The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-07-03
An Innocent Granger.
HOW FARMER SMITH, OF MADISON, OUT
WITTED A MONEY LENDER. g..
Lexington (Ky.l Gazette.l


| 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 us in reliable
way, was known to few outside Of his
neighborhood. Farmer Smith lived in
| quiet way, and was supposed to have
accumulated something ahead besides
having pretty good farm. After his
second son had been married about a
year, he concluded to settle near the old
mans, if he could rent 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.. Thomp-
son was a money-loaner, and nothing
suited him SO well as good interest,
backed by good security; and he was
moreover generally considered q 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 a
credit it the price was low enough and
the interest was not too high. His son
Jacky," he said, would have to pay for
the farm himself it the trade was made,
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.
u 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
n no. ri L IL
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 q allowed to pay it, and count off the
twelve per cent. The proposition SEEM
ed reaOnable enough to Thompson, and
he could not object to it's insertion in
the contract, and so the document was
signed in duplicate. The deed was to be
ready, the notes drawn, and the first pay
ment made on the. following Saturday.
When the time arrived, both, were
punctually on hand, the first 1000 was
paid, and the notes were ready for sig
nature. Mr.! Thompson" said Farmer
Smith, I've been thinking about that
interest, and it seemed skerry, so [
thought I'd gether in some little money
1 had out, and pay part of it, and'-
pulling from his breast-pocket roll of
money" jist count that"
The money was counted, and, with
twelve per cent of, the first note was
paid. 'Utf. t
- When Thompson had poeketed the
money, again Smith said: "I've got o
son hvin' in Missouri, Mr.. Thompson,
and as soon as he heard / was buyln' a
farm for Jaekey, he send me q 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.1 Again the
money was counted, and with the twen-
ty-four per cent. OFF, just paid the note
to cent.
"Well, that's luck" resumed the old
man; "and 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 a buying, and she told me
this mornin' that better take what she
had, and maybe it wouldn't come
amiss.o A roll was produced from tho
left side breeches pocket, and when
counted, just paid the third note after
the thirty-six per cent. was deducted,
and Thompson said not word. Smith
seemed to be considering for some min
utes, and then, raising his head, said, as
though sudden thought struck him:
I" You kowed my darter, Sal, didn't ye9
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 ary
man ON the ground. Well, you know,
Sal married year before last, and her
husband Hibbell-you know Hibbell-
is doin', they tell me, as good a grocery
business as any man in Kirksville.
Jakey he went over to see Sal and Hib-
bell the other day, and they was talkin'
about this here interest business, and
Sal says to Hibbell, says shen-
Never mind what they said, Mr..
Smith, broke in Thompson, just hand
over the money you were going to say
they sent you.h And sure enough the
old man produced still another roll from
some secret pocket which, when counted
proved to be the exact amount necegsa-
ry to pay off the last note when the
forty weight per cent. had been duly
taken off.
Thompson pocketed the money, went
strait to the courthouse, acknowledged
the deed, and handed it over with only
this remark: :" You are the d--st old
nx11.