The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1847-01-08
DEBTOR AND CREDITOR.
TConcluded

good market and his consignments safe and en-
ergetic factors. All this he attributed to his own
business acumen
Il never make bad Shipments" he ould
sometimes say 81 never consign to doubtful a.
gents"
A man like Mr.. Elder is rarely permitted to go
through life without practical conviction that
he is in the hand of One who governs all events
1t is rarely that such one does not become pain
fully conscious, IN the end, that human prudence
is as nothing.
The first thing that occurred to check the con-
hdent spirit OF Mr.. Elder, was the loss of ship
and cargo under circumstances that gave the I'm
derwrters fair plea for not paying the risk He
sued and was cast. The loss was TWENTY-FIVE
thousand dollars.
A few weeks alter, news came that shipment
to the South American coast had resulted in
loss. From that tune every thing seemed to go
wrong. His adventures found glutted market,
and his return cargoes a depression of prices. If
he held on to thing in the hope of better rates,
prices would 60 down, until, in a desperate mood
he would sell; then they would go up steadily
The time was when he confined himself strictly
to legitimate trade. But mania Tor speculation
now took hold of him, and urged him on to ruin.
He even ventured into the bewildering precincts
OF the stock market, lured by the hope OF splen-
did results. Here he stood upon the ground that
soon crumbled beneath his feet. A loss of TWEEN
ty or thirty thousand dollars cured him Of this
folly, and ne turned with sigh 10 his counting
room, to digest with care and prudent forethougbt
some safe operation in his regular business.
But the true balance Of his mind was lost
He could not consider with calmness the bust
ness In hand false move was the conse.
quence. Loss instead of profit was the unfortu-
nate result.
Seven years from the day Mr. Elder opposed
an arrangement with Mr. Carlton, which should
regard the debtor well as the creditor, he him
self found it impossible provide for all his heavy
payments. For some time he had kept his
head above water, by making sacrifices, but the
end of this came
After sleepless night, the merchant started
one morning for his store, oppressed with the sad
conviction that before the day closed his fair fame
would be furnished. As he walked along Broad
way, Mr.. Carlton came to his side, with cheer
ful salutatiOn. Mr.. c. was now large creditor
instead of debtor. On that very day, bills in
his favor had matured TO the amount of five thou.
sand dollars; and these Elder could not pay
The recollection of this made it almost lmpossi-
BILE for him 10 reply to the pleasant observations
OF his companion. Wildly, as if it had occurred
yesterday, come up before his mind the circum-
stance that had TRANSFERRED few years previous
He remembered how eagerly he had sought.
from the merest selfish motives, to break down
MIR. Carlton, and throw him helpless upon the
world, and how near he was to accomplishing the
merchants total overthrow. Such recolecIions
drove from his mind the hope that for moment
mad presented itself OF enlisting Mr.. Cartoons
good feelings, and securing him as friend in the
trial through which he was about 10 pass
Several times during the walk towards Pearl
street, he was on the point OF breaking the mat.
ter to Mr.. C.. but either his heart failed him, or
his companion made some remark to which he
was compelled to reply. AT length they separ-
ated, without any allusion by Mr.. Elder to the
sdbJect on which he was so DESTROYS of sneak
ing He had not the courage to utter the first
word.
But this was Only postponing for very briet
period, the evil day. Several remittances were
anxlously looked for that morning. He broke
the seal OF letter after letter with trembling anx.
iety. Alas the mail brought him no aid His
last hope was gone. Nothing now remained for
him but to turn his face bravey to the threaten.
ing storm and bear up against its fury. For
hours he debated the question as to what course
1t was best Tor him to pursue. At one time he
thought OF leaving all in ignorance of his condj
uon until the notarys protest should starte them
from their Ignorance. Then he thought if would
be best TO notify the holder OF paper due on that
Gay, that 1t would not be taken up. Ii was one
o CLOCK before he could calmly resolve on what
ouiSo " LAKE. lhen II seemed to him best 10
give notice OF his condition. He prepared brief
notes to all, but Mr.. Carlton first. His heart
Jailed him when he attempted to write his name
Fivldly, as II it had occurred but the day previ-
Gus, came up before his mind all the crcunstan.
res attendant upon that gentemah's appeal to his
creditors. His cheek burned when he remem
oered the position he had assumed in that affair.
But, even though such were his feelings when
ne came to despatch the notes he had prepared,
he could only find courage to send the one writ
ten to Mr.. Carlton. The other creditors whose
bills had matured that day, he thought he would
go and see but half an hour passed without his
acting upon the resolution to do so. Most of this
Tune was spent in walking uneasily the floor OF
MS counting room or examining certain ac-
counts in his ledger, or entries in his bill book
He was bending, all absorbed, over page OF cal
culations at his desk, when some one who had en-
tered unperceived, pronounced his name. He
turned quickly and looked Mr.. Carlton in the
face. The color mounted instantly to the tenn
pies OF Mr.. Elder. He tried to speak but could
not.
''Your note has taken me altogether by SUR
prise" said Mr.. Callton. But | hope these
things are not SO bad as you suppose"
Mr. Elder shook his head. He tried to speak
but he could not
How much have you to pay to-day !" asked
Mr.. Carlton.
"Ten Thousand dollars" was the reply, in
husky voice.
How much have you toward it p
Not two thousand"
= &C How much falls due N. mnrrow %