I showed how government officers, through the influence of the rich people, had called in the paper money and burned it up; how they had issued bonds agin Jobe and his likes to git it to burn. I showed how the same men had demonitized silver and brought us to a “gold basis,” all of which had reduced prices, made money scarce and hard to git, and kept up interest. I showed him how sich laws had throwed people out of homes and turned all their earnins over to the money-lenders and sich.
I showed him how we had paid $3,800 toward our farm, and how, if he dident make the banker take Jobe’s wheat money, we would be sold out, and, at the low price land is sellin for, we would have nothin left in our old age.
I begged him with tears in my eyes to make the banker take Jobe’s wheat money and give us one more chance to save our old home.
Then I sot down, and my eyes would water, no matter how often I would wipe them.
Well, the court cleared his throat a time or two and then said:
“It is a common occurrence for us judges in our official positions to do unpleasant things. I am sorry for the old people, but the law must uphold the _sacred rights of contract_. The contract calls for gold. I will therefore render judgment agin Gaskins, the defendant, for full amount of mortgage, accrued interest and costs of this case, and order the sheriff to sell the premises to satisfy the judgment.”
When them words was spoke I jist felt smothered. I felt so queer I hardly knowed where I was.
Jobe he jist sot there a starin, with a pleadin look on his face. We both sot there numb like till the officer come around and told us the case was over.
We kind a come to then and got up. Then I thought of the clerk havin that paper money, so I told Jobe to go and git it.
He went, and the clerk told him he couldent surrender the money till the case was settled; that that money was part of the court record, and the land might not sell for enough to pay the judgment and all costs.
So we come home and left our wheat money and hay money and cow money and the money for poor old Tom and all with the officers of the court.
Jobe, poor man, from the time he left that court-house till now he has jist moped around, sighin and moanin.