The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-11-11
HE BOUGHT HIS OWN HORSE.
How Avaricious Old John Thomas Was
Fooled In Collecting Rent.

How Avaricious Old John Thomas Was
Fooled In Collecting Rent.
Old John Thomas, who used to own
about half the land across the Ohio
river from Cincinnati, was character
not easily forgotten. He had so much
money he did not know what to do with
il, but he never had enough. His SON.
in-law, Van Ness, attended to his affairs
for him. One time old John came to his
son-in-law's office and asked him how
the tenants were paying their rent.
'Oh, pretty WE'LL" said the agent.
"Only one behind, think"
Zone behind, sir!" exclaimed old
John. well, one is enough. Who is
hep"
Peterson, up on the hill farm, is be-
hind, but"
well, sir, why doesn't he pay his
rent? l want you to understand, sir.
no one can live on land of mine with
out paying his rent. Why is it?"
swell, the fact is. father, Peterson
has been sick for nearly year past,
and he has not been able to put out any
crop. But he is Industrious when he Is
well, and he is an honest"
II don't care what he is, whether
sick or well, sir" Numbered the rich
man. II say he has got to pay that rent.
What property has hep"
"Oh, you don't want to take coercive
measures. He will pay up as soon as he
can. You have plenty, father, and he
has nothing. Besides, he is good ten
ant, after ALL"
"He amt, sir, if he doesn't pay. What
property has he? Tell ME that"
SWELL, he has some horses, think"
well, sir, you take the sheriff out
there and levy on the horses. No man
can live on my land unless he pays, I
tell you. Go on and levy"
But the son-in-law's evident reluc-
lance in the matter made old John sus-
picious, and when Van Ness and the
sheriff got ready to go to the hill farm
he climbed into the buggy with them
and rode along. When they came to the
farm old John had to be told which was
his land, as he owned so much he could
hot keep track of it. When Van Ness
pointed it out the old man saw horse
in one of the pastures and had it levied
on. The horse was very fine one, and
the old fellow felt he was sure of getting
his money. But it happened that he
had horses of his own pasturing on
nearly every farm that he possessed.
and this animal was one of that num-
Der.
Il don't believe" said Van Ness, as
the men rode home. that you will get
any one to bid on that horse. They all
sympathize with Peterson"
''Then I'll buy it myself, sir" was the
sturdy rejoinder. Il like that horse,
anyway"
So at the sale Van Ness quietly cir
culated the report, and several neigh
bors ran up the price till it was nearly
double the rent due for the hill farm,
and then old John bid it in. He de-
Quoted the debt from the purchase
price and sent the remainder in cash to
Peterson-for he was as honest as he
was avaricious.
And for years he plumed himself on
getting his money out of the tenant.
Later. when Peterson had recovered his
health and had paid to Van Ness all the
back rent-for of course he made moth
ing out of the horse trade-that crafty
son-in-law told old John all about it.
And the old fellow nearly had fit of
apoplexy, But he recovered when he
found that the debt had really been
paid and that Peterson had an excellent
crop and was likely never to be in ar
rears again.-Chicago Post.