The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-03-17

nuts and hazel nuts to town In sea-
son. He might in the early days
have made more money trapping,
but he has harmed an animal
that shared his solitude.
One day a friend Of the hermit sus-
tanned an injury and was laid up for
some time. Jones went to see him
and helped to nurse him. On n Of
these visits he learned that worrying
over an overdue mortgage was re-
tarding his friends recovery. The
friend didn't say that he was both
cred, but the hermit found out. He
learned the amount, and one day
came with a shot sack full OF coin
and bills.
whats this, john" asked the
sick man.
Medicine" said the hermit.
take it, and if I I've get tired of
the woods I'll come to you"
After he was gone they counted the
money. 1t was $1,000 saved up from
strawberries and nuts. The friend
came near having a relapse. But he
got we'll and paid the mortgage of.
He is now travelling smooth waters
financially, and the hermit has gone
to him to get out Of the cold. But
he's not a troublesome man to have
around. He chops wood and fetches
it in, shovels out paths through the
snow and washes dishes. They don't
like to ask a man worth $4,000 TO
do all that, but the hermit would
stay under no other conditions.
Most Of the frugal mans money is
invested in interest bearing securi-
ties. He can neither read nor write
the English language, but he can
mentally figure interest with the best
cashier in the county. When a note
is due Mr.. Jones calls on the borrow
er that day. His clients understand
that in dealing with him it's just like
a bank. He is never excessive, never
harsh, never closes a man out. The
thing is attended to quietly end
~peaceably. If the borrower can't pay
off the note he must renew, paying
the interest on demand; business Is
business. .....
A woman over in Ohio saw the
hermit's picture in a farm magazine,
and a sketch about him. She took
her pen in hand and expressed her
sympathy for his lonely bachelor life
in the woods. She said her husband
had gone to his rest, and well-if Mr.:
Jones. was Interested she might go
into particulars.
The hermit walked all the way to
town to have the letter read by his
friend, Dave Jones. In fact, Dave
read it half a dozen times before lie
was satisfied, and then asked him
what he was going to do about it.
IF she happens to come, DavT,'
said the old man, with anxiety.
please don't show her the street l
live on" .
The hermit has many relatives
over in Wales, some of them very
we'll to do people. Some twenty years
ago the sisters learned that he was
located in the heart of a prosperous
farming community OF Missouri.
They reasoned that American farm
ers all had broad acres, big barns and
roomy homes. So they wrote their
brother that they were going to make
him a visit and bring their children
along. The man of the dugout was
not pleased with the threatened inva-
sion. In no way he figured it could
he stretch his little home to accom-
modate another human being. So he
went to a friend with his trouble.
The friend told him that yellow fever
was raging in the South, and that he
might move it up to Missouri. The
reply letter carried out the idea. The
hermit's kin across the sea stayed at
home.