South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-12-23
sAvINGaA HOME.

| - s>A~ AA-i~hs SAAiit. ilc WIS tlJo young
est OF three brothers, and had remain
ed upon the home in care of the sold
folks while they lived; but they had
been gathered to their fathers now.
aud John was left in sole possession,
with only his wife and child to pro-
vide for. The homestead was in p
pleasant, thriving town in the State
OF Maine-up in Oxford County
distant fifty miles from Portland.
John Garland was now sole
OF good farm. But-ah there
was a mortgage on the farm of S 900
la mortgage upon the note of
which interest had been made for
more than twenty years-and now
that note must be paid. The man
who held It had been waiting patient
~ until old Peter Garland (John's ia
ther) should die, calculating that he
would then step in and take the pro-
perty; for should he foreclose, and
force sale-as he could readily and
easily do-the farm would not bring
more than enough to satisfy his claim.
At all events he regarded the odd
Garland Place as good as his own.
John had been notified within a
month"; after the death of his father
that he must-pay off the mortgage or
surrender the estate. 1t startled him.
He sat down and thought the matter
over and talkedsit over with his
wife.
Whatever you do john sho said.
do not give up the farm, if you can
help it. will help you all 1 can. l
will work and I will economize. 90
TO my Uncle Daniel, in Portland. He
is one of the directors of the Canal
Bank. Perhaps hewitt help you.
AT any rate, he will give you good
advice
So away to Portland John went,
and found a. Uncle ( Lanham in his
store, and to him told his story
Said he:
My creditor hopes to get the dear
old farm for himself My father put
the mortgage on, and have paid the
interest regularly since l took the
charge. That money-onc thousand
dollars be paid within week.
IF you can lend it to me, l will turn
the mortgage over,to you. Surely the
security Is good
Truly, John, / have no money to
spare and if | had it would only
leave you, at the end of another de-
cade where you are now. You would
only have to renew again
No I! no. the young man cried,
with earnest, manly emotion, and with
look Of resolution, Il will work, and
Mary will work, and neither of us
spend Kenny which we are not for.
ced to spend
DO You think you could pay it of
in two years?'
IL could try
well, now-see,' said the merchant
after little reflection, L think I will
help you. have faith in you. Do
you make q note. payable in one'year,
with interest semi-annually-that can
run two years-and | will indorse it.
10 me you shall give mortgage on
your farm for security. That note
will get discounted at our bank, and
tie money shall be yours. Butt
do this, you must make up your mind
to pay me one hundred dollars at the
end of every two months. Every
sixty days YOU must have q hundred
dollars laid by for me, and. whether
| receive it or not, Mt the time, it shall
be held sacred as belonging to me.
Can you do this?'
John thought the matter over and
finally replied that Inc could make all
the payments except the first one.
Said he:
There will be considerable expense
attending the execution of the bust.
ness, which 1 must meet promptly.
After that l should have no trouble
only the trouble of work and care
'All right said Lanham, 'do you
borrow another hundred dollars. Ny
Endorsement will be good enough, aud
your farm is worth enough to cover it,
Make it eleven hundred
And 30 the business was done, and
concluded in season.
1t was on bright beautiful morns
ing in September that Dir. Jonas Hap.
good drove into the door yard of the
Garland Place, and having jumped
out from bis light wagon, aud hitched
his horse, no turned toward the house,
meeting John at the door. lie was
all smiles and cbcerfulness. lie spoke
of the beautiful weather of the for.
| warduess of the crops. and especiallv
Of the splendid look of everything a.
round the old homestead. tho good
old place he called il. Thus talking,
they made their way into the comfort
able sitting.ro0m, where Mary. sitting
by the side OF the cradle, rocked baby
with foot, while she piled the nee
die with her fingers.
BY and by, when he found that the
young wife wsuld not 60 away, Mr..
Hapgood pulled ont bis big pocket
book and cleared his throat then