Life and business matters had hitherto been much a sealed book for me.

I was seized of consternation when a man came riding over from the little Wallingford bank, asking attention to word from Abrams & Halliday, bankers of Fredericksburg.

I understood vaguely of notes overdue, and somewhat of mortgages on our lands, our house, our crops.

I explained our present troubles and confusion; but the messenger shook his head with a coldness on his face I had not been accustomed to see worn by any at Cowles' Farms.

Sweat stood on my face when I saw that we owed over fifteen thousand dollars--a large sum in those simple days--and that more would presently follow, remainder of a purchase price of over a hundred thousand dollars for lands I had never seen.