? ? ? ? "Yes, Jefferson, I owned the farm clear, and I had money in the bank, but now the money's gone and there's a twelve hundred dollar mortgage on the old place," and the old man sighed.
? ? ? ? "But how did it come about uncle? You and Aunt Nancy haven't lived extravagantly, have you? Aunt Nancy, you haven't run up a big bill at the milliner's and dressmaker's?"
? ? ? ? "You was always for jokin', Jefferson," said the old lady, smiling faintly; "but that is not the way our losses came."
? ? ? ? "How then?"
? ? ? ? "You see I indorsed notes for Sam Sherman over at Canton, and he failed, and I had to pay. then I bought some wild cat minin' stock on Sam's recommendation, and that went down to nothin'. So between the two I lost about three thousand dollars. I've been a fool, Jefferson, and it would have been money in my pocket if I'd had a guardeen."
? ? ? ? "So you mortgaged the place to Squire Sheldon, uncle?"
? ? ? ? "Yes; I had to. I was obliged to meet my notes."
? ? ? ? "But surely the squire will extend the mortgage."
? ? ? ? "No, he won't. I've asked him. He says he must call in the money, and so the old place will have to be sold, and Nancy and I must turn out in our old age.
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