With utter ruin staring him full in the face, he sent for 'Squire Chase, and consented to his offer; but the malicious wretch would not give even that now; and the land was so situated as to be of but little value except to the owner of the Chase estate.

The 'Squire was a bad neighbor, and no one wanted to get near him; so that Mr.Munroe could not sell to any other person.
The crafty lawyer knew that the poor man was fully in his power, and he determined to punish him, even to his ruin.

He hated him because he was an honest, good man; because his life, even in his humbler sphere, was a constant reproach to him.

The note would be due on the first of May, and he had determined to take possession in virtue of the mortgage.
Poor Paul shed many bitter tears upon his pillow that night; and from the depths of his gentle heart he prayed that God would be very near to his father and mother in the trials and sorrows that were before them..