The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-05-07
An Innocent Granger.
HOW FARMER sNIITHsoUTwrrTED A MONEY
s LENDER.
LEXINGTON (Ky) Garrett,

Lexington, (Ky9 Gazette.
A farmer-we will call him Smith for short
lives in Madison county, and would be known,
at least by reputation, to many OF our readers
. were his right name given. But the Incident
| we now relate, though coming to lis in a relias
BILE way, was known to few outside of his neigh
borhood. Farmer Smith lived in quiet way,
ard was supposed to have accumulated some
thing ahead besides having pretty goodf farm
After his second son had been married about a
| year, he concluded to settle near the old man.
| ii he could rent place.
Hearing of this, Mr.. Thompson-aeain we
withhold the true name-thought there might
be chance to sell a certain place on pretty
fair terms. Mr.. Thompson was money-loan-
er, and nothing suited him so well as good in
| terest, backed by good security and he was
moreover generally considered pretty shrewd
! trader He rode over to see old man Smith,
but the farmer said he did not feel able to buy
| he might buy on credit il the price was low
enough and the interest was not too high His
son ''Jakey.' he said, would have to pay for
the farm himself if the trade was made, but his
son was a good farmer, and, he thought, it
would be all right-at least the land would be
there, and would be good for what remained
unpaid if his son should fail. What seemed to
startle the old fellow was twelve per cent. in
terest that Thompson wanted.
Finally, however, after great deal OF talk,
the price was agreed OH at twenty thousand
dollars, one fifth cash, and notes at one, two,
three and four years, with twelve per cent. in
terest from date for the remainder. The con-
tract was drawn, and they were about to sign
when the farmer suggested that if he should at
any time get any more money than was due on
the notes he wanted to be allowed to pay it,
and count off the twelve per cent. The propo-
sition seemed reasonable enough to Thompson,
and he could not object to it's insertion in the
contract, and so the documentwas signed in dll-
plcate. The deed was to be ready, the notes
drawn and the first payment paid on the fol-
lowing Saturday.
When the time arrived both were punctually
on hand, the first 81, 900 was paid and the notes
were ready for signature. MIR. Thompson"
said farmer Smith, ''rve been thinking about
that interest, and it seemed skerry, so thought
I'd gether in some little money had out and
pay part of it, and''-pulling from his breast
pocket roll OF money, 'just count that
The money was counted, and, with twelve
per cent. off, the first note was paid.
When Thompson had pocketed the money a.
gain Smith said: ''I've got q son Twin i'll Mis-
souri,, Mr.. Thompson, and as soon as he heard
was buyin' farm for Jakey he sent me a lit
tie money"-pulling roll from his right side |
breeches pocket-''and so whatever it is We'll !
credit it on the next note, if you have no objec-
ton" Again the money was counted, and
with the twenty-four per cent. off just paid the
note to a cent.
swell. that's luck'' resumed the old man
''and now, Mr.. Thompson, the old woman has
been seln' right smart of butter and eigs, and
some chickens now and then, when they come
round the country a buying. and she told me
this mornin that better take what she had,
and may be it wouldn't come amsS.' A roll
was produced from the left side breaches peck
ct, and when counted just paid the note after
the thlfty-siX per cent, was deducted, and
Thompson said not a word. Smith seemed to
be considering for some minutes, and then, rais-
ing his head, said rs though sudden thought I
struck him: ''You knowed my daughter, Sal, I
didn't We? Leastwise you've seen her. Sal |
was a fine gal About five years ago at hog |
KILN time, one of my hands tuck sick, and |
what does Sal do but turn in and help us, and
tell you, she could sling a hog across her
shoulder equal to airy man on the ground
Well, you know, Sal got married year before
last, and her husband Hibbell-you know Hib-
BELLS doin', they tell me, as good 4 grocery
business as any man in Kirksville. Jakey he
went over to see Sal and Hibbell the other day,
and they was talkin' about this interest bust
ness, and Sal says to Hibbell, says she''-
s'Never mind what they said, Mr.. Smith,
broke in Thompson, lust hand over the money
you are going to say they sent you." And
sure enough the old man produced still another
roll from some secret pocket which, when
counted proved to be the exact amount neces-
sary to pay Off the last note when the fortyeght
per cent. been duly taken off.
Thompson pocketed the money went straight
to the courthouse, acknowledged the deed land
handed it over with only this remark: ''You
are the d-st old rascal I ever saw.