"A pious swell," added Charley Redmond, with a sneer.
The business of the meeting having been thus happily accomplished, the occupants of the parlor departed.
"Come Stumpy, I want to hand the money over to you," said Leopold.
"I don't want it now," replied Stumpy. "I shouldn't dare to take it into the house, for fear my beloved grandad should steal it. I think he would find some way to do it, without calling the deed by any hard name."
"What are you going to do with the gold, Stumpy?" asked Mr. Hamilton.
"Hand it over to my mother. Squire Moses is going to foreclose the mortgage on the house we live in right off. I want to head him off on that before night."
"But gold, you know, is worth a large premium just now. I saw by my paper which came to-day that it was 208 in New York," continued the merchant.
"I'll go and tell my mother about it," said Stumpy, moving off.
"Stop a moment, my boy," interposed Mr. Hamilton. "If you are going to pay off the mortgage you should do so in currency, not in gold. I will buy your coin, and assist you in this business."
"Thank you, sir," replied Stumpy, warmly.