Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-04-06
PAYING AN OLD DEBT--A TRUE STORY.


tcstate February is. IS, at the age Of
seventy five. After his death. among his
papers package Of very considerable size
vas found, carefully tied up, and labelled as
follows:
Notes, e-bills and accounts against sun
dry persons down along shore. Some Of
these may be got by suit or severe dunninc
But the people are poor; most of them have
bad fshermen's luck My children viii do
as they think best Perhaps they will think
with rne that it is best to burn this package
entire
About month after he died the sons met
together, when the elder brother the admip-
istrator.p produced this package, read the su-
prescription. and asked what course should
be taken in regard to il. Another brother,
few years younger than the eldest. a man
Of strong impulsive temperament, unable AT
the moment to express his feelings By words.
while be brushed the tears from bis eyes with
one hand, by spasmodic jerk of the other
| towards the FIRE place indicated his wish to
have the. package put in the flames. 1t was
suggested by another of the brothers that it
might be well first to make lis. of the deb
tors names. and of the dates and amounts,
that they might be enabled as the intended
discharge was for all, to inform such as might
offer payment, that their debts we're forgiven
On the following day they again assembled
the list had been prepared, and all the notes
due-bil!s and accounts, the amount of which
including interest, amounted to thirty thou
sand dollars, were committed to the flames
1t was four months after our fathers death
continued our informant in the month of June
that as was sitting in my eldest brothers
counting room waiting for an opportunity to
1 speak with him, there came IN hard favor-
ed, little old man, who looked as though time
and rough weather bad been to the windward
OF him for seventy years. He asked if my
brother was not the executor. My brother
replied that he was the administrator, as our
father died intestatc
We'll, sir. said the stranger, I've come
up from the Cape TO pay debt owed the
old gentleman
My brother requested him to take scat
being at the moment engaged with other per-
sons at the desk The old man sat down,
and putting on bis glasses, drew out very
ancient leather pocket book and began to
count over his money. When he had finish
ed, as he sat waiting his turn. slowly twirl-
ing bis thumbs, with his old gray mcditative
eyes upon the floor, he sighed, and knew
the money, as the phrase runs, came bard,
and secretly wished the old mans name might
be found on the forgiven list My brother
was soon at leisure and asked him the ordina-
ny questions, bis name, residence &c. The
original debt was four hundred dollars; it
had stood long time, and with the interest
amounted to between seven and eight hum
dred dollars. My brother went 70 his desk,
and after examining the list attentiycly. q
sudden smile lit up his countcnance. and told
me the truth at a glance The old man
name was there My brother quietly tool,
chair by bis side. and a conversation occur
red between them which shall never forget
Your note is outlawed, said he: it is da
ted twelve years ago, payable 10 two years
there is 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 mar, i wish to pay it.
1t is the only heavy debt have in the world
1t may be outlawed here, but have no child
and my I'D woman and hope we have made
our peace with God and wish to do so with
1 H.
And he laid his bank notes before my
brother, requesting him to count them over
i cannot take this money said my broth
or.
The old man became alarmed
Il have cast simple interest for twelve
years and little over, said he. Il will pay
you compound interest if you require it,
the debt ought to have been paid long ago
but your father, sir, was very indulgent--h,
knew I'd been unlucky, and told me not t.
worry about it.
My brother then set the whole matter be
fore him. and taking the bank bills returned
them to the old mans pocket book telling
him that although our father had left no form
al will. he had recommended to his children
to destroy certain notes, due bills, aud other
evidences Of debt. and release those who
might be legally bound to pay them
For moment the worthy old man appear
ed to be supplied, After he had collected
himself and wiped few tears from his eyes
he said
From the time | heard of your fathers
death, have raked and scraped and pinch
ed and spared, to get the money together foi
the payment of this debt. About ten days
ago had made up the sum within twenty
dollars. My wife knew how much the pay
ment Of this debt lay on my spirits, and adj.
vised me to sell COW. and make up the diff
ference, and get the heavy burthen off my
mind ! did so, aud now what will my old
woman say? | must 20 back to the cape
and tell her this good news She'll proba-
bly, repeat the very words she ased when
she put her hands on my shoulders as we
parted-'l have never seen the righteous
forsaken or his seed begging bread
Giving each of us hearty shake Of the
hand, aud a blessing upon our old fathers
memory, he went on his way rejoicing.
After very short silence, taking bis pen
ell and making east
There said nv brother, your part of the
amount would be so much. Contriec a plan
to convey to me your share Of the pleasure
derived from this operation, aud the money
is at your service
Such is the simple tale which have told
as it was told to me TO add the evident
moral would be an insult to the reader
I