The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-11-26
RAISED THE TAXES.
SQUARED UP WITH JUSTICE.
A Farmer Who Knew How to Invite
a Big Deal and Profit by It.

/
The Texas Judge was giving the
Washington Star reporter few wild
steers, so to speak, on the manners and
customs of the people of his greates
and secOnd-tO-none State in the glc
rious galaxy OF the Union, or words to
that effect. And the reporter was ob
serving at the same time how unlike
the Judge was in this respect to an,
and all Texans he had met.
Speaking of the tenderfeet," said
the judge, with proper judicial dignity
"Hiram Hooten, who came to my
country when was young man, was
the rarest specimen ever met up with.
Hiram had twang to his speech, a
good deal like an Indian Yankee, when
he first came to the country, but the
Texas climate softened that of its an
gularities, so that at the last we did
not care where he came from, and
Hiram for some reason never told us.
The things that Hiram did in the way
OF honesty were too numerous to men,
ton, and his simplicity Of character
was really painful, especially when one
of our citizens sold him a farm for $500
That nobody IN the country would have
at any price. Hiram, however, never
complained, and he managed somehow
to make living on his farm, which
some OF our people could not do on
better ones. He had also managed
somehow to have little money in the
bank, and, Notwithstanding his guile
lessness, 1t was not considered safe to-
ward the last to monkey with Hiram
in a horse trade. Still, every now and
and then he would do fool thing, and
the next round some of our best men
would be after Hiram for a chance to
catch him mapping in some kind of
trade and Hiram would be found wide
awake.
Zone day Hiram was in the Sheriff.
Office paying his taxes and he insisted
that it wasn't justice to>the taxpayers
of the county that he should pay taxes
on his farm, which was assessed at only
$3.50. He said 1t ought to he $500
at least, and the sheriff began to think
Hiram had another one of his fits, and
the next thing he knew he would have
to have trustee appointed to look out
for him. However, Hiram prevailed
upon him to use his good influence in
having the proper figure put on the
farm, and Hiram was greatly comfort
ed when he was informed that next
year his taxes would be on the increas-
ed valuation. Then Hiram went of
about his business, smiling, and the
sheriff met him next day, and in
small horse and cattle trade Hiram
came out pair OF mules ahead, and
the sheriff didn't know what hurt him.
But he would get it on Hiram before
be had recovered from his fit in the
cause of justice.
"For five or SIX months Hiram went
along about as usual, and the neigh
bors didn't notice anything peculiar
until he began to whitewash his barns
and fences, and he must have wasted
as much as 81 improving the looks OF
,hings. Then one day a tidy sort of
/ man came to the Sherlfi's office with |
Hiram, and they looked over the
books, and the stranger seemed to be
with what he saw and hadn't |
| word to say to anybody. A week
laier he came around again, and this
lime Hiram came to me to draw up |
he deeds and transfer the property to
he stranger, the price being $4,000 for
he farm as 1t stood, In spot cash. 1t
vas only $500 above the assessed valu-
ltion, and the stranger thought he was
Getting snap. / never said word,
or Hiram had given me $50 feet
md it wasn't my place to talk. A day
lfter the new man took possession, Hi
am left the county, and the stranger
old the sheriff in confidence that he
lad known Hiram back in Indiana,
nd he was always considered just a
title slack-twisted, and the sheriff
.rinned and called the attention of the
tranger to the tact that Hiram Hooten
lad increased the taxable valuation of
hat farm from $3.50 to $500 for moth
ng on earth but simple justice"