The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-11-19
he BOUGHT HIS OWN HORSE.
How Avaricious Old John Thomas Was
Fooled in Collecting Rent.

no" AfaTlciOUs Olu JOnn lnOmaS W aA
Fooled in Collecting Rent.
Old John Thomas, who used to own
about half the land across the Ohio
river from Cincinnati, was a character
not easily forgotten. He had SO much
money he did not know what to do with
it, 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-inlaw'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. We'll, one is enough. Who is
he?'
Peterson, up on the hill farm, is be-
hind, but"
well, sir, why doesn't he pay his
rent? | want you to understand, sir,
no one can live on land of mine with
out paying his rent. Why is it?"
We'll, 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"
Il don't care what he is, whether
sick or well, sir" thundered the rich
man. II say he has got to pay that rent.
What property has he?"
"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 a good ten-
| ant, after all"
He amt, sir, if he doesn't pay. What
property has he? Tell me that"
well, he has some horses, | think.
well, sir, you take the sheriff out
there and levy on the horses. No man
car live on my land unless he pays, |
| tell you. Go on and levy"
But the son-in-law's evident reluc-
tance in the matter made old John sus-
| ricious, 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
not 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 4 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 &c
| Quoted the debt from the purchas sc
price and sent the remainder in cash tc
Peterson--for he was as honest as he
was avaricious.
And for years he plumed himself or
| getting his money out of the tenant
Later. whe'' Peterson had recovered his
health and mad paid to Van Ness all the
back rent-for of course he made not n
ing out of the horse trade-that crafty
son-in-law told old John all about it
And the old fellow nearly had fit o
apopleNy. But he recovered when ne
found that the debt had really beer
paid and that Peterson had an excellent
crop and was likely never to be in ar
rears again.-Chicago Post.