Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-11-06
PAYING AN OLD DEBT.
IA True Narrative, with o Mora.,

1u -
nerce, in our Atlantic cities, died ntestate, Feb
raary Is. lS-, at the age of seyenty-6re. After
bis death, among bis papers package OF very
considerable size was found, carefully tied up aud
labelled as follows:
ssNotes, due bills. and accounts. against sun
9ry persons down along shore. Some of these
NAV Be got by suit or severe dunning. But the
people are poor most of them have fshermaa's
luck. Ny children viii do as they think best
Perhaps they will think with me that ii is best
10 burn the package entire
About m nth after he died. the sons met to-
resher, when the elder brother the administrator.
produced this package, read the snperscription.
md asked what course should be taken in regard
10 IL Another brother, few years younger
,haa the eldest, a man Of strong ippalsive tenn
perameat, unable at the moment to express his
feeling by words, while he brushed the tears from
his eyes with one hand, hv spasmodlc Jerk OF
the other towards the fireplace, indicated his
wish 10 have the package put into the flames. Il
Wis suggested BY another of the brothers that it
night be well first to make list Of the debtors
names, and Of the dates and amounts, that they
might be enabled, as the intended discharge was
for al, to inform snch as might offer payment
that their debts Were forgiven. Ca the follow
ins day they again assembled, the list had been
prepared, and all the notes. due bills, and &C.
counts, the amoun. of which including interest,
amounted to thirty thousand dollars, were com
mitted to the flames.
twas about foar months after orr fathers
death, continued my informant. in the month of
June that was siailg in my eldest brothers
counting room, waiting for an opportunity TO
speak with him; there came in a hard little old
man, who looked as though time and rough usage
had been 10 windward Of him FOR seventy wears.
He asked me il my brother was not the executor,
My brother answered that he was the atma-
istrator, as our father d ed intestate.
SWELL said the stranger, 'Ive conc NJ from
the Cape TO pay debt ewea the old gentleman.
NV brother requested him 10 take seat, be
ing at that moment engaged With other persons Al
yhe desk. The old man sat aowa, and putting Q.
his glasses, drew oat vefs ancient pocket book
and began to conn, oathis money. When he had
finished, as he sat waiting his turn, slowly ,wirl-
snS his ,hamhs with his old, grey, mcditativ,
eyes cast down apaa the tiaor, he sighed, and
knew the money, a. the phrase raas. came hard
and secretly wished the old maa's name IN iii
b. found on the forgivius list. Nv brother was
soon q. leisure, and asked him his name, residence
&c. The original debt was foar hundred aaj
fcrty dollars; Il had stood lcag time, and with
interest amounted 10 between seven and eight hun
drel do!lars. NV brother went 10 his desk. an,
after examining the forgiven lis'astentvely, sui
den smile lighted up his coaatenaaee, and tol,
~
there. My brother quietly took seat hy his sid,
md aconsersattoa occurred hetweea them whict
tahall never forget
@Yoar note Is oatlaWea." said he. sit is date,
twelve years ago payable in two years. there
No witness, and no interest has ever been paid
yea are not bound to pay this note We can neve
recover The amount"
sSir said the old man, Il wish to pay II.
htAe only heavy debt have in the world. |
may BE- oatlawed here, but have no child, ana
myod woman and hope we have made our peac,
With God. aud wish 10 do 50 with man, shout,
Ike 70 payl,,s And he laid his bank notes b.
tces NY brother, requesting him to count then
over
cannot take this money" said my brother
Ihs old man bccame alarmed, II have cas-
Mupls interest Tor twelve years, and a It'll
over said he. "lwill pay you compound in
efsss, nyoa require II, The debt ought 10 hasv
oesa paid long ago ; hn' yoW father WIS very in
aalyea,-ae knew TIA, had been m.aeky, an,
w ne not towofsy aseStasa ae,,ta"
~ brother then sci the whole matter hefe~
nn, And taking tho hank bills, returned them !.
ne o'd Maa's pocket book, telling him that, altho
oat father left no formal will, he had recommeoa
" ~ chaldFea 10 bessray cersair notes, due bill
~ other evidences Of debt, and release those VIII
night b. legally bound TO pay them.
For moment the worthy old man appeare,
y stapi6cd, After he had collected himsel
- wiped a few tears from his eyes, he saias--
."From the time heard Of your fathers death
have rakcd. and scrapea, and plnched 10 rel th
nancy together for the paymen; oil this debt
About ten days aso, | had made up the sum
within tweaty dollars. Ny wife knew hos
much the payment Of this debt lay on my spirit,
and advised me TO sell COW, and make up th
aaasrenee, and get the heavy burden oifmy miat
did 30, and now what will my old woman say
must yet back 10 the Cape and tell her this goo
news. She'll probably repeat the very worI
.he used when she pa, her hands on my sho i
ders - we parted-,'l have never seen the RICH,
eoas forsakea or his seed begging their bread.
Giving each Of us hearty shake Of the hand, an
blessing upon our old fathers memory, , he ne,
on his way rejoicing.
"There,n said my brother, "yom part Of Il
amount would Be so much. Contrive plan
convey 10 me your share Of pleasure derived fro
this operation. and the money is M your service
Such Is the simple tale which have told as
was told to me. To add the eviden, moral won
be m insult 10 the reader.
-ASorHER YANKEE TMrMrn,--The Loud,
Morning Ch, onicle Of September 2ith has The Il
lowing notice Of specimens OF Brussels carp'
woven upon power looms. from the mannfacio