondering who this fine female writer "Truman" is…
The story is simplified for a tween audience, as it should be. There is, however, a small undercurrent of realism that shines through. Most of the characters are Mayberry-esque, except the red herring Egyptian dentist Hamurabi. I'm not sure what Capote intended with this character – perhaps he just meant to squeeze in some history. I was surprised at the ending – the cover calls it "A Classic Story of Will Power" – which if you read it, you'll find it's more a classic story of luck or "juju".
The most fascinating thing about the story is that the narrator's sex is never revealed – a difficult trick to pull without inhibiting the plot, but it's done well. This, coupled with the effeminate cover design, amuses me. I imagine all those small-town, church-going mums reading this cute little story to their daughters, and wondering who this fine female writer "Truman" is…
July 13, 2014
An excellent short story by Truman Capote.
He writes very good stories and manages to give them depth that is so often missing from short stories. His books are so well written.
He writes very good stories and manages to give them depth that is so often missing from short stories. His books are so well written.
December 17, 2013
What a wonderful short story. This book hovers between 4 and 5 stars. I think this short story is the first I've read of Truman Capote. And wow, what a writer. I especially love the references to South Alabama. Satsumas!!! I'm just guessing, but I suspect Monroeville was in Capote's mind when he wrote this. Did you catch the literary references of the character's names. I wouldn't have gotten the references, if I hadn't of read an annotated version. Sweet, quick read. Love it.
How I rate books:
1 star - so bad I couldn't finish it.
2 stars - read it, but didn't like it.
3 stars - read it and it was OK. I would not recommend to anyone.
4 stars - Read it, love it, please read it
5 stars - You must read it, or we can't be friends anymore.
How I rate books:
1 star - so bad I couldn't finish it.
2 stars - read it, but didn't like it.
3 stars - read it and it was OK. I would not recommend to anyone.
4 stars - Read it, love it, please read it
5 stars - You must read it, or we can't be friends anymore.
January 19, 2019
Buena historia
December 8, 2019
Well hello, Mr Capote. Nice to finally meet you. Such a simple yet evocative style.
Read
October 18, 2019 Would you pass a chance to get 100s of dollars for free? Would it catch your attention? What would you do if you won with an educated guess out of a whole town's worth of people? This book touches on a kid that has all these things happen.
Jug Of Silver was a short story written by author Truman Capote. The book focused on a drug store called valhalla in a small town in america, that filled a jug with coins as to get more attention from the townsfolk. The drug store uses the jug full of silver coins and a contest to win it to get more customers than his competitor, but this little contest to win the jug of silver has all the towns people riled up to hear the winner.
The main characters are the owner of the drug store Mr marshall his nephew that works there after school, appleseed, and Harambe.
One day appleseed started counting the coins from outside, and made the guess of 77.35 dollars. The day before christmas Mr. marshall was going to announce the winner, the whole town was waiting to hear the winner, Appleseed then announced it, without realizing that he was the winner! I personally really enjoyed the story, it was nice and short and sweet and would recommend to others to read!
Jug Of Silver was a short story written by author Truman Capote. The book focused on a drug store called valhalla in a small town in america, that filled a jug with coins as to get more attention from the townsfolk. The drug store uses the jug full of silver coins and a contest to win it to get more customers than his competitor, but this little contest to win the jug of silver has all the towns people riled up to hear the winner.
The main characters are the owner of the drug store Mr marshall his nephew that works there after school, appleseed, and Harambe.
One day appleseed started counting the coins from outside, and made the guess of 77.35 dollars. The day before christmas Mr. marshall was going to announce the winner, the whole town was waiting to hear the winner, Appleseed then announced it, without realizing that he was the winner! I personally really enjoyed the story, it was nice and short and sweet and would recommend to others to read!
August 19, 2017
„ხელის აუკანკალებლად“ მაჩუქეთ რა ვინმემ.... :( :დ
February 25, 2021
Ingenio e inocencia.
Admirable de principio a fin.
Admirable de principio a fin.
Read
November 24, 2023Appleseed and his sister had such charm. This was a lovely story
December 26, 2023
Así es como se crea un relato corto que tiene todo. Me acerque tímidamente a Capote y ahora que rompí el hielo espero seguir con m{as de su obra.
September 3, 2024
3/10
The lost charm and little wonders of the world slowly fading or rather being greedily torn from us.
The lost charm and little wonders of the world slowly fading or rather being greedily torn from us.
August 18, 2014
A poignant, tender, wonderfully written little story. Classic Capote.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews