Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-06-11
AN INNOCENT GRANGER.
How Farmer Smith, of Madison, Outw itted a
Money-Lender.
lFrom the Lexington tKy.) eanette.l

| lFrom the Lexington (Ky) Gszette.l
A farmer-we will call him Smith
for short-hves iD 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 COM
ing to us in a reliable way, was
known to few outside of his neigh
borhood. Farmer Saith lived in
quiet way, and was supposed to
have accumulated something ahead
besides having a pretty good farm.
After his second son had been mar
ried about a year, he concluded TO
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 certain place on pretty fair
terms. Mr.. Thompson was money
loaner, and nothing suited him SO
we'll 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 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 good farmer, and, no
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 follow was
IL per cent. interest that Mr.. Thomp~
son wanted.
Finally, however, after a great
deal of talk, the price was agreed on
at 500, one-fifth cash, and notes
at one, two, three, and four years,
with II 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 IL per cent
The proposition seemed reasonable
enough to Thompson, and he could
not object to it's insertion in the con-
tract, and so the document was sign
ed in duplicate. The deed was n
be ready, the notes drawn, and the
first payment made on the following
Saturday.
When the time arrived, both were
punctually on hand, the first $4,000
was paid, and the notes were ready
said Fsrrmats1rr Smith MI eTbhse eB
ing about that interest, and it seem
ed skerry, SO / thought d gether in
some little money | had out, and
pay part of it, and"-pulling from
his breast pocket roll Of money
'jist count that"
The money was coanted, and,
with 2per cent. off, the first note
was paid.
When Thompson had pocketed
the money, again Smith said 1--WE
got son livin' in Missouri, Mr..
Thompson, and as soon as he heard
| was buyin' farm for Jakey, he
sent me little money"-pulling a
roll from his right side breeches
pocket-"and so whatever it is we'll
credit it on the next note, if You
have no objection" Again the
money was counted, and, with the
"a per cent. off, just paid the note to
o cent.
"Well. that's luck" resumed the
old man sand now, Mr.. Thompson,
the old woman has been selling right
smart of butter and aigs, and some
chickens now and then, when they
come round the country buyin'
and she told me this mornin' that |
better take what she had, and may
be it wouldn't come amiss." & roll
was produced from the left side
brooches pocket, and, when counted,
just paid the third note after the 36
per cent. was deducted, aad Thomp-
son said not word. Smith seemed |
to be considering for some minutes,
and then, raising his hoad, said, as q
sudden thought struck him: "You
know my darter, Sal, didn't ye?
Leastwise you've seen her. Sal was
fine gal. About FIVE years ago, at
hog.killin' time, one O. my hands
tuck sick, and what does Sal do but
turn in and help US, and, / tell you,
she could sling hog across her
shoulder equal to airy man on the
ground. Well, you know, Sal mar
ried year before last, and her hus-
baud Hibbell-you know HibbelI-
is doin', they tell me, as good a
grocery business as any man in
Kirksville. Jakey he went over to
see Sal and Hibbell the other day
they was talkin' about this here
interest business, and Ssh says to
Hibbell, says she"--
"Never mind what they said, Mr..
Smith," broke in Thompson, 'just
hand over the money you were CO.
ing to say they sent you" And
sure enough the old man produced
still another roll from some secret
pocket, which, when counted, proved
10 be the exact amount necessary to
pay off the last note when the 48
per cent. had been duly taken off
Thompson pocketed the money,
went straight to the court house, ac-
knowledged the deed, and handed it
over, with only this remark: "You
are the d-st old rascal I ever
saw"