The Coolidge examiner., 1937-12-02
Then the old lady spoke again.


Sometimes. Father, l think we
shouldn't have mortgaged the farm
to send her to college!"
why, I don't see that college did
her any harm" said the old man
with persistent cheerfulness ''She
didn't get her head turned. She
loved the old farm. too. II I mis-
take not she's going to feel it some
when she knows we had to part with
Old Gray"
"She will. of course!" said the old
lady. Sometimes, Father, l wish
we'd just kept her here. The city
is so full of sin and wickedneSs!
There are bad men in the city, and
Margaret is beautiful, Father!"
There wasn't anything else we
could do, was there? I was sick,
and we had no money, and Elias
Horner was set on foreclosing the
mortgage if we couldn't pay the in
terest. If we had to give up the old
farm, where would we go? Since
the bank failed and took everything,
what else could we do but let her go
when she got good chance to earn
a salary?"
And then. suddenly. while they
fingered around the humble little tea
table there came a sound of steps
crunching outside on the icy path
way and a peremptory knock at
the door.
The old lady started and half rose
from the table.
The old man rose from his chair
with an attempt at alertness in spite
of his recent rheumatic trouble, and
stepping to the door. opened it. hold
ing lamp from the tea table high
that il might shine into the callers
face.
"Oh," he said with gentle dignity
that would show no dismay at the
identity of the visitor. ''its you.
Mr.. Horner. Won't you come in
side? It's stormy night"
The man came in. shaking the icy
particles from his shaggy coat, fling
ing the sleet from the brim Of his old
felt hat.
mo, it's not nice night" he said
in gruff voice. but one can't al
ways wait for June weather. Had a
little business up this way. and
thought I'd just stop and serve you
notice, too. Kill two birds with one
stone, you know!"
"Yes?" said the old man with a
sudden catch in his voice as if warn
ing himself that he must be ready
for anything. Then:
Come in, sir!" That "sir" some
how placed a distance between the
householder and his visitor, and per-
haps the other man felt it, for he
flung himself inside and sat down in
a chair by the door as if he had
right.
II just thought I'd step in and
remind you that the interest on the
mortgage that hold on this house
and farm comes due the twenty
ninth day of next month. four days
after Thanksgiving"
"Yes," said the old man, 81 am
expecting to meet my obligations at
that time" He said it with a quiet
confidence, but the old lady looked
at him wide-eyed.
Are you getting ready to pay the
principal as well as the INTEREST,""
asked the caller, eyeing him sharp
ly from his shaggy, grizzled brows.
Because that's really what called
to tell va. I'm askin' va ia pay
the whole amount. The mortgage
was for three years, va remember,
and the three years is up this No.
vember!"
The old man met the frowning
adversary with clear, keen glance.
YES" he said, II know. I've
been thinking some of asking you to
renew the mortgage for another cou-
pie of years. I'm not just sure yet. !"
well, that's what I came fer.
came to say that I'm calm in my
money an I'm not renewin'. need
the money and I'm foreclosin' ef
va can't payi"
The two old people sat there
stunned for a minute, the little old
lady wide-eyed with sorrow.
The old man still kept a calm,
sweet look on his face. He took it