The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-02

such sums as How much will y, ~. S2
amount to in six years, three months
and four days at six per cent interest,"
compounded semi-anuuailyT
I'VE boys used to laugh about IL ana
r-oaict tNaf h. would soon become
mathematical maniac. Then we heard
Thompsc ms Office and was porting over
title deeds, mortgages, foreclosures,
writs of eJ.ctn.ent, and lot OF othef
similar things.
"By this time he vas fourteen years
CID and. as soon as he had mastered
compoud interest he decided not TO so
to school any more His mother want
ed him to study a couple of years more,
but he wouldn't do it.
"He Z ade up his mind to work. and
the best thing he could get to do was
hiring out to a farmer. He was big.
healthy boy who could DO almost a
mans work and so he got sl2 month;
In year this amounted TO SlH. He had
81 ent just s. Of it in buying two second
hand suits OF clothes from another boy.
That left $40 in the bank, TO which
little interest money was added.
About this time Mrs. Hogg, woo was
worn cut, became III. Finally she sent
a neighbor over to the farm where
James worked. She begged her son to
let her have $40 for dc.tor and medicine.
Does she think I'm fool? James
demanded, when the neighbor made his
mission known. I have TO work FOR my
money ard | have to keep In good
health to be able to work. II she wants
TO get SICK let her DO it, but she must
And James stuck to that decision.
ne got more pay the second year.
ana ana at me end Of that time he had over
500 in bank-besides. of course. the in
terest. He never lost sight of that part
OF ms money. and always had his in
t,ereSt figured down to a cent before
dividend day came around
But the small bank rate of interest
was now too small a Suft hin, apI Ia.
oeSan 10 look about for an Investment
tndt would pay him six per cent He
tound the chance. a farmer wanted to
Doi5o" ~ dollars for year. James
nlade careful inquiries, and found that
there was very little chance of the farm
pr pelnS able 10 repay the money Then
he loaned it and Rugged his first mort
gage to his breast OF course. as he was
minor. the mortgage wasn't made out
IN MS name, but the bank president who
was mean man himself, acted as his
guardian.
The next day after the signing OF the
mortgage, the same neighbor made an
other pilgrimage to James Mrs Hogg
was Ill again, with slight prospect OF ever
recovering her health. She must 60 10
the poorhouse if James didn't send her
some money"
Did he DO IT," queried Nephew Dick
'Ihat isn't the kind OF a boy I'm tell
.1g you about" rejoined Uncle Bob, who
thrn continued his narrative:
James could have realized on his
mortgage and made his mother comfor-
able, but he didn't do IT, She went 10
me poorhOuse, still unwilling to believe
mat her son was as mean as others
tried 10 paint him
well. that mortgage ran along for
the year and the farmer couldn't pay.
up for sale. Nobody seemed to want II
Just then, so James had ID take il IN ex-
change for the mortgage"
And then he took his mother out OF
q nFNl
the farm?' Nephew Tom eargerly inter
posed.
That isn't the kind Of a boy I'm tell
ing ing YOU about retorted urele Bob,
years wages in the bank and figuring
up the interest. James threw up his job
and hustled around until he found a man
who would take tn farm a monthly
rental. Then James managed to induce
2 city bank to lend him 500 on his farm
That was his way at all times. He
wanted 10 make a double profit out OF
with his $500 he went to the city. He
was gone four years-Or until h was
OF age. What he did during that time was
never clearly known IN this town. But
the bank president, who still acted AZ
his guardian, made not a few trips 10
New York When James came back to
US at the age of twenty-one he was re-
puted 10 be worth S25.O0, and that was
very likely an underestimate.
HE had changed a good deal. He was
no longer surly, but on the contrary was
as pleasant 10 every one as could be-
He had plenty OF money to lend every
body who could give a good mortgage"
Did ne take his mother out OF the
poorhouse"' interpOsed Nephew Tom.
That isn't the kind of a boy Uncle
Bob IS telling us about" flashed from
Nephew Dick.
well, We found that James Hogg had
changed in other ways besides smiling.
He no longer wanted double profit out
of his investments-he wanted al least
four profits on anything he undertook
And. before long his victims saw that
he was getting IL. too.
such sorrow as came to this poor
place. and all through the greed and
hatred of this meaneSt young fellow who
ever lived! Let me give you one instance,
boys, Of his grasping ways. A young
doctor came 10 town 10 start a practice.
He had some money, but not enough TO
buy house outright In an evil hour
he got the balance from James Hogg.
HOgg, little while after, was taken ILL.,
He sent for the young doctor
1t was long Illness. The bill amounted
To nearly $50, but when the young doctor
presented IL, Hogg looked sharply at the
young man and said:
" Let NE see, do you expect 70 meet
your mortgage when IL falls dueY
" Why-why. i hope to-
But you're not sure, en-? Now see
here. doctor; the best thing you can do
is 10 receipt this bill and make me a
present OF 1t. If you don't, ami are not
prompt In your payments of interest and
principle on the mortgage, | may feel
inclined 10 make things 90 hard with
you
he got even; he was the only man. so
Il cot