The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-05-22

AN 1NNocHNT GRANGER
How Farmer Smith, of Madison. Ont.
w1tted Money Lender.

How Farmer Smith, of Madison. Ont
w1tted Money Lender.
A farmer-We will call him Smitl
for short-liyes in Madison county
and would be known, at least b,
Reputation to many of our readers
were his right name given. But the
incident we now relate, though com
ing to us in q reliable way, was
known to few outside of the neigh
borhood. Farmer Smith lived in {
quiet way, and was supposed tC
have accumulated something ahead
besides having a pretty good farm
After his second son had been mar
ried about year he concluded tC
settle near the old mans if he could
rent a place.
Hearing of this, Mr.. Thompson
again we withhold the true name
thought there might be chance to
sell a certain place on pretty fair
terms. Mr.. Thompson was a money
loaner, and nothing suited him SO
well as good interest, backed by
good security; and he was more
over generally considered a 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 if the price was
low enough and interest was not too
high. His son "Jakey," he said,
would have to pay for the farm il
the trade was made, but his son was
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 vas twelve per cent.
interest that Mr.. Thompson wanted.
Finally, however, after a great
deal of talk, the price was agreed on
at twenty thousand dollars, one-fifth
cash, and notes at one, two, three
and four years, with twelve per cent.
interest from date for the remainder.
The contract 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. This proposition
seemed reasonable enough to
Thompson, and he could not object
to it's insertion in the contract, and
so the document was signed in du-
plicate. The deed was to be ready,
the notes drawn, and the first pay
ment made on the following Satur-
day.
When the time arrived, both were
punctually on hand, the first $4,000
was paid, and the notes were ready
for signature. "Mr. Thompson"
said farmer Smith, ''Tve been think
ing about that interest, and it seemed
skerry; so 1 thought I'd gether in
some little money I had out, and pay
part of it, and"-pulling from his
breast pocket q roll of money
"here, you just count that"
The money was counted, and,
with twelve per cent. off, the first
note was paid.
When Thompson had pocketed the
money, again Smith said: "Pve got
a son livin' in Missouri, Mr.. Thomp-
son, and as soon as he heard 1 was
buyin' farm for Jakey, he sent me
q little Eaeaeys"-puling q roll from
his right side breeches pocket
sand SO whatever it is wen credit it
on the next note, if you have no OBJ
lection" Again the money was
counted, and with the twenty-fOur
per cent. of, just paid the note to a
cent.
"Well, that's luck, resumed the old
man; sand now, Mr. Thompson, the
old woman has been selling right
smart of butter and eggs, and some
chickens now and then, when they
come round the country a buyin'
and she told me this morning that l
had better take what she had and
maybe it wouldn't come amiss." "
A roll was produced from the left
side breeches pocket, and when
counted just paid the third note aft
er the thirty-six per cent. was de-
Quoted, and Thompson said not a
word. Smith seemed to be consid-
ering for some minutes, and then,
raising his head, said, as though a
sudden thought struck him: "You
knowed my daughter Sal, didn't YET
Leastwise you've seen her. Sal was
a fine gal. About five years ago, at
hog KILN time, one O. my hands
tuck sick, and what does Sal do but
turn in and help US, and, l tell you
she could sling a hog across hel
shoulder equal to ary a man on the
ground. Well, you know, Sal mar.
ried year before last, and her hus
band Hibbell-you know Hibbell-
is doin', they tell me, as good a bus
mess as any man in Kirksville. Jak
ey he went over to Sal and Hibbel
the other day, and they was talkin
about this here interest business
and Sal says to Hibbell, says she
'Never mind what they said, Mr.
Smith," broke in Thompson, Gus
hand over the money you were go
ing to say they sent you"
And sure enough, the old man pro
duced still another roll from som,
secret pocket, which, when counted
proved TO be the exact amount nee
essary to pay off the last note whel
the forty-eight per cent. had beel
Iduly taken of.
Thompson pocketed the money
went straight to the court house
acknowledged the deed, and handle
it over with only this remark: 'Yo
are the greatest old rascal I eve
saw"