A Farmer’s Life 
People would go into his room, asking for a loan 
of money. “ How much?” he inquired, in 
bullying manner. The sum being named (as 
much as twenty pounds perhaps), a “ paper” 
was roughly scribbled out and put before the 
borrower, yet not to be read. “Sign that!” 
said the usurer, and the paper was signed. ‘Then, 
snatching it up, the usurer would fling down some 
money. ‘‘ But I asked you for twenty pounds,” 
the other protested. ‘“‘ Well, you got it, en’t ye? 
I’ve only took off my interest.” 
This same money-lender was also something 
of a job-master. One of his drivers, coming 
back one evening, was called indoors and told 
to hand over his receipts. “Is thatijalieee 
“Yes, sir, that’s all.” The master sprang up, 
locked the door, seized the man’s arms behind, 
and commanded, ‘‘ Now turn your pockets 
inside out.” This being done, more money 
came rolling out on to the floor. But before 
it could be picked up there was the man to be 
got rid of. ‘The door was therefore thrown open 
and the astonished driver helped out by a kick 
behind. 
Yet this man’s employés habitually paid but 
little heed to his ways. They were often 
‘““sacked.”’ Buta passage ran through his house ; 
and the employer, after “sacking’’ a man at 
the back-door, would walk through to intercept 
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