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 The Law of the Land.

237

United States. Or taking the average price Thus it came about that the law was ap at seventy-eight cents, then with $74.36 pealed to. for an expression of that sifted current money of this country, ninety-five common-sense of the ages on this question and one third Spanish milled dollars could of dollars. It was given. be bought, and a saving of about three cents Before it was given Mr. Ground-rent face less than twenty-one dollars effected. tiously remarked that the Act of Congress In 1887 another native of the Quaker making the Spanish dollar a legal tender City found an idea. He was the owner of should be read as part of the reservation, the lot sold in 1793, on which was the and that in that light it was not the Spanish Spanish dollar reservation. He had figured dollar Mr. Roe was after in 1793, but the out a great scheme; he was going to pinch legal-tender quality in them. The court that eternal ground-rent, that had been answered that that could not be done, pinching him, to the tune of twenty-one as Mr. Roe wanted Spanish dollars of seven dollars. After some skirmishing with about teen pennyweights and six grains, while only seventy-four dollars he captured ninety-five Spanish dollars of seventeen pennyweights and one third of these Spanish coin, and and seven grains were legal tender; and awaited his opportunity. Along came the further said, — "Taking these words [the words of the first day of the first month called January in the year 1888, and Mr. Lot-owner be reservation in the deed] in their ordinary took himself to Mr. Ground-rent to pay his sense, every one no doubt would hold that New Year respects. the contract is for the delivery of specific When Mr. Lot-owner intimated that his coin. . . and that if these are tendered, the call was partly on business, Mr. Ground- ground-landlord has what he stipulated for. rent pleasantly repeated " business? " with . . . And it consequently follows the general a rising inflection. Then Mr. Lot-owner rule, that if the things stipulated for are ten dered when the time arrives, and have de handed him with his compliments his Span preciated during the interval, the creditor ish acquisitions, saying that the usual re ceipt in full for the ground rent for the year must bear the loss, as in the opposite event it will fall on the debtor." 1888 would answer his purposes. There Is not that reason? Is not that commonupon Mr. Ground-rent became indignant, and spurned his early love; these dollars were a sense? And so Mr. Ground-rent in obedi reflection upon the follies of his youth, and ence to the law accepts the tendered Spanish he refused to accept them. He wanted good dollars, and pockets his loss, while Mr. Lotowner merrily pockets his winnings. modern dollars, worth one hundred cents.