"I think you are rather hard on me, squire. It isn't as if I had the money and objected to pay. I am a poor man, but no one ever lost a dollar by me; and I don't mean that any one shall, while I have my life and strength." "That's all very well, but it won't make up the thirty dollars in which you are delinquent." "What would you have me do? I cannot _make_ money." "I wouldn't give much for an investment when the interest is delayed. It is no longer worth its face. If any of my railroad bonds defer their usual interest they at once drop in value." "I know very little of railroad bonds, never having any money to invest in them; but I think my farm will be full security for all the money I owe you." "Suppose I should foreclose--you would consider it an unkind thing and a great hardship, wouldn't you?" "It would take away my means of supporting my family. I don't think you would go to extremes, for the sake of thirty dollars." "It isn't the amount of money, neighbor Nelson, that is to be considered. It is the principle that is involved." This is a very common pretext with men who have made up their minds to do a mean thing. Generally speaking it is false, and the money is the first consideration. "Will you give me two months to pay the balance of interest?" asked Mark Nelson. "What better prospect have you of being able to pay me then?" "As soon as Tom has any money to send, he will remit to me. I think it probable that I shall hear from him in the course of two months." "If that is your reliance," said the squire, shrugging his shoulders, "I am afraid you are leaning upon a broken reed. I know boys pretty well, and I fancy Tom will find a use for all the money he earns." "You don't know him, Squire Hudson. He is a very conscientious boy, and understands very well the sacrifice I made in raising money to send him to California. He is not very likely to forget that." "It seems to me that the sacrifice was mine," said the squire, with a half sneer. "If I remember rightly, I advanced the money which he took away with him." Mark Nelson flushed, and he answered warmly, "You did advance the money, Squire Hudson, but I gave you security for it." "And the very first interest that has come due you are not prepared to meet. You can't blame me for feeling a little doubt as to the wisdom of my advance." "Are you very much in need of the thirty dollars?" asked Mr. Nelson, nettled at the squire's tone. "What do you mean, sir?" "Is it subjecting you to any great inconvenience to wait a couple of months for it? That is what I mean." "My circumstances are not such," returned the squire, haughtily, "as to make me feel even the loss of thirty dollars." "I wish I could say the same, but I cannot. Since, then, it will occasion you no inconvenience, I ask you as a favor that you will let the balance rest for two months."