The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1849-10-10
PAYING AN OLD DEBT.

4 Merchant. very exten,iys ~ engaged
in commerce. aud heated upon the Long
Wharf. died February Is. 1896. a, the
age Of sevcniy.live. inlcstaie. Ills eldest
son administered nrnn the e.ia,c. This
old gentleman useI pleasantly To say, thai.
for many Years, he had fed very large
number Of Catholics. on The shores &c lie
Mediterranean, during Lent. referring loh his
very extensive connection with the fish.
ing business. In his day he was certain,
" well known; and 10 The present time
is well remembered, BY some Of The " aid
ones doirn along shorf." from the Cur.
nets Nose 10 Rare Paint. Among his
papers. package Of very considerable
size, was found after his death carefully
lied up. and labelled rs follows -" Notes,
due bills, and accounts against sundry
persons, down along shore. Some of
these may be got by sril or severe dun.
ming. Bur the people are poor; most Of
lhcm have had ii,hermen's luck. Nv
children will do as they think hest. Per-
maps rlYy will think with me. that il is
best 10 urn this package entire
"Abou, a month" said my informant.
"al,er oar father died, The sons mci logeih.
err, and, after some general remarks. our
elder brother, the administrator, produced
This package. Of whose existence we we're
already appnsed, iead The supersrrption.
and asked what course should be taken in
regard 10 il. Another brother, few years
younger Than The eldest, a man OF strong,
impulsiye temperament, unable at the mo
mcnt 10 express his feelings by words,
while he brushed The tears from his eyes
with one hand. BY a spasmodic jerk Of the
other, towards The fireplace, indicated his
wish 10 have the package put INTO the
flames. Il was suggested, By another Of
our number. chat il might be well, first, 10
make list Of the debtors names, and Of
the dates, and amounts, that we might be
enabled, as the intended discharge was for
all. 10 inform such as might offer payment,
that their debts were forgiven. On the
following day, we again assemblrd--the
list had been prepared all the notes,
due bills. and accounts, whose amount,
including interest, amounted 10 ihiriy.two
thousand dollars, were committed to the
flames.
1T was about four months after our
fathers deaths" continued NY Informant,
!" III the month of june, that, rs was sit
ling in my eldest brnlher's couuiing.room,
waiting for an opportunity TO speak with
him. there came in hard favored, little
old man, who looked as il time aud rough
weather had been IN wind. ward of him
for seventy years. lie asked ifmy broth.
er was mol The executor. lie replied thai
he was administrator, as cur father died
in,eslale. WE'LL said the stranger, I've
come up from the Cape to pay a debt |
owed the old gentleman Ny brolher,"
continued my informant, requested him
To take a seal. being al the moment en-
gagged with other persons al the desk.
The old man sal down, putting on
his glasses. drew out a very ancient leaii-
er pocktt-oouk, and began TO count over
his money. When he had done--and
there was quite parcel Of bank nplcs--i,s
he sat, waiting his turn, slowly twisting
his thumbs, with his old gray. meiila,ive
eyes upon the floor, he sighed; and |
knew The money, as The phrase runs,
come hdai-and secretly wished the old
mans name might be found upon the for.
given list. My brother was soon al leis.
ure. and asked him The common questions
his name, etc. The original debt was
four hundred aud forty dollars---it had
stood long time, and, with the interest,
amounted 10 sum between seven and
eight hundred. My brother went 10 his
desk, and. after examining the forgiven
list a,tenlively, sudden smile lighted up
his counienance, and told me the truth al
a ulance-thc old mans name was there
Nv brother quietly took chair by his
side, aud conversation ensucd between
them, which never shall forget. Your
note is ou,lawed,' ssid my U'otaef; II