ill pressed by the now
perplexed creditors, he turned sharply on them and said: 'Gentlemen,
don't you think it would have been more judicious, not to say more
humane, had you waited on Mr. Bellows in his lifetime, and requested
_him_ to undertake this service instead of pouncing on his property,
closing his store, and hurrying him into his grave? He was an honest
man, and would have worked honestly for your benefit, and I would have
aided him. As it is, I do not feel disposed to lift a finger for you.
Good morning.'

Joel left the same day for New-York, and did not again return to
Sudbury. Some weeks afterward, in mid-winter, the report was circulated
that he was living in the woods on Pine Creek. Then the story went
abroad that the poor fellow was crazy and had turned hermit. This was
followed by other rumors still more ridiculous.

I have no desire to alarm the reader on Joel's account. It is time,
therefore, I should say that he had formed extensive plans for the
future, which he was proceeding to carry out. During his week's absence
he went carefully over the entire tract owned by the old merchant in
New-York. This lay on both sides of the creek, and extended to the
eastward quite over the 'ridge.' It was well timbered and beautifully
situated. After making these observations, Joel proceeded to New-York
and called on the proprietor. He stated his object to be to purchase a
hundred acres of the tract, for which he would pay five dollars an acre
cash. He wanted, besides, the refusal of the rest of the property, for a
certain time, at the same rate. The old merchant was pleased with Joel's
ingenuous manner as well as with his intelligence. He questioned him
minutely about the lands, for he had never seen them, and asked him what
he proposed to do with his purchase. Joel answered promptly and
truthfully. He put the owner in possession of every material fact.

'And all you will give is five dollars per acre?'

'Yes.'

'Do you think that is all the lands are really worth?'

'I hope to make them worth much more to me, else I would not seek to
buy,' responded Joel. 'What they are worth to you, is for you to judge
after what I have said about them.'

Thereupon the old gentleman told Joel he would do better by him than he
asked. He would sell him the whole, receive the five hundred dollars,
and take back a mortgage for the balance. Joel would not accept this
proposition. He wanted one hundred acres, and he wanted to p