er, should it come to that; while other some see no great
use in paying anything. Them that's willing to pay, mainly hold out for
paying the principal of the first rents."

"I doesn't oonderstandt vhat you means py der brincipal of der first
rents."

"It's plain enough, when you get the lay on 't. You see, these lands
were let pretty low, when they were first taken up from the forest, in
order to get folks to live here. That's the way we're obliged to do in
America, or people won't come. Many tenants paid no rent at all for six,
eight, or ten years; and a'ter that, until their three lives run out, as
it is called, they paid only sixpence an acre, or six dollars and a
quarter on the hundred acres. That was done, you see, to buy men to come
here at all; and you can see by the price that was paid, how hard a time
they must have had on 't. Now, some of our folks hold that the whull
time ought to be counted--that which was rent free, and that which was
not--in a way that I'll explain to you; for I'd have you to know I
haven't entered into this business without looking to the right and the
wrong on't."

"Exblain, exblain; I might hear you exblain, and you most exblain."

"Why, you're in a hurry, friend Griezenbach, or whatever your name be.
But I'll explain, if you wish it. S'pose, now, a lease run thirty
years--ten on nothin', and twenty on sixpences. Well, a hundred
sixpences make fifty shillings, and twenty times fifty make a thousand,
as all the rent paid in thirty years. If you divide a thousand by
thirty, it leaves thirty-three shillings and a fraction"--Joshua
calculated like an American of his class, accurately and with
rapidity--"for the average rent of the thirty years. Calling
thirty-three shillings four dollars, and it's plaguy little more, we
have that for the interest, which, at 7 per cent., will make a principal
of rather more than fifty dollars, though not as much as sixty. As sich
matters ought to be done on liberal principles, they say that Littlepage
ought to take fifty dollars, and give a deed for the hundred acres."

"Und vhat might be der rent of a hoondred acres now?--he might get more
dan sixpence to-day?"

"That he does. Most all of the farms are running out on second, and some
on third leases. Four shillings an acre is about the average of the
rents, accordin' to circumstances."

"Den you dinks der landtlort ought to accept one year's rent for der
farms?"

"I don't look on it in that light.