Middletown transcript., 1910-06-18
lnsUNCIE BEN,S ~
G NEW YEARS GIFT U

price as possible. Say 70 fol
wheat and 81 or 8 for corn.
I We can't pay prices like those
Mr.. Miller. We'd better give W
business.
Let me know the best you vii
do.
The partners held a consulta
ton, and agreed to offer 68 fol
wheat, and 25 for corn.
Peter reflected on this, and
said, I'll take tonight to think
; over the matter.
With this resolution he went
away.
That evening the man who
held the mortgage came to say
shat he wanted his money.
I'll pay you half, as soon as
I sell my wheat and corn. But
! to settle the whole will be i'm.
possible this year.
But the man said he must have
the whole. Finally he agreed 10
take half, if paid him immed.
lately.
Fretted by this application,
Peter made up his mind to let
Gray & Elder have his wheat
and corn over and above their
bills against him.
So next morning he started for
the store. On his way he stopped
at the Post Office and got his
Gazette, and continued on his
way to Gray & Elders. Neither
of the men happened to be in,
and Peter commenced reading.
Almost the first paragraph was
the following:
Important Rise in Wheat
The news by the last steamer
from Europe, which reports a
probable failure in the crops, sent
wheat suddenly up from rs to 81.
And even at the advanced rates,
holders seem little inclined to
sell.
The farmer waited no longer
but went home. He had not been
there over fifteen minutes when
a messenger came from Gray &
Elder to know if he were going
to accept their offer.
Tell them, replied Peter, that
cannot take less than a dollar for
wheat.
During the day the man who
held the mortgage called again.
Peter told him of the rise in
wheat, and said that if he sold at
the advanced rates, he would
pay off the whole debt.
During the following week
Gray & Elder offered 80 cents.
But the farmer would not sell.
The Gazette arrived and showed
q continued frmness of wheat,
and an advance for corn. Peter
cast his eye upon the advertis.
ing columns, and saw the names
Of a number of millers and mer-
chants advertising for wheat and
corn, and offering to pay the
highest market prices in cash.
Now, said Peter to the store.
keepers, if you will take my
wheat at 81, and corn at 38, III
sell. If not, I'll hold on longer.
Gray & Elder, after demuring
little, closed the bargain. So !
,he store bill was settled, the
mortgage paid off, and a
balance left to begin the new /
rear. So much for newspaper, 7
aid Peter, as he walked home.
yard, with the cancelled mort o
age, after paying off the debt.
10 much for a newspaper! I do
eleve if I'd begun taking a paper
en- year ago, I'd been rich man
o.day. Yes-UncIe Ben was
light; I didn't know my business, 4
'roud as I was of being thought
good farmer.
SO soon as this change took b
lace, Mr.. and Mrs. Miller con. q
erred together about Henry and q,
illen. The reading of news N
aper weekly, for nearly a year, a a
ad gradually filed the mind of
be former with an entirely new Il q
lass of ideas. They now saw in ia
ducation the only sure way to o. o.
rosperity and social elevation n
'r their children, and were NUT. At
ally prepared to meet sacrifices pc
II its attainment. When the tn
other said, I think, Peter. 1,
9 ought to send Ellen and Henry
school.
Just my own view. They must y
IT remain at home a week
nger. Ellen has been sadly
,glected.
They were really in earnest in IN
this.
Ellen and Henry were immed-
ely sent to school; and a young !