Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-11-12
Select Tales.
From The Columbian Magazine for November
DEBTOR AND CREDITOR.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.


Two men met in Wall street They were
merchants.
What do you think of Cartons afflirs, Ell
der! asked one of them.
Il think we shall secure pretty fair per cen
tage. Don't your
Yes, if we wind him up
That we shall do, of course Why let him
60 on! 1t will take him two or three years to
get through it, if at ALL
If he can get through in two or three years,
l shall certainly be in favor of letting him go
on. Times have been rather bad and bust
ness dull But everything looks encouraging
now
Il don't believe in extensions, Mr. Highland
The surest way, when mali gets into difficult
ties is to wind him up, and secure what you
can Ten chances to one, if you let him 90 on,
you lose every cent
Il have granted extensions in several instan-
ces, Mr.. Elder, replied his companion, 'and OBJ
tanned, eventually, my whole claim, except in a
single case
It's always risk. go by the motto, "a
bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, re-
turned Elder. / am always ready to take what
can get to-day, and never trust to the morrow
This is my way of doing business
But do you not think the debtor entitled to
some consideration
Howl with look Of surprise
He is man of like passions with our
selves
Il don't know that | understand you exactly,
Mr.. Highland
Mr.. Carlton has domestic relations as we'll as
you and L.
never doubted it. But what Of THAR
If we break him up in business, the evil
will not visit him alone. Think of the effect
upon his family
In trade we never consider a mans family
relations.
But should we not? Should we not regard
the debtor as mann
AS mln who owes US, and is unable to pay
what is due; but in no other light returned Mr..
Elder, with slight curl of the lip.
There we differ widely
And will continue to differ, imagine. Good
morning, Mr. Highland
The two men parted.
An hour previous Mr. Carlton, about whom
they had been conVersing, sat with his family, a
wife and three daughters, at the breakfast table
He tried to converse in his usual cheerful man.
ner, but too heavy weight was upon his heart
There had come crisis in his affairs, which he
feared would not be passed without ruin to him
SELF If the effects of this would not reach be-
yond his store and counting room; if upon his
head alone would fall the fragments of broken
fortune, he would not have murmured. But the
disaster could not stop there. 1t would extend
even to the sanctuary Of home
AS their father had little to say, the daughter:
chatted about various matters ofinterest to them
selves. They little knew how many pang thei
words occasioned. Bright hopes ghtered fol
them in the distance; but the father alone knew
how eminent was the danger that threatened de
struction to all these Turing hopes He felt op
pressed and gloomy when he left the house an;
bent his steps in the direction of his store o.
the day previous he had called in few Of hi
creditors and asked Of them an extension. -
If this were not given, it would be Impossible
for him to keep on longer than few weeks
The spirit in which most of his creditors ha
received the unexpected announcement that h
was IN difficulties, gave him little to hope. H
was to have another interview with them durin
the day. From that, as it would exhibit the re
suit of nights reflection upon the minds
his creditors, he would be able to see clearl
his chances of being sustained in business. H
awaited the hour with nasVous anxiety. Whe
arrived, and the few creditors called in ha
assembled, he saw little in their faces to 81,
him hope The first who spoke out clearly wi
Elder.
gentlemen he said firmly, lam opposed
all extensions If man cannot pay as he goe
think he had better wind up
1t all do not agree in this matter, it will