X 



NANCY — THE SECOND PAYMENT — 

 THE FIRST LOSS 



I WAS due to make the second payment of a thousand 

 dollars on January i, 1906. In November I clearly 

 saw that I could not pay the whole of it, in December 

 that I could not pay any of it, and I had to send to 

 England to ask for a further advance of two hundred 

 pounds. At the time I had received three hundred 

 and fifty pounds in addition to the sum I had taken 

 for wheat. That year I was not due to pay interest. 

 For the remaining six hundred and thirty pounds 

 due on the land I gave my predecessor a mortgage 

 charged with six per cent, interest ; the bank-rate 

 was just then standing at seven per cent., but a 

 mortgage on easy terms is usually offered by the 

 vendor for the greater part of the payment, 

 as the sale of a farm in Canada is by no means 

 an easy matter even to-day, although the pur- 

 chase of ready-made farms for ready money would 

 be good for the Canadian farmer, and good for the 

 British newcomer to the farming conditions of 

 Canada. 



On January 6 my funds had not arrived. 

 True, among my Christmas presents there had 

 been the very useful one of twenty-five pounds, 

 but that I had dedicated to the altar of pleasure. 



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