CUSTOM OF DEFERRED PAYMENT 17 



three binders were careering round a two-hundred- 

 acre field of simply gorgeous wheat. 



Mr. Johnson was driving the third binder himself, 

 and willingly consented to my request that the 

 payment might be deferred until November i. 

 I thought them the very pleasantest people to do 

 business with, and nothing at all of the fact that 

 ten per cent, became the charge for interest after 

 the maturity of the original bill. Nor is the debtor 

 in Canada one whit less the obliged party because 

 of the heavy rate of interest. Had I not been able 

 to settle the whole amount for six or even twelve 

 months I think my two creditors would have waited 

 with patience, but certainly not with pleasure. In 

 Canada money can command almost anything but 

 labour ; and I haven't the smallest doubt that had I 

 taken three hundred dollar bills to Messrs. Johnson 

 and Creamer on the day of purchase, Jim and Kitty 

 would have changed hands at that " spot cash " 

 price, instead of the original three hundred and sixty 

 dollars plus interest on deferred payment at eight 

 and ten per cent. 



I returned home with joints of beef, harness 

 repairs, various pots and pans, and a crate of delicious 

 black plums from British Columbia, paying about 

 seven shillings and sixpence for twenty pounds. As 

 I drew near the boundary line of our neighbour's half- 

 section I saw that he had crossed it, and that two 

 binders were at work in the eighty-acre field. It was 

 the first of many kind attentions he showed us during 

 those early days of farming. I drove towards his 

 binder to thank him, and to ask him to join our party 

 at supper, but he refused the invitation on the plea of 

 his evening " chores," and promised to come again if 



