, 1852-11-20
A Romance of Honor.

From Chambers Edinburgh Journal Of July TO-
About seyenty-fve years ago there was at
Charleston, in South Carolina, family con-
sisting Of several members. 1t belonged 10
the middle class--that is 10 say, contained
barri,ters, bankers, merchants, solicitors, and
so ou--all Of them animated, at least 80 far
as appears, by high sense Of honor and in
tegrity. But noble sentiments are no GER
tain guarantee against poverty. One Of the
members of the family in question became
embarrassed, borrowed Gl 900 Of one Of his
relatives, but was soon after seized with
paralysis, and, having kept his bed FIVE
years, died, leaving behind him a widow
with several children lie could bcqucath
them no property, instead Of which they re-
ceyed as their inheritance high principles
and strong affection fol the memory of
their father, The widow also was in this
respect perfectly in harmony with her sons.
by dint, therefore, Of prudence, industry,
and economy they amassed among them the
sum of G400, which they rgidly appropri-
atcd to the repayment Of part Of their fa'
ihcr's debt. The old man had, indeed, call
ed them together around his death bed, and
told them that, instead of fortune, he left
them duty 10 perform and that if it could
not be accomplished in one generation, it
must be handed down from father to son,
until the descendants of the B---s had
paid every farthing 10 the descendants Of
the SIS.
While matters Stood in this predicament,
the creditor part of the lamily removed to
England, and the debtors remained at
Charleston, struggling with difficulties aud
cmbauassments, which not only disabled
them from paying the parental debt, but
Kept them perpetually in honorable poverty.
Vi course the wish TO pay, in such minds
survived tho ability. Ii would have been
TO them an enjoyment Of high order to
hunt out their relatives in England, and
place in their hands the owing GGOO. This
pleasure, which they were never destined
to taste, often formed the subject Uf conyer-
SaIion around their frcsidc, and the children
as they grew up were initiated into the mys-
terics Of the 5000.
But that generation passed away, and an
other succeeded TO the liability not that
there existed any liability in the law for
though deed had been executed, it had
lapsed in course Of time, so that there was
really no obligation but that which was
strongest of allan uneradicable sense Of
right. Often and often did the BIS,
Of Charleston, meet and consult together on
this famous debt, which every ono wished
but no one could afford to pay. The sons
We're married and had children, whom il
was encumbent on them 10 support the
daughters had married, too +; but their hus-
bands possibly did not acquire with theil
wives the chivalrous sense of duty which
possessed the breast Ct every member of the
B. family, and inspired them with Z
wish to do justice when fortune permitted
1t would be infinitely agreeable to collec
and peruse the letters and records Of con
situations whicn passed or took place be
tween The members of this family on tn,
subject Of the GG00. These document
would form the materials of one of the mos
delightful romances in the world-the TO
nance of honor, which never dies in SOM
lamlllcs, but is transmitted from generation
10 generation like treasure above all price
when this brief notice is read in Charles
''n' II may possibly lead TO the collection