THE HUNTING OF THE LAND 13 



was much run down, as little had been done to 

 improve its fertility, and much to deplete it. 

 There were two sets of buildings, including a 

 house of goodly proportions, a cottage of no 

 particular value, and some dilapidated barns. 

 The property could be bought at a bargain. It 

 had been held at $100 an acre ; but as the estate 

 was in process of settlement, and there was an 

 urgent desire to force a sale, I finally secured it 

 for $71 per acre. The two renters on the farm 

 still had six months of occupancy before their 

 leases expired. They were willing to resign their 

 leases if I would pay a reasonable sum for the 

 standing crops and their stock and equipments. 

 The crops comprised about forty acres of corn, 

 fifty acres of oats, and five acres of potatoes. 

 The stock was composed of two herds of cows 

 (seven in one and nine in the other), eleven spring 

 calves, about forty hogs, and the usual assort- 

 ment of domestic fowls. The equipment of the 

 farm in machinery and tools was meagre to 

 the last degree. I offered the renters $700 and 

 $600, respectively, for their leasehold and other 

 property. This was more than their value, but 

 I wanted to take possession at once. 



