"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. He ought to take fifty dollars for a hundred acres. You forget the tenants have paid for their farms, over and over again, in rent. They feel as if they have paid enough, and that it was time to stop."
Extraordinary as this reasoning may seem in most men's minds, I have since found it is a very favourite sentiment among anti-renters. "Are we to go on, and pay rent for ever?" they ask, with logical and virtuous indignation!
"Und vhat may be der aferage value of a hoondred acre farm, in dis part of de coontry?" I inquired.
"From two thousand five hundred to three thousand dollars. It would be more, but tenants won't put good buildings on farms, you know, seein' that they don't own them. I heard one of our leaders lamentin' that he didn't foresee what times was comin' to, when he repaired his old house, or he would have built a new one. But a man can't foretell everything. I dare say many has the same feelin's, now."
"Den you dinks Herr Littlebage ought to accept $50 for vhat is worth $2500? Das seem ferry little."
"You forget the back rent that has been paid, and the work the tenant has done. What would the farm be good for without the work that has been done on it?"
"Ja, ja—I oonderstandst; and vhat vould der work be goot for vidout der landt on vhich it vast done?"