The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-10
From the Columbian Magazine.
DEBTOR AND CREDITOR.
BY T. g. ARTHUR.

Mr.. Elder ?" asked one of them.
II think we shall secure pretty fair pc
centage. Don't you?"
Yes, if we wind him up"
That we shall do, Of course. Why lie
him go on? 1t will take him two or three
years to get through, if at all"
"Ifhe can get through in two or three years
shall certainly be in favor of letting him &C
on, Times have been rather hard and bust,
ness dull. But everything looks encouraging
now"
Is don't believe in extensions, Mr., High
land. The surest way, when man gets in
to difficulties, is to wind him up, and Sc
cure what you can. Ten chances to one,
fyou let him 90 on, you loose every cent"
81 have granted extensions in several in
stances, Mr.. Elder" replied his companion,
"and obtained, eventually, my whole claim,
except in a single case"
"Its always risk. go by the motto, a
bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, !"
returned Elder. l am always ready to take
what can get to-day, and never trust to the
morrow. This is my way of doing bust
ness"
"But do you not think the debtor entitled
to some consideration ?"
How ?" asked Elder, with a look of sur
prise.
1lo . u llldu Vi pdSSlOHS WIFI OuTSelNeS.
II don't know that understand you ex-
actly, Mr. Highland"
"Mr. Carlton has domestic relations as well
as you and J."
- never doubted it. But what of that ?"
" 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 fami-
ly relations
" But should we not, Mr.. Elder? Should
we not regard the debtor as man ?"
" AS a man who owes us, and is unable to
pay what is due; but in no other light" re-
turned Mr.. Elder, with slight curl Of the lip.
There we differ widely"
And will continue to differ, I imagine
Good morning, Mr.. Highland
The two men parted
An hour previous, Mr.. Carlton, about whom
they had been conversing, sat with his fami-
ly, wife and three daughters, at the break |
last table He tried to converse in his usual |
cheerful manner, but too heavy weight was
upon his heart There had come a crisis i'll |
his affairs, which he feared would not be pass
ed without ruin to himself. If the effects of
this would not reach beyond his store and
counting room; if on 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 daugh-
tiers chatted about various matters of interest
to themselves. They little knew how many
pang their words occasioned Bright hopes
glittered for them in the distance but their
father alone knew how imminent was the
danger that threatened destruction to all these
Turing hopes lie felt oppressed and gloomy
when he left the house and bent his steps in
tho direction of his store. On the day previ-
GUS he had called in few of his creditors and
asked of them an extension. If this were not
given, it would be impossible for him to keep
on longer than a few weeks. The spirit in
which most of his creditors had received the
unexpected announcement that he was in diff
fculties, gave him little to hope. He was to
have another interview with them during the
day. From that, as it would exhibit the re-
suit Of a nights reflection upon the minds of
his creditors, he would be able to see clearly
his chances of being sustained in business
lie awaited the hour with nervous anxiety |
When the few creditors called in had assem- |
bled, he saw little in their faces to give him
hope. The first who spoke out plainly was
Elder.
u, gentlemen" he said firmly, "am OPP /
posed to all extensions. If man cannot pay
as he goes, think he had better wind up {
# all do not agree in this matter, it will
be no use to attempt extending Mr.. Carl
tons time" remarked one of the creditors
who thought and felt as did Elder, but was
not willing to come out so plain. :
That is very true" said third, A par
tial extension will be of no USE :
The heart Of poor Carlton almost ceased to
beat.
"Have you any objection to retiring for t
few minutes p said Mr.. Highland to the
debtor. l
81 will withdraw, certainly" returned Mr.. t
Carlton, and left the room. /
"GIy own view, gentlemen" said Mr. H., t
is that we ought to grant all that is asked.
Mr.. Cartons business is good, and he will get '
over his present difficulties easily, if we only
assist him little We should be just, as man |
toward man, and this do not think we shall q
be in this case, unless we consider Carlton as !
well as ourselves. He is an honest man, and a
an honest man in difficulties is always entitled t
to consideration
"That is all very we'll But when a man S
gives his note payable at certain day, he /
ought to be very sure that he will be able to f
take it Up. Creditors are entitled to some Il
consideration as well as debtors. The cry of /
poor debtor is soon raised, but who won s
der, thinks Of the poor creditor2 l, for one, 0
am not prepared to extend" t.
As for me- spoke up another, II never
take but one view of matters like this. If l r
think will do better by renewing,I am ready v
to do so; if by winding up the party now b
can do better,I gofor that. have confidence t.
il Cartoons integrity l believe he means h
well. But can he get through? that is the il
question" b
81 believe he can," said Mr. Highland. u
"And doubt it," returned Elder.
Ought we not to consider him as we'll as v
ourselyes?" urged Mr. Highland lie has !
4Warkel vnrv hard for the last tom raars