284 FIVE ACRES TOO MUCH. 



my name must have a written order, and I even 

 opened a pass-book with the leading store-keeper; 

 but these innovations met with so much opposition, 

 and the leading store-keeper had always so much to 

 add to what appeared in the pass-book, that I gave 

 up the effort, and accepted country ways of dealing. 



Even the farmers were affected by this simplicity 

 of views ; they had peculiar and somewhat unwise 

 opinions, but they held to them religiously. They 

 believed in New York as the Moslem believes in 

 Mecca; they considered that they must make all 

 their sales there, and that weekly pilgrimages thither 

 were a necessity of their success in life. No induce 

 ment would persuade them to sell any of their prod 

 uce on the road, or short of that sacred destination. 

 It was vain to apply to them for a load of hay, or a 

 dozen bags of oats ; they would cart these six miles 

 over heavy roads rather than sell them within a few 

 rods of their doors. This was inconvenient, but a 

 sure guaranty for their honesty ; none but very hon 

 est people could be so simple, and their faith in the 

 metropolis of the nation was actually touching. 



&quot; Sure, yer honor,&quot; said Patrick to me one morn 

 ing, &quot; and the new Eockaway is gone intirely.&quot; 



&quot; Why, Patrick, you surprise me ; I only bought it 

 last spring.&quot; I did not say that I had obtained it 



