Finally S. Sharp Walker paid another visit, and approached him on a different tack: "On what terms will you swap your ten acres for half of that 21 acre field on the other side of the street," pointing to the Monroe Perkins corner which Sister Parkin had so long before seen in vision, and concerning which she received the heavenly assurance that it would be her future home.
The proposition was not rejected as the previous ones had been. On the contrary, the owner promised to consider it, and let him know, if he called on the following day, what he would do.
That evening Brother Parkin called upon his aged father for advice, telling him of the proposition to swap farms. The old gentleman could hardly credit it, the old Monroe Perkins farm being in his estimation so much more desirable, though not under such a good state of cultivation.
In the father's opinion there was no better land in Davis County, and he doubted whether there was any better in the world, than the Monroe Perkins farm, but it had been somewhat neglected, and showed the effects of it. It had this advantage also, which appealed to Father Parkin: It was patented land and if he secured it, he could get a warranty deed for it, while his son only held a quit claim deed from Reuben Perkins, the original locator to the ten acres he had, it having been discovered when the U. S. survey was made that it was a part of a school section, and full legal title thereto could not be obtained until the time arrived for the school lands to be sold, when the possessor of the land, as a squatter, would have the first right to purchase it.
The interview ended with this fatherly advice: "Well, my son, if you can secure the Monroe Perkins corner on any reasonable terms, don't fail to do it; but don't involve yourself by paying too much to boot, for it may be difficult for you to secure money to pay off the loan after you have borrowed it."
The following day Mr. Walker called again as usual for the decision, and was duly impressed by Brother Parkin with the clean and highly productive condition of his small homestead, and with the weedy and neglected condition of the opposite corner, all of which Mr. Walker admitted was correct. Then Brother Parkin said, all things considered, he was willing to make the exchange proposed if he could receive $500.00 to boot.
It was apparent that Mr. Walker was tempted. After some banter, to secure more favorable terms, a compromise was effected by his paying $450.00 as boot between the two pieces of land.
The land is still in Brother Parkin's possession. He feels that there was something providential about the way he acquired it, and that his wife, who has long since passed to her reward, was inspired of the Lord when she foresaw it as the future home of the family. Under the circumstances it is not strange that he should regard it as a sacred heritage, and refuse all offers that real estate agents make for its purchase.
[CHAPTER IV.]
AMBITIOUS TO WORK IN A COAL MINE—DAY SPENT IN MINE AS A SPECTATOR—FATAL ACCIDENT—HIS NARROW ESCAPE FROM BEING A VICTIM.