The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-09-28
Faying an Old Debt.

Of seventy i've, lGlestDie. His eldest son
administered upon the estate. This old
gentleman used pleasantly TO say, that, fo'
many years, he had fed very large nun
Der of the Catholics, on the shores Of lht
Mediterranean, during Lent, referring Il
he very extensive connection with the fish
lng business. 10 liza day he was certainly
well Known; and to The present lime is vel
remembered, by come oil lie " cid ones
dorm ol0ng shore, from the Gurnel's Nose
to Race Point Among his papers, pack
oge Of very considerable sizs. was found
after his death carefully tied up and labslI
.ct az follows =" N1,e5, due blls, and &C.
counts against sundry persons, down along
shore. Some Of these may be got by eut
or severe dunnlng. But tho people arc
poor most OF then have had fishermen.
uck. My children will do as lhey think
beat. Perhaps they will thIuk with me
kat il Is bes! Q burn this package oGtire."
"Abou, n month" said my informant,
A." af.er our father died, he sons met TO.
geiher, and, after some general remarks,
our elder brother, the administrator, pro.
duccd this package, Of whose existence We
were already appTi7ed, read The superscrip
ton, and asked what course should lie taken
IN regard 10 II. Another brother, few
years younger than the eldest, man Of
strong, lmpulslYe temperament, unable OF
the moment 10 express his feelings by words,
While he brushed he tears from his eyes
With cue hand, by q spasmodle jerk Of the
other, towards the fireplace, indicated his
wish 10 have the package put into the
flames. Ii was suggested, by another Of
our number, that ii might be well, first, to
make list Of the debtors nance, end Of
the da.es, aud amounts, that NO might be
enabled, as 'he intended discharge was for
all, to inform such as might offer payment,
that their debts we're forgiven Ga the
following day, We again assembled-Ihe
list had been ptepa,ed-and all the notes,
due bills, and accounts, whose amount, in.
cuding interest, amounted TO lhlr,y.lWo
thousand dollars, were committed to The
Aames.
II was about four months after our
fathers death" continued my informant,
" III the month of June, that, as ! was ell
ting IN my eldest brothers countlng.rooD,
waiting for an opportunity TO speak With
hin, there came IN hard-iavofed, httle
old man, who looked as if time and rough
weather had been to wind. ward of him for
seventy years. He a,ked II my brother
vas 10. the executor. He replied that be
vas 5dmlns'tetor, as DOR father died lntes
late. Well, said de stranger, I've como
up flome the Cape to pay debt | owed
the old gentleman any brother" contin
Jed my informant, "tcqnested him TO take
a seat, being al the moment engaged with
other persons al The desk,
" The old man :a, down, and putting on
his glasses, drew out a very ancient leather
pocke, book, and began TO c9uu, over his
money. When he had done-and there
vas quite parcel of bank notes-as he
sat, waiting bis turn, slowly taIs,ing his
tLuubs, with his old gray, medltatlye eyes
upon The floor, he ST. he'd and ! knew the
money, as the phrase runs, come hard =
and secretly wished the old mans name
might be found upon the forgiven list. Ny
brother was soon al leisure, and asked him .
The common quetlions name, olc- -
The ORIGINAL debt vas four hundred aud
forty dollars-it had stood long time,
aud, with he interest amounted to a sum
between seven aud eight hundred. My
brother went to his desk, and, aller exam
ming the forgiven lis. aitentvcly, sudden
smile lighted up his coun,enance, and told
ne the truth at glance-the old mans
name was there Ny brother quietly look
a chair by his side, and q conversation en-
sued between them, which never shall for
get. Your note Is oulIawed,' SAID my
broher II was dated twelve years ego, pay
able in Two years; there is no witness, and
no interest was ever paid; you are not
Bound 10 pay this note we cannot recover
he amount 'Str,' said The old man, : | ,
wish TO pay it. Il IS The only heavy debt
have in the world. II may be outla~ed
lcre, but have no child, and my old NO
nan and hopo we have made our peace I
silh God, and wish to do so with men.
hould like to pay it, and he laid bis bank s
otos before my brother, requesting him TO /
cunt them over. cannot take this mo. Q
ey,' said my brother. The old man be. i
ame alarmed. 81 have cas-. simple in. $
eres, for twelve years and a ltIe over, t.
aid the old man. : | viii pay you com. il
opnd interest, if you say so. The debt y
ugh, TO have been paid long ago, but your l
,,heT, sir, was very indulgenl-he knew II
d been unlucky, aud told me not to worry a
bout IL II
:" Ny brother then set the whole matter b
lainy before hum, and, taking the bank IL
Ills, returned them 10 the old mans pock Il
book, telling him that, although our faith d
r left no formal will, he had recommended II
, his children TO destroy certain notes, doe ST
Ills, and other evidences Of debt and re. b
ase those who might be legally bound TO "
az them. For a moment the worthy old CO
ian appeared to be supefed. Ator he
ad collected himself, and wiped few tears SC
ON his eyes, he stated that, from the time III
e bad heard of our fathers death, he had et