The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-31

l
city and charm, any tin peddler's cart
that ever came to our door. John
Axtell and his wife, who had seen it
pass their house, hurried over for a
look at 1t. Every hand was on the
stove as we tenderly carried it into
the house, piece by piece, and set 1t
up. Then they cut a hole in the up
per floor and the stone chimney and
fitted the pipe. How keenly we
watched the building of the fire. How
quickly it roared and began to heat
| the room!
When the Axtells had gone away
Aunt Deel said:
tits grand! 1t is sartin-but I'm
'fraid we can't afford it-ayes I bal"
1--WE can't afford to freeze any
longer. I made up my mind that we
couldn't go through another winter
as we have" was my uncle's answer.
"How much did it cost" she asked.
"Not much differ'nt from thirty
four dollars in sheep and grain," he
answered.
Rodney Barnes stayed to supper
and spent a part of the evening with
us.
Like other settlers there, Mr..
Barnes was cheerful optimist. Every
thing looked good to him until it
turned out badly.
He told how he had heard that it
was growing country near the great
water highway of the st. Lawrence.
Prosperous towns were building up
in it. There were going to be great
cities In Northern New York. There
were rich stores Of lead and iron
in the rocks. Mr.. Barnes had bought
two hundred acres at ten dollars an
acre. He had to pay fee Of five
per cent. to Grimshaw's lawyer for
the survey .and the papers. This left
him owing fourteen hundred dollars
on bis farm-much more than it was
worth.
Our cousin twisted the poker in
his great hands until it squeaked as
he stood before my uncle and said:
"My wife and I have chopped and
burnt and pried and hauled rocks an
shoveled dung an MIXED an churned
until we are worn out. For almost
twenty years we've been workin' days
an nights an Sundays. My mortgage
was overdue, 1 owed six hundred dol
lars on it. I thought it all over one
day an went up to Grimshaw's an
took him by the back of the neck
and shook him. He said he would
drive me out O. the country. He
gave me six months to pay up. I had
to pay or lose the land. I got the
money on the note that you signed
over In Potsdam. Nobody In Can
ton would a. dared to lend 1t to
me-"
"Why?' my uncle asked.
"'Fraid o. Grimshaw. He didn't
want me to be able to pay 1t. The
place is worth more than six hundred
dollars now-that's the reason. in
tended to cut some timber an haul
1t to the village this winter so I could
pay a part O. the note an git more
time as told ye, but the roads have
been so bad couldn't do any haul
In"
My uncle went and took drink at
the water pail. saw by his face
that he was unusually wrought up.
my heavens an earthw he ex.
claimed as he sat down again.
TITS the brain collie" I said to
myself as 1 looked at him.
Mr.. Barnes seemed to have 1t also.
"Too much note," / whispered.
"I'm awful sorry, but I've done
everything could" said MIR. Barnes.
"Ain't there somebody that'l take
another mortgage?--it ought to be
safe now" my uncle suggested.
money is so tight it can't be done.
The bank has got all the money an
Grimshaw owns the bank. I've tried
and tried, but I'll make you safe. I'll
give you mortgage until / can turn
round"
So / saw how Rodney Barnes, like
other settlers in Lickitysplit had gone
into bondage to the landlord.
"H0w much do you owe Cd this
placer Barnes asked.
"Seven hundred an fifty dollars"
said my uncle.
us it dueT
"It's been due year an If / have
to pay that note I'll be short my In
terest."