In 500... (or less)

The Lottery Scheme

The old man put his hands in face. The debt was staggering.

"How can this be?" he asked. "There is no way I can pay this."

"We'll figure it out grandpa," Thomas said, patting him on the shoulder. "There has to be some way to raise the money."

The old man knew it was an impossible task, $107,000 was a lot of money. 

"Perhaps some of the slaves, or the estate at Shadwell Mills," Thomas suggested. "Why the property alone should be worth at least $60,000."

"Possibly," his grandfather said, "but that still leaves us nearly $50,000 short."

"Then," Thomas paused knowing his grandfather would not take well with what he was about to say, "maybe we ought to consider this property as well."

As expected, the old man turned as white as his hair, slumping in the seat.

"I've worked so hard for this place," he said. "I built this place from the ground up nearly 60 years ago."

"It was my home during the war," the old man continued. "Did I ever tell you about the time the British nearly caught me here?"

Thomas chuckled.

"At least a dozen times, grandpa."

"Oh," the elderly man said. "I guess I have." He managed a weak smile.

"Let's get a valuation," Thomas said. "I have an idea."

He expected his grandson to continue on, but he didn't.

"Well, out with it, boy," he admonished. 

"A lottery," Thomas responded. "We'll sell lots, thousands of them, more than enough to cover the debt."

"It won't work," the old man said, returning to his dejected state. "They're illegal."

"Well, I don't see a lot of options," his grandson replied. "It's not like you're going to get that kind of money in donations."

"Besides," he continued, "they'll make an exception for you. You know they will."

"Get the appraisal," the old man consented. "But not on this estate, we're not selling it off in a lottery."

The young man did as he was asked, but it wasn't enough. Not even close. They had to include the prized estate. He brought the unpleasant news to his grandfather.

"Fine," the old man said, finally relenting. 

Thomas was right, the state made an exception for his grandfather.

The news was shocking to the public. The old man was long out of the public spotlight, people had no idea of his plight. Arrangements were made to collect donations to help him out of debt.

The lottery was a failure, the tickets did not sell as well as hoped. Worst still, the old man's health started a steady decline.

They were well short of the goal, even with the lottery and the donations. And the old man didn't live to see the situation settled, he died in the early summer. People wanted to help the old man, but couldn't care less about Thomas, who was now stuck with the debt.

"Another bill," he mumbled. "There's nothing left to give. It's all sold. The property at the mills, the furniture, even the estate at Monticello. You'd think people would treat the family of Thomas Jefferson a little better."