Litchfield enquirer., 1845-08-14
From sbs 3ttls fSrk zrbuns. HOW A TAILOR COLLECTED A DEBT.
A TRUE STORY.

his Svocation in Philadelphia, was imposed upon bv an adroit scoundrel, who contTived to get suit of clothes on credit and afterwards slOped without paying for them. The Quaker was too P"or to lose the debt, but like too many others T,s e.OHn. ne had apparently no other alternative. The account was placed on his books and soon forgotten. Some years afterws rds he was examining his old records off debt and credit profit and loss, when his atten- ton was attracted to this account and all the cir cnrnstances attending it came fresh to mind. Sud- denly an odd thought suggested itself.
 "ill try an experiment" said he to himself: 'per- haps may succeed in cathing the rogue and get- ting my pay" ..
 He immediately prepared an advertisement, in substance as follows, which he inserted in the Phll adelphia Gazette elf J-C-,w who was in Philadelphia about the month of-, m the wear l795, will send his address to the Editor of this paper, he will hear of something to advan- tage. Printers in the neighboring States are re-, onested to copy" The latter clause was inserted from vague suspicion that the rogue had taken up his abode in New York.
 Having instructed the Editor not to disclose his name to the rogue if he should call but to request the latter to leave his address, the 1luaKer Pa'e" awaited the result of his experiment. In snort time he was informed by note from the Printer that the individual alluded to in the advertisement having arrived from New York, might be found at a given place in the city.
 The tailor lost no time in preparing transcript of his account, not forgetting to charge interest from the time that the debt was incurred. Taking constable with him, who bore legal process sui- ted to the occason he soon arrived at the lGs,mgs of the swindler. The constable was instructed to stand off at little distance till signal should m. dicate the time for him to approach.
 The Quaker now rang the bell, and. when the servant appeared requested him to inform the gen. teman of whom he was in search, that friend wished to speak with him at the door,
 ohc od fho and hOth debtor and creditor looking each other in the face.
 "How dost thou do"' kindly inquired the Qua. ker. "Perhaps thou dost not know me-"
 "I believe have not the pleasure ofyour ac- quaintance," politely answered our hero.
 Dost thou remember purchasing suit of clothes several years ago of poor tailor and forget ting to pay for them ," asked the Quaker.
 70 mo-" said the gentleman, blushing slightly : "You must be mistaken in the person. It cannot be me that you wished to find" ,.,
 "Ah! John! know thee very we'll. Thou art the very man wished to see. Thou hast on at this moment the very waistcoat that made for thee. Thou must acknowledge it was of good stuff and well made, or it could not have lasted thee so long" .,
 "Oy s." said the gentleman, appearing sudden ly to recolect himself; d0 remember now the circumstances to which you allude. Yes, yes-l had intended to call and settle that little bill before leaving fnllduelpuIds duu yOu Hiay OCPOht oh AAs doing SO. have come here to take possession of a large amount of property which has been left me by will. See here is the advertisement which appraised me ot my good fortune"
 Here he handed to the Quaker New York pa- per containing copy of the advertisement whose history we have given above The Quaker look ed at i: with imperturable gravity and c"ntinued-
 "Yes, see thou art in luck. but as my demand is a small one, think must insist on payment be- fore thou comes in possession of thy large estates"
 The proper signal here brought the constable in to the presence of the parties. The swindler was particularly astonished at the appearance of this lunctionary. who immediately began to execute his part of the drama.
 "Whatw exclaimed the rogue in an angry tone: "you surely haven't sued me:"
 "Yes, have," replied the Quaker; "and thou shouldst be thankful that nothing worse happened to thee."
 "Come in then," said the debtor, finding him self fairly caught; "come in and will pay you if must"
 The three went into the house together, and the slpperly gentleman having ascertaned the amount 1.-the bill, paid it in full.
 The tailor having signed the receipt, placed it in the hands of his late creditor, with feelings such as may be readily imagined. The swindler took it and for the first time glanced at the various items of winch it was composed. He said nothing till he came to the last charge, which was for Gdverti- sing." when he broke forth
 "Hallo! what's this! "F0r advertising T'- That's an odd charge in tailor's bill. You're cheating me-"
 70 no," coolly replied the Quaker; " that is all right have charged thee the cost of publishing the advertisement which thou just showed me-"
 Here the swindler uttered horrid oath, as he demanded, Do you mean to say that you caused the publication of that advertisement
 "Truy did," replied the quaker with most pro- voking coolness.
 "You told a--l,e in it," quickly retorted the rogue.
 "Convince me of that," said the Quaker, and thou wilt find me ready to confess the fault"
 "You said should hear something to my advan- tage. if would come here."
 "Thou art mistaken" immediately responded the Quaker; |" only promised that thou shouldst hear of "somethng to advantage"; and is it not to the advantage of poor tailor to collect an old debt ,"
 elf I can catch you in the street, said the swn. dler with an oath in the deepest rage, "l'll give you such cowhiding as will no. leave the breath in your body"
 " Nonsense, now," said the Quaker; "if thou really intends to do any thing of that sort. we had better step out into the back yard and finish the bu siness at once."
 The rogue was completely non-plused by the coolness of the Quaker, and stood speeches. and almost petrifed.
 "Now," said the tailor good naturetllv, "let me give thee piece of advice. When next thou hast occasion to get suit of clothes, thou hadst better not attempt to cheat the poor tailor, but pay him honestly, for then will not thy conscience disturb thee. and thy sleep will be sweet and refreshng.- Farewell"
 There is no doubt of the literal truth of this sto. ", as we received it some time since from the lips of the Quaker himself.
 4 Good Story if not true, truth.like-is told in the Philadelphia Eagle, of landlord, who. find ing that the refrigerator in his yard, in which he was accustomed to put woodcock and other niceties