, 1874-05-23
AN INNOCENT GRANGER.
NoW Farmer Smith. Of Madison, Ont.
1vlttcd q MOlhey.n4eMaleF.

How Farmer Smith. of Madison, Out-
Hvittcd n m0ney-LcMtlcr.
From the Lexington {Ky.} Gazette.
A tarmor-we will call him Smith for short
lives In Madison County, md would be known,
ut least by reputation, to many of our renders,
were his right name given. But tho incident ne
now relate, though coming to lls in reliable
way, was known to few outside of Ills noighbor-
hood. Farmer Smith lived in quiet wny, and
was supposed to have accumulated something
ahead besides having pretty good farm. After
hla second son had been married about yonr,
he concluded to settle noar tho old mans, if he
could rent place.
Hearing Of this, n1r. Thompson--agsi we
withhold tho truo nams-thought tlore might
ba chanco to sell certain place On pretty fair
terms. Mr. Thompsou was Inoney~loaner, and
nothing suited him 80 vol az good interest,
backed by.good security; aud lie was, moreover,
generally considered . pretty Hhrewd trader.
He rode oyQr to SEQ old man Smith, but the
farmer suid ho did not feel ab1o to buy-ho
might buy on d credit II tho price was low
enough and tho interest Was not too high. His
aou "Jaley," lie said, would have 10 pay for the
farm himself 1t The trade was 1nade, but bis son
was good farmer, and, he thought, it would bo
all rlght-at least tho iand would bo there, aud
would be good for what remained unpaid If his
son should fail. What seemed to startle the
old follow VAS IL per cent interest that
Thompson wanted.
:, Finally, however, after groat doal Of talk
tho price was agreed On at SEQ, GOO, ono-fifth
cash. and notes at ono, two. throe, and fo,,r
years, with IL per cont interest from date for the
remainder. The contract was drawn, and they
woro about to sign, whom the farmer suggested
that it lie should at my time get any mora
money than was duo on tho notes, lie wanted to
bo allowed to pay it., aud count of the L. per
cent. The proposition seemed reasonable
enough to Thompson, and ho could not object
to its insertion In the contract. mud 10 tho doc.l-
ment was signed III duplicate. Tie deed was to
Ie ready, the notes drawn md tue first payment
made on tho following Saturday.
When tile tino arrived, both woro punctualiy
were ready for signature. i hlr. Thompson,
said Farmer Smith, t. I've beeu thinking about
that interest," and It seomod skerry, so thought
Id gethor in some little money I had out, and
pny part of it, aud pulling from lis breast-
pocket a roll Of money" jist COUNT that"
Tho money was counted, aud, With IL per rcent
off the first note WIS paid.
When Thomip1son l!aa pocketed the money,
again Smith said: I've got son lyin in Mis-.
Bcuri, hlr. Thompson, and as aoon as be heard /
money pulling . roll from his right sido
brceches pocket" md 30 whatever it Ia we'll
credit it Oh the next note Ii you have no obtec-
t!on." Again tho money WAY co''1ted, aud with,
tue q per cent of, just paid the note to . oent.
we tatS nf GeanMsd " tn the old man
been selling right smart Of butter aud aigs, and
Bomo chickens now aud then, whon they come
'rounl tue country buying, and Aho told me
this tnoruin' that better take what ele had, and
maybe itwouldnt come anaiss." A roll was pro-
ducel from tho Left side broeches pocket, and,
when counted, just paid tho third note aftnr the
80 per cent WIS deducted, and Thompson snid
not word. Smith seemed to be considering
for some minutes. and thon. raising Lis hoai.
said, as though sudden thought struck him:
" You knowad my darter. Sal, didn't yo2 Least.
wise you've saon her. Sal MAS fine gal. About
fiye years ago, at hog-killiu' timo, one O NY
handa tuck sick, aud whnt docs Bal do
but turn in and hclp US, and, tell you aho
could sling hog aorosH hor shoulder
oqua! to :ary man OH the ground. Well, you
know, Sal married year before last, and her liuH-
band Hibbelt-you know Hibboll-is doin', tl,ey
tel! mo, as good O grocery businosa aH any man
In KirkRyille. Jakoy he wont over to 400 Sal
and Iiibbell the other day, and thoy WAS tslkln'
about thB hore interest business, and Hal aayB to
Hibbe!l, says she-
"Novor mind what they eaid, Mr. Smith,"
broke in Thompson, "just hand over the money
you wore going to say they aont you." And sure
enough tho old man produced IT'LL another roll
from some secret pocket, which, when counted,
proved to be tho c1act amount necessary to pay
otf tho last note whom tho AZ per cent had boenn
duly taken Oft.
Thompson pookoted the money, went straight
to the Courthouse, acknowledged the decd, and
Aandod it over, with only this remark: "You
arc the d-st old rascal T ever saws"