Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-01-04
No. "a WHorE No 1888,
A story Of an Honest Man.

Boston was but a brisk seaport town,
with its houses struggling to cover the
hill sides and barren pastures, and not
very successful IN the attempt there liv-
ed d man somewhat celebrated in his
way, who reioiced in the name Of Seth
Thornton. His sway of celebrity vas and
stil. is peculiar one honesty Folks
used to say that Seth was so intensely
honest that he was accustomed to set
eside per centage of his profits IN trade,
for the benefit of the poor, as an Offset to
any monies he might by any possibility
have become unlawfully possessed of
without his being aWareof it.
Whether this was so or not, he was
celebrated for his sterling, undertaking
honesty, and without the reward that
would seem TO have been his due.a Seth
was poor, although he was indebted for
his comfort rather to his economy in life
than to his success in business. He was
barely thirty years Of age when the story
commences, and was regular and metho-
dical to nicely in his transactions, and
from that obtained the soabriquet of Old
Seth.
So much for premises--now to our
story. II. 4
A duh gloomy day. it was wet with
out, cold within, and cherries every
where. The trade was dull as the
weather, and Seth was grubbing up old
accounts with severe determination,
when he was disturbed by the creaking
of the low door Of his shop, and the en-
trance of an old bowed down figure, who
barely placing one foot before the other,
shufied across the floor through piles Of
West India and dry goods, hardware,
groceries. and notions for Yankee land
was even then full of them, and deposit
ting well-flled bag upon his counter,
with the ejaculation, fuse for Ben Foul
er and Son" suddenly shufled away.
Not comprehending the nature of so. UNI
business like transaction, Seth was some
time in muse, before the brilliant idea
of examining the bag, occurred to his be-
wildered brain. 800.
The first touch told him it was gold.
and upon examination it was found to
contain the then enormous sum of FIVE
hundred guineas in gold Of Spain. Hav-
satisfied himself as to the amount, he
turned to hisday book and made entry. :
:" Received cash this day 50og., to be
nsed for Benjamin Fuller and Sons" and
opened his account accordingly.
Years passed on, and from year 10 year
the property invested in the name of Ben
jamin Euler and Sons, seemed cherished
by fortune. Their ventures were sue.
cessful by sea and land, when all Others
were rlinous, their ships rode safe
through storms that sunk the stoutest
merchantmen, and their cargoes arrived
in safety when privateers had taken or
driven away all others. So immense
was this increase that soon old Seth was
known only as an agent for the Ful!ers.
and his own property increase was Of
little account compared with the i'm
mense commission on their investments.
His warehouse had become one of the
largest IN the colony, and his ships pas
sed in and out from every. port of usual
trade of the time, laden with the propers
ty Of the unknown.
So time went prosperity to
mysterious person and misfortune To rs
agent "A new market was then sou. &
for On TIE coast of the Mediterrani
and vessel vas despatched for Algie
|ell cons, snments. The capt.
rival, waited upon the primer
l |RRts Of the place and all Of the Z
less l6nifest was IN demand, while
Did SetI prod ICED but nominal profit.
Asale was fiually effected Of the whole
Eargo, and the merchant and. the captain
discussed the new trade together. The
merchant expressed his desire to see the
new country, and by invitation Of the
other, took passage il his ship for Amer
lea.
The day succeeding his arrival, Seth
was seated in his counting room, engaged
in his usual examination Of ledgers and
papers, when a movement, attracted his
attention, and he saw before him the
same bowed down figure, and the same
shutting step approaching.
Where is the money for Ben Foula 2
Without hesitation and almost withot sur
prise, the account Of the inyestment was
read over and deeds of estates and esi-.
dences of property 10 the name Of Ben
janin Fuller were produced Houses,
ships, and cargoes were FAssed over to
the riightful owner, and rigid account Of
expenses and comalIssions was rendered,
and with no comment Of inquiry, the
honorablennan was left alone.
The days passed on. and old Seth
again was toiling n business, when !
|captain Of ship newly arrived from the
Mediterranean, entered and placed in his
hands package. TWAS win. bestow-
ing upon him all the property Of the myss
teriOus old man. accumulated BY himself
as agent.
The true story Of the mysterious visi-
tor was never told. but long afterwards