THE DAY OF RECKONING 353 



calculation. I had always faithfully paid to the 

 credit of my account at the Union Bank all moneys 

 that came to me from British sources or as payment 

 for produce ; in consequence my credit was on the 

 stronger side. But the banks had shut down loans 

 at the first rumour of frost, and were demanding 

 payment of outstanding money wherever there was 

 the smallest chance of obtaining it. I had not 

 many creditors as I had made a point of paying 

 ready money, even when I had to pay eight per 

 cent, for the use of it ; and it is far and away the 

 best plan. A current account often pins you to 

 the dearest market, and always persuades you to 

 think lightly of necessary and unnecessary expendi- 

 ture. The interest of my land-payment account, 

 my repairs and binder-twine, the balance of my 

 threshing account, the greater part of the breaking, 

 were still unpaid. The market was practically 

 flooded with grain of a low grade, and although 

 good prices were being asked and paid for it in 

 Liverpool, sales on the street of the average wheat- 

 town were at below zero prices, and many of my 

 neighbours were forced to accept these prices in 

 order to meet interest due on land payments and 

 implement accounts and the necessities of life. 

 One did not see the heart-breaking, degrading signs 

 of poverty as seen in England ; there was a sufficiency 

 of meal and potatoes and bacon and necessaries, 

 there was fuel, and sufficient clothing — for the men 

 at any rate, who could not do their winter work 

 without it. But worry was on the face of every 

 man, and the knowledge that the year of 1908 must 

 be a year of redoubled toil charged with the unpaid 

 bill of 1907 was still within the coming of the 



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