"The poor neighbor should not have borrowed money on which he was unable to pay interest," said Squire Hudson, severely.
"How could I anticipate the drought that has diminished my crops?" said Mark Nelson, with spirit.
"That is neither here nor there. You knew that the interest must be paid, drought or no drought, crop or no crop."
"I cannot argue with you further, since you refuse to consider circumstances over which I have had no control. You refuse to grant me any delay?"
"Since I have not the money to pay you, will you tell me what you require?"
"You can give me one of these, and I will consider it an equivalent for the thirty dollars."
"Do you require this?" asked the farmer, uneasily.
"Yes; unless you have some other satisfactory arrangement to propose."
"I am afraid I have nothing else which you would regard as satisfactory. The loss of a cow will diminish my income. Instead of three, I ought to have four or five. I shouldn't like to be reduced to two."
"Very likely not; but an honest man is willing to make a sacrifice in order to meet his just liabilities. Besides, you expect to have the money, you say, in a couple of months. When it has come, you may have your cow back, on paying two months' interest on the deferred payment. That is only fair."
"Say no more, Squire Hudson," said the farmer. "I must, of course, consent to this arrangement since you insist upon it. How soon do you wish for the cow?"
"You had better let your son Walter drive it over this afternoon."
"He is losing no time," thought Mark Nelson, bitterly. "He does not even appear to be willing that I should have the benefit of this night's milking."
"You may send me Whiteface," continued Squire Hudson, who knew that this was the most valuable of the three cows.
"That is my best cow," protested the farmer "That makes little difference, as you expect to redeem it in two months."
Mark Nelson was silent. He felt indignant with Squire Hudson for his cruel exaction; but he felt that he was in his power, and that he must submit to his exactions.
"You will attend to this matter?" asked the squire, as he rose and prepared to go.
When his creditor was gone he went into the kitchen and acquainted the family with what had passed. Great were the grief and indignation of the children, and Walter expressed a desire that Squire Hudson might lose all his property as a fitting reward for his meanness.