kinder frosty. I ain't so young as
I was once, and it chills my blood."

"Come up to the fire, Squire Green," said Mrs. Walton, who wanted the
old man to be comfortable, though she neither liked nor respected him.

The old man sat down and spread his hands before the fire.

"Anything new stirring, Squire?" asked Hiram Walton.

"Nothin' that I know on. I was lookin' over my papers to-night,
neighbor, and I come across that note you give for the cow. Forty
dollars with interest, which makes the whole come to forty-one dollars
and twenty cents. To-morrow's the day for payin'. I suppose you'll be
ready?" and the old man peered at Hiram Walton with his little keen
eyes.

"Now for it," thought Hiram. "I'm sorry to say, Squire Green," he
answered, "that I can't pay the note. Times have been hard, and my
family expenses have taken all I could earn."

The squire was not much disappointed, for now he was entitled to exact
the forfeit of ten dollars.

"The contrack provides that if you can't meet the note you shall pay ten
dollars," he said. "I 'spose you can do that."

"Squire Green, I haven't got but two dollars laid by."

"Two dollars!" repeated the squire, frowning. "That ain't honest.
You knew the note was comin' due, and you'd oughter have provided ten
dollars, at least."

"I've done as much as I could. I've wanted to meet the note, but I
couldn't make money, and I earned all I could."

"You hain't been equinomical," said the squire, testily. "Folks can't
expect to lay up money ef they spend it fast as it comes in"; and he
thumped on the floor with his cane.

"I should like to have you tell us how we can economize any more than we
have," said Mrs. Walton, with spirit. "Just look around you, and see if
you think we have been extravagant in buying clothes. I am sure I have
to darn and mend till I am actually ashamed."

"There's other ways of wastin' money," said the squire. "If you think we
live extravagantly, come in any day to dinner, and we will convince you
to the contrary," said Mrs. Walton, warmly.

"Tain't none of my business, as long as you pay me what you owe me,"
said the squire. "All I want is my money, and I'd orter have it."

"It doesn't seem right that my husband should forfeit ten dollars and
lose the cow."

"That was the contrack, Mrs. Walton. Your husband 'greed to it, and--"

"That doesn't make it just."

"Tain't no more'n a fair price for the use of the cow six months. Ef
you'll pay th