, 1852-11-20

we lhlnk, D. lalu before The world as pleas
ing record of hereditary nobility Of senti-
ment.
After the lapse of many years, a widow
and her three nephcws found themselves in
20 S ssion Of the necessary means for pay
ing the family debt. Three-quarters of
century had elapsed. The children and the
children's children of the original borrower
had passed away but the honor Of the B.
family had been transmitted intact TO the
fourth generation, and search was immedi-
ately commenced TO discover the creditors
in England. This, however, as may well
be supposed, was no easy task. The mcm-
bers Of the S. family had multiplied and
separated, married and intermarried, become
poUran wealthy, distinguished and obscure,
by turns, changed their typographical as
well as their social position, and disappear
ed entirely from the spot they had occupied
on their first arrival from America.
But honor is indefatigable, and by degrees
letter reached person in Kensington,
who happened TO possess some knowledge Of
a Lady Of the S. family, married to solic-
tor praclicing with great success and dis
tinction in London. When the letter came
to hand, she at first doubted whether it
might not be a sort of grave hoax, intended
to excite expectation for the pleasure Of
witnessing its disappointment. However,
the English solicitor, accustomed to the in
cidcnts of life, thought there would al least
he no harm in replying to the letter from
Charleston, and discovering IN this way the
real state Of the affair.
Some delay necessarily occurred, especi-
ally as the B. family in America were Old
World sort of people, accustomed TO trans
act business slowly and melhodically, and
with due attention to the minutcst points
But at length a reply came, in which the
writer observed that if a deed Of release
were drawn up, signed by all the parties
concerned in England and transmitted TO
America, the G6OO should Immediately be
forwarded for distribution among the 5.
family. Some demur now arose, Some Of
the persons concerned, growing prudent as
| the chances of recovering the money appear
cd to multiply, thought it would be wrong
to send the deed of release before the money
had been received. But the solicitor had
not learned in the practice of his profession
to form 50 low an estimate Of human nature.
lie considered confidence in this case to be
synonymous with prudence, and at any rate
resolved 10 take upon himself the entire re-
sponsbility of complying with the wishes Of
the Americans. He accordingly drew up
the Necessary document, got it signed by as
many as participated in his views, and sent
it across the Atlantic, without the slightest
doubt or hesitation There had boon some
thing in the rough, blunt honesty of the
Mr.. D. letter that inspired in the man
Of law the utmost reliance on his faith, tho
during the interval which elapsed between
the transmission Of the deed and the recep-
ton of an answer from the States, several Of
his friends exhibited disposition to make
themselves merry at the expense of his
chiyalry. But, when we consider all the
particulars of the case, we can hardly fail 10
perceive that he ran no risk whatever for
even if the debthad not legally iapsed, the
people who had retained it in their memory
through three generations who had, from
/ father to son, practccd strict economy in
order TO relieve themselves from the sbur-
den who had, with much difficulty and
some expense, sought out the heirs of their
] ,
be suspected Of any inclination to finish of
with fraud at last
Still, if there was honor on one side, there
was enlarged confidence on the other and
in the course of few months the Ameri
can mail brought TO London the famous
E6OO due since before the War Of lndc-
pendence. The business now was to divide
81, If bo
creditors was loud in expressions Of admi-
ration Of the honor of the b. family, whose
representative, while forwarding the money,
asked with much simplicity TO have a few
old English newspapers sent out to him by
way OF acknowledgment, For his own
part, however, he expressed strong desire
to behold some Of the persons to whom he
had thus paid debt Of the last century /;
and he gave a warm ana pressing invitation
to any of them TO come out and stay as long
as they thought proper at his house in
Charleston, Had the invitation been ac-
cepted, we cannot doubt that the American
would have acted as hospiIable in the char
acter Of host as he behaved honorably in
that of debtor. 1t would have been a
pleasure, we might indeed say distinction,
to live under the same roof with such man
IT is TO be hoped, therefore, that the London
Solicitor will some day drop in quietly upon
his friend in Charleston to smoke a cigar,
and discuss old times with him. He will in
that case probably fancy himself chatting
with a contimporary Of Rip Van Wrinkle.
} How the property was distributed among
the S. family in England We need not say.
Each surviving individual had his Or her
share The solicitor was only connected
with them by marriage but with good old
English ideas of uprghlness and integrity,
lie was fully able 10 appreciate the Charles