The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-06-20
QUiscellaneoue.
IN Innocent Granger.

| A iarmer-we will call him Smith, for short
Lives in Madison county, KY, and would be
| known, at least by reputation, to many OF our
| readers were his ri ght name given. But the
| incident we now relate, though coming To us III
q reliable way, was known TO few outside OF
his neighborhood Farmer Smith lived i'll q
quiet way, and was supposed to have accumu-
lated something ahead, besides having pretty
good farm Alter his second son had been
married about 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 a chance to sell certain place on pretty
fair terms. MIR. Thompson was money-loan-
er, and nothing suited him so well as good in
terest, backed by good security, and he was
moreover 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 a 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, 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 the twelve per cent. interest
that Thompson insisted upon demanding.
Finally, however, after a great deal OF talk,
the price was agreed on at twenty thousand
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 more money than was due on the
notes he wanted to be allowed to pay it, and
count off the twelve per cent The proposition
seemed reasonable enough to Thompson, and
he could not object to its insertion in the con-
tract, and SO the document was signed in dupli-
cate. The deed was to be ready, the notes
drawn, and the first payment made on the fol-
lowing Saturday.
When the time arrived, both were punctuai-
ly on hand the first four thousand was paid,
and the notes were ready for signature.
"Mr. Thompson" said farmer Smith, "Ive
been t5ipkipg aAegt that interest aRd i
money had out, ,and"-pullng from his breast
nocket roll of money-ajist count that"
The money was counted, and, with twelve
per cent off, the first note was paid
When Thompson had pocketed the money,
again said Smith:
"I'ye got son livin in Missouri, Mr.. Thomp..
son, and as soon as he heard that was buyln'
a farm for Jakey, he sent me llttie money
pulling a roll from his right side breeches
pocket-"and, so, whatever it is, Well credit 1t
on the next note, if you have no objection.
Again the money was counted, and, with the
twenty -four per cent. off, just paid the note TO
a cent
1Well, that's luck" resumed the old man,
"and now, Mr.. Thompson, the old woman has
been selling right mart of butter and eggs, and
some chickens now and then, when they came
round the country a-buying, and she told me
this mornin' that better take what she had,
and may tie it wouldn't come amiss."
A roll was produced from the left side breech-
es pocket, and, when counted, just paid the
third note after the thirty-six per cent interest
was deducted, and Thompson said not word
Smith seemed to be considering for some min
utes and then, raising his head, said as though
a sudden thought had struck him:
"You knowed my darter Sal, ,dldn'tye! least
wise you've seen her. Sal was fine GAL
About five years ago, at hog KILN time, one OF
nv hands tuck sick, and what does Sal do but
turn in and help US, and l tell you, she could
sling hog across her shoulder equal to any
man on the ground. Well, you know, Sal mar,
ried yoar before last, and her husband, Hlbbell
-you know Ribbell-is doin', they tell me, as
good a grocery business as any man in Kinks
Vile. 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 Hlb-
bell, says She"
"Never mind what they said, Mr.. Smith" !"
said Mr. Thompson" just hand over the money
you were 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
necessary to pay off the last note when the
forty. eight per cent. had been duly taken OF.
Thompson pocketed the money, went straight
to the court house, acknowledged the deed, and
handed it over with only this remark:
"You are the greatest rascal l ever saw y