The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-21

Attitude OF . Farmer Toward EeGs and
Also Toward u Big Mortgage.


There was no nistaking the man who was
doing the talking for anything else than Q
farmer. You can see his counterpart any day
on the drivers seat OF any OF those farm wagons
that bring vegetables into the city to market.
His trousers. which were patched, were tucked
into his boots. which were muddy. Ills over
coat was shabby and discolnred by exposure to
the weather. and frayed at the edges and worn
white ut the buttonholes. lie wore one o: those
caps which you can draw down over your ears.
and are made for wear while driving over wind
swept roads. HIS face was weatherbeatcn. and
he wore bunch OF whiskers on his ohin calcu-
IL in pursuit OF him.
A transaction In eggs was the matter which
he was explaining with such prolixity. II seems
that tho lawyer liked fresh eggs. and WAS In the
habit OF driving over to his farm to get eggs
warm from under the hen. On the last occasion
when he had done So the lawyer had made q
payment on account of 81. The question at
issue was whether or not there was n balance In
eggs or In an egg duo the lawyer. II was COM
plicated by some previous deal in which the egg
was not warranted freeh or strictly fresh. but
simply an egg. and By some other transaction in
which the responsibility for a broken egg
was involved. The farmer had evidently
been putting In his winter evenings at thinking
the matter over. and ho gave his views on tho
subject OF whether or not there was an egg due
the lawyer with n careful del Iteration Of man
ner and speech that made the third man In the
room wonder how the lawyer stood II so long
The lawyer. however, exhibited not IA sign Of
impatience or lack or interest but sat look ing
ahead OF him with the air OF extra gravity that
he reserved for clients oT the first class. After
n first vain effort To persuade the fafiner to call
1t square AS matters stood. he uttered no remoli-
STRANGE or protest concerning the waste OF his
valuable time,
The farmer finally settled the matter OF the
one egg according tn his view of the equities OF
the case. Then lie sat down at II table. hauled
oil his thick leather gloves, and laborunsly ap-
Sy lie AWE That done s Ee sHamned e WITH
pro iigIous Interest the pen he had used.
You haven't another pen like that. have
why. certainly" returned the lawyer. dump.
ing hslf ndozen out OF box on tue table.
farmer. lingering them cautiously.
Hh dom know" replied the nyye! care
The farmer took up four OF them. aud began n
prolonged search OF his pockets. lie had an
extra number OF coats and waistcoa,s. SO that
came across the object for which he had been
look ,ng.a two.eent postage stamp. This 10
= r " &
-" Hold on" called the lawyer, John wa.
ssyinx you were talking Of seeing me about
The farmer turned indifrerently; ia forgot
about that Just yet, anyhow"
Any interest due ~ ask ed the lawyer.
well" replied the farmer, " there amt none
been pad since two years ago last June"
Isn't II about time IL he doing something "
| The lands nil right" replied the farmer IN
differently. Its worth the money. Besides,
| II ain't the thing to sell up q neHhblr without
giving him n chance
"Mow much Is the mortgage :"
| "Tnirty-two thousand" replied the farmer.
ia ought tn have known better than he Lending
! money to u nriphhor; hut that Amt helping II
any Ms the matter stands" he added cat elessly.
ana went away.
| ma you see him - said the lawyer. with n
chuCkle, To the other man in the office. Taking
| up mn hour Of my time with talk aS to whether
| or not he owed me mn egg and giving me u post
| age stamp in payment for my pens, and by way
| OF contrast SHOWN: all that indifference to a
| thirty-twO. thousnnd-doilRr mortgage with the
| Interest nearly three years overdue. lie has
| absolutely no conception OF the value OF money
| IN large amounts. For two hundred years his
| family have been living off their farms They
| have raised almost everything they have need ed
| and almost Mi III. money paid In to them has
been stuffed nwnv into mort cages or old chests
| banks. They have been taught two things. one |.
| never to suenA any money. The other Ia never
| u soil their land unless some one Offer. them
$1,000 or 5000 All acre to cut II up into build
| tions To make the closest kind OF bargains W her
| they sell their produce; but when il comes e
| handling the tens OF thousands OF dollars the,
have accumulated. they have no idea Of IN,
| value Of tie money At the same time IL /,
| mighty seldom that amy OF IL gcts away from
Them; There arc lots OF such farmers abou
| New York"