The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-04-19
An Old Mans. Experience.
sOl1 fh arm MQrN1l1,u

An old man walked into the
Mercury Office this morning, and
after seating himself, said: II am
past sixty-tour years OF age. 1
have been a farmer all nv days,
and have grown forty-two crops on
my own account. They all were as
good as my neighbors'. In early
manhood I married a good, kind,
healthy, economical girl. For
forty-two years we have toiled side
by side, four children have been
born to us, three strong, hearty
boys, and a delicate girl.
My wife and 1 stinted, worked and
sayed enough to pay for and i'm
prove a nice little farm; we were
too poor to give our boys any but a
common school education; but our
girl being delicate, we desired to
give her good education, as she
could not tough it as our brave,
healthy hoys; but money ~as want
ing. SO wife and I mortgaged our
home for money to educate Mabel.
We felt sure we coule pay it off, as
the boys were rapidly approaching
manhood.
Times grew harder each year, the
cause we did not know. Being a
Southern man, I served in the Con-
federate army four years. l have
always voted the Democratic ticket,
Horace Greeley, and all. When l in
quired of my la aking friends the
cause of the increasing hard times,
and they answered: "Republican
rule robber tariff national banks! !"
| worked the harder and stuck the
closer to the party.
Some years ago, John, our oldest,
Joined the Alliance, and inside of
two years Ben and Jim joined also.
They bought books, and subscribed
for newspapers, and tried to inform
themselves. I heard John say to
Ben, 1.-The Democrats are just as bad
as the Republicans; there are
just as many of them
at the head Of trusts, and national
banks, as there are Republicans"
This fired me up, and | lit into
John. told him he was mistaken.
He read me the names of the leaders
in the Standard oil and other great
trusts, I blushed. but plead 1.-The
Democrats have never had a chance;
they will bust up all trusts and ma
tional banks when they get in pow
err" The boys shook their heads,
begged me to Join the Alliance and
read up. 1 refused, saying 1.-The
Democratic party is good enough
for me. just wait till they get
in power, and if they don't
do it, then I'll quit it." They
handed me copy after copy
of the Southern Mercury. I read
it carefully, but didn't believe it
was telling the truth. Times grew
duce went lower and lower; the
boys married and left the old home
daughter had graduated and re-
turned home. Seeing US stagger-
ing under an increasing mortgage
and being unable to secure a school,
she assisted me on the farm. Ex-
posture soon carried her off. Wife
and I struggled on, trying to pay off
the mortgage. Piece by piece, our
property went to pay interest, till
finally all was gone. Then my
good wife, overcome by the weight
of debt and age too, passed away.
went to the man to whom I had
given the mortgage, and begged for
time. Being Democrat, and find
ing I was one, he agreed to wait
till January l, 1898, by which time,
he said he was sure Cleveland would
be elected, and money matters
would ease up. managed to pay
him two bales of cotton last fall, be-
fore the rise. Cleveland was elect
ed. 1 hoped on, till read his in
augural address last Monday in the
Mercury. Obi how my heart sank r
I found we had change of masters,
but no change in financial policy!
After seeing the last hope of re-
deeming my home vanish, I came to
town and begged the MORTGAGE to
take my land and return me my
notes. This he taAlly did, after as
pertaining it was all the property
had any claim ! am, old, brol