Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-12-11
PAYING AN OLD DEBT.
a TRpE NARRATIVE, wlra y NonA1


~ HE aye O. seyeniy-fiye. After his
death, among his papers package ol
very considerable size was found. care
fully tied up and iabeled as follows:
Noles. due bilsand accounts, against
Rsnndry perso,is'tiown along the Shore
Some Of these may be gp, BY suitSor Sc
we're dunning Butihe people are poor;
most of them have tishermeirs luck
Aiy children viii do sls they think best.
Perhaps they viii lhiax with me, that i.
y hest 10 bnfn the packet eniirs.'
aboai a. month after he died the sons
met together, when The elder brother, the
administrators, produced this package,
read the saPersciip:ion, and asked wha.
course should be takenain regard 10 i,.--
Aaother broiiisr. iew years younger
than tliefeldest, q man Of strong impul-
stve temperament, unable at lile moment
10 express his feelings by words, while,
he brushed the tears from hiseyes with
enc hand, by a spasmeaic jerk of the
ielier towards ,lle fire place. Indicated
his wish 10 have The package pn, into the
fanes. TWAS suggested by another OF
the bruihers that il might he well first iu
make u list OF the debtors names. and
The dates and amuunts, that they might
be en;s6ied. as the intended discharge
was ivr all, 10 inform such as nigh, Offer
payment that their debts were forgiven.
Oatle following day they again assem-
bed; The list had been prepared, and all
the nois's, due bills and accounts, The a.
mount OF which, including Interest, a.
mounted ~ thirty Thousand dollars, we're
committed 10 The flames.
lt WAS about four manlhs after our ia.
iher's death, caniinued my informant II,
the taopih OF Jane, that was sitting in
my eldest hrother's room, waiting Tor ao
oppsssusli'y 10 speak with him; there
asasio a,iiard favored li,!e old maa
Who soekejas though lilne and rough
nsags had been 10 windware &C him ipr
seses'y ears. He asked me ii Bly
brother was netlhe executor. Ny bro
iliar answered that he was ibe adminis,
trsier. as our father died iniesmie.
sWsih said ilie stranger. .i've come
ua ffem sliesGape 10 opay debt owed
The Oh gentleman 3
Ny brother requested him 10 lake a
feai, hsing at il:at mcmcui engaged with
ether reFsclls al the desk. The cid man
sal dewa, and putting On his glasses.
'srew ees very ancient pocket-book,
and began 10 count oul his money!
Wheu he had finished. as be sa, waiting
hls turn, slowly twirling bis thumbs,
with his gsey, nedilaiivo ey es cast down
Upon the Avor. lie sieiwsh aud 1 knew
iae money. as The, phrase runs, came
hard. and secretly wished ss.e old mans
name might be found on alae iorgiven. list.
Ny brother was senn al leisure, and ask
ed,himsshe ordinary questions. his name.
residence, &r. The original debt was
hnr hundred aud i',fty dallsfs. Il had
stood aipng time, aad with the interest
amounted 70 between, seven. and eight
handrcd deilafs.s Ny bro,her went 10
ms desk, and after examining the furgiy-
enlist astenayety a sudden smile elishied
UP lbs couniemlnce, and ,s,iL me Tho
huttt tNt sVttt. ~ sSste.E
fhenld man name was there. Ny
brother qnleily tppk a seat by his side,
and conversation occurred between
them which, shall never forget.
Your note is nutlawed,' said lie; II,
y daaed swelye years aga, payable in two
yeafs. I here slip Mi,ness,s and no iu-
strest has ever been paid. you are no.
boapa ispay ibis noie; We can neses re,
co,cri ihet ataonIs.."
SIR, said the old maa. II wish 10
pay H. It's sheonly heavy debt have
~ tie world. Il may be ouslswed here,
bui have ilo child, and MS old woman
and lhppe we have made our peace
with Gnd.sand ] wish "a do SO with man.
should like 70 pay: il. And he layed
his bank no,ess before my brother, re.
him II count Them over.
Il cannai take his money,' said ms
The uld man became alarmed. IL
have casl simple interest for twelve years
and a little oyer, said he. II will pay
you compound interest il ynn require It.
The deb, ought 10 have been paid long
ago; hut your father was very indulgenl;
be knew that had been unlncky, and
Told me not 10 worry abousit.
My brother then setthc whole matter
heiore him; and taking the bank bills, re-
ttrned them 10 The old man 5 pocket-hook.
telling him that althopgh our father left
no IOrsuui vail he had r.cou, r,onda,l a.