For years Mr. Nelson had been struggling to provide a comfortable living for his wife and children. The struggle was not an easy one. His small farm was sterile², and yielded grudgingly³ its annual crops. Then the mortgage held by Squire⁴ Hudson imposed a burden of interest very hard to meet. Each half year sixty-six dollars must be raised somehow to satisfy the squire's demand. Though a rich man, with ready money in plenty, he never failed to call for his money on the very day it was due. Once or twice he had granted a delay of a day or two; but his manner was so unpleasant that the[Pg 169] farmer, except from dire⁵ necessity, was hardly likely to ask a renewal⁶ of the favor.

 

The six months immediately following Tom's departure from home were not favorable to his father. There was a drought of considerable duration, which made the crops smaller than usual, and thus materially decreased the farmer's income. When the semi-annual interest became due, with the most energetic effort Mark Nelson had got together but thirty-six dollars towards it, leaving a deficit⁷ of thirty dollars.

 

"I feel anxious about to-morrow, Mary," he said, as the little family sat together the night before in the plain sitting-room⁸. "I have never been so much behindhand before with the interest."

 

"How much do you lack, Mark?" asked Mrs. Nelson.

 

"Thirty dollars."

 

"That is a good deal of money," said his wife, gravely.

 

"Yes; I don't know where to raise it. If Squire Hudson were only a little considerate. But he isn't, and, even if he were, I am afraid[Pg 170] there is no

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