The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-10
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Paying an Old Debt.

merce, in Atlantic cities, died ntestate, Feb
ruary ID, l8-, at the age of seventy-fve. AZ
ter his death, among his papers package Of
Very considerable size was found, carefully tied
up and labelled as follows:
"Notes, due bills and accounts, against sun
dry persons down along shore. Some Of these
may be got by suit or severe dnnning. But the
people are poor; most of them have fisherman's
luck My children will do as they think best
Perhaps they will think with me that it is best
to burn the package entire"
About month after he died, the sons met to-
gether, when the elder brother, the administrator,
produced this package, read the subscription,
and asked what course should be taken in regard
to it. Another brother, few years younger
than the eldeat man of strong impulsive tenl-
permanent. unable at the moment to express his
feeling by words, while he brushed the tears from
| his eyes with one hand, by spasmodic jerk of
| the other towards the fir place, indicated his
wish to have the package put into the flames. II
was suggested by another of the brothers that il
might be well first to make list of the debt
or's names, and of the dates and amounts, that
| they might be enabled, as the intended discharge
was for all to inform such might offer pay
ment that their debts were forgiven. Ga the fol-
lowing day they again assembled the list had
been prepared, and all the notes, due bills, and
accounts the amount of which including interest,
| amounted to Thirty thousand dollars, were CON-
mitted to the flames
| 1t was about four months after our fathers
death, continued my informant in the month of
June, that | was sitting in my eldest brothers
counting room, waiting for an opportunity to
speak with him !; there came in hard favored,
| little old man, who locked as though time and
rough usage had been to windward Of him for
seventy years. He asked me if my brother was
not the executor. My bother answered that
he was the administrator, as our father died in
| testate
"Weil" said the stranger, Eve come up
from the Cape to pay debt owed the old gen
tleman.
| My brother requested him to take seat,
being at that moment engaged with other per-
sons at TIE desk. The old man sat down, and
putting on his glasses, drew out very ancient
pocket book and began to count out his money.
When he had finished, as he sat waiting his turn,
slowly twirling his thumbs with his old, grey,
| ,neultative eyes cast down upon the floor, he
sighed, and knew the money, as the phrase runs,
came hard, and secretly wished the old mans name
M ght be found on the torgiving list NV brother
was soon at leisure, and asked him his name,
residence, &c. The original debt was four hun
bred and forty dollars it had stood a long time,
and with the interest amounted to between seven
and eight hundred dollars. NV brother went to
| his desk, and after examining the forgiven list
attentively, sudden smile lighted up his coup-
tenace, and told me the truth at once. The
old mans name there. My brother quietly
ook seat by his side. and conversation oc-
Cured between them which shall never forget.
Your note is outlawed," said he, {" it is dated
twelve years ago, payable in two years there's
| no witness, and no interest has ever been paid
you are not bound to pay this note; we can
never recover the amount"
Sir" said the old man, {" ] wish to pay it.
1t is the only heavy debt | have in the world.
1t may be outawed here, but have no child and
my old woman and ! hope have made our
peace with God, and | wish to do so with man.
should like to pay it," And he laid his bank
notes before my brother, requesting him to count
them over.
e" cannot take this money" said my brother.
The old man became alarmed. " have cast
simple interest for twelve years, and little
over" said he. Il will pay you compound in
terest, if you require it, The debt ought to
heve beer paid long ago; but your father was
very indulgent-hc knew that had been I'M
lucky, and told me not to worry about it."
My brother then set the whole matter before
him, and taking the bank bills, returned them to
the old mans pocket BOOB, telling him that, al
though our father left no formal will, ne had re-
commended to his children TO destroy certain
|
release those who might be legally bound to pay
them.
For moment the worthy old man appeared
to be Supplied. After he had collected himself
and wiped few tears from his eyes, he said -
From the time heard Of your fathers dealt,
have raked, and scraped, and pnched to get
the money together for the payment of this
debt. About ten days ago, had made up the
sum to within twenty dollars. Ny wife knew
how much the payment of this debt lay on my
-pirits, and advised me to sell COW, and make
up the difference, and get the heavy burden #
my mind. did so and now what will my old
woman saw must get back to the Cape and
tell her this good news She'll probably repent
the very words she used when she put her hands
on my shoulders we parted" have never
seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging
their bread" Giving each Of us a hearty shake
of the hand, and blessing upon our old fathers
memory, he went on his way rejoicing
There" said my brother, "your part Of the
amount wonld be 40 much. Contrve plan to
convey to me your share of pleasure derived
from this operation, and the money is at your
service"
Such is the simple tale which have told MS
It was told to me. To Id the evident moral
would be an insult taihe reader.
! CUBAN PATRroTs.-The family of the Pa
trlot AouERo, arrived at Montego Bay on the
goth inst, from Cuba They number 10 indi.
viduaIs, A Northside paper observes that AeU-
FRO was one of the noble men who first affixed
his name to the pronuncamento of independ-
ence' ! y which the tyranny Of Spain was sought
to be oyerthrown in Cuba
A telegraphic despatch received last evening,
dated Montpelier, W. Oct. 7tf, states that Luz
cius Clements, mail contractor, has been ares
ted, charged with an extensive mail robbery
lie is now lodged in jail at that place,