Bound to Rise | Page 6

then he didn't call
it exactly a lie to misrepresent for a purpose. "So am I. Money's tight,

neighbor."
"Money's always tight with me, squire," returned Hiram Walton, with a
sigh.
"Was you a-meanin' to pay anything down?" inquired the squire.
"I don't see how I can."
"That alters the case, you know. I might as well keep the cow, as to sell
her without the money down."
"I am willing to pay interest on the money."
"Of course that's fair. Wall, neighbor, what do you say to goin' out to
see the cow?"
"Is she in the barn?"
"No, she's in the pastur'. 'Tain't fur."
"I'll go along with you."
They made their way by a short cut across a cornfield to the pasture--a
large ten-acre lot, covered with a scanty vegetation. The squire's cows
could not be said to live in clover.
"That's the critter," he said, pointing out one of the cows which was
grazing near by. "Ain't she a beauty?"
"She looks pretty well," said Mr. Walton, dubiously, by no means sure
that she would equal his lost cow.
"She's one of the best I've got. I wouldn't sell ef it wasn't to oblige. I
ain't at all partic'lar, but I suppose you've got to hev a cow."
"What do you ask for her, squire?"
"She's wuth all of forty dollars," answered the squire, who knew

perfectly well that a fair price would be about thirty. But then his
neighbor must have a cow, and had no money to pay, and so was at his
mercy.
"That seems high," said Hiram.
"She's wuth every cent of it; but I ain't nowise partic'lar about sellin'
her."
"Couldn't you say thirty-seven?"
"I couldn't take a dollar less. I'd rather keep her. Maybe I'd take
thirty-eight, cash down."
Hiram Walton shook his head.
"I have no cash," he said. "I must buy on credit."
"Wall, then, there's a bargain for you. I'll let you have her for forty
dollars, giving you six months to pay it, at reg'lar interest, six per cent.
Of course I expect a little bonus for the accommodation."
"I hope you'll be easy with me--I'm a poor man, squire."
"Of course, neighbor; I'm always easy."
"That isn't your reputation," thought Hiram; but he knew that this was a
thought to which he must not give expression.
"All I want is a fair price for my time and trouble. We'll say three
dollars extra for the accommodation--three dollars down."
Hiram Walton felt that it was a hard bargain the squire was driving
with him, but there seemed no help for it.
He must submit to the imposition, or do without a cow. There was no
one else to whom he could look for help on any terms. As to the three
dollars, his whole available cash amounted to but four dollars, and it
was for three quarters of this sum that the squire called. But the

sacrifice must be made.
"Well, Squire Green, if that is your lowest price, I suppose I must come
to it," he answered, at last.
"You can't do no better," said the squire, with alacrity.
"If so be as you've made up your mind, we'll make out the papers."
"Very well."
"Come back to the house. When do you want to take the cow?"
"I'll drive her along now, if you are willing."
"Why, you see," said the squire, hesitating, while a mean thought
entered his, mind, "she's been feedin' in my pastur' all the mornin', and I
calc'late I'm entitled to the next milkin', you'd better come 'round
to-night, just after milkin', and then you can take her."
"I didn't think he was quite so mean," passed through Hiram Walton's
mind, and his lip curved slightly in scorn, but he knew that this feeling
must be concealed.
"Just as you say," he answered. "I'll come round tonight, or send
Harry."
"How old is Harry now?"
"About fourteen."
"He's got to be quite a sizable lad--ought to earn concid'able. Is he
industrious?"
"Yes, Harry is a good worker--always ready to lend a hand."
"That's good. Does he go to school?"
"Yes, he's been going to school all the term."

"Seems to me he's old enough to give up larnin' altogether. Don't he
know how to read and write and cipher?"
"Yes, he's about the best scholar in school."
"Then, neighbor Walton, take my advice and don't send him any more.
You need him at home, and he knows enough to get along in the
world."
"I want him to learn as much as he can. I'd like to send him to school
till he is sixteen."
"He's had as much schoolin' now as ever I had," said the squire, "and
I've got along pooty well. I've been seleckman, and school committy,
and filled about every