IN DAKOTA, 31 
At the sound of that word “ mortgage” the picture 
of the fine new house vanished like the fabric of a 
vision. Should that (to me) beautiful patent for this 
land be superseded or covered over by a mortgage ? 
Never. But then that handsome house. I could not 
give it up. Mr. Cook proposed that we go and 
talk the matter over with Mrs. Taylor, and we 
did so. At first she declared that she would, un- 
der no circumstances, consent to a mortgage on that 
farm ; she would live in that little house ten years 
first. _But Mr. Cook understood his business well. 
Again the plans of that handsome [Lowa house were 
spread out, and its beauties and conveniences and 
comforts dilated on. My summer’s crops would pay 
for the house, and all my expenses, and leave me at 
least a thousand dollars over. Mr. Cook had evident- 
ly studied up on his subject in advance. _[ could see 
that my wife was weakening, and [ was sorry for it, 
because I had given up an hour ago. 
PRIDE CONQUERS. 
There was one thing that weighed more in favor of 
the new house than Mr. Cook’s attractive plans and 
adroit arguments. That was, that the coming fall 
we were expecting a visit from some of our [linois 
friends, and what a grand thing it would be to take 
them into that new house, and show them over our 
broad, rich acres—all paid for. And what stories 
they would te!l on their return to the old home about 
