Polynesian., 1852-02-21

skeleton for he literally nothing but skin and
bone; hrs hand supported his head, and his eyes
seemed to be riveted to the opposite corner of the
room where lay, on pallet of straw, young
woman in the last stage of consumption, apparently
llfeless with an infant by her side, which was quite
dead. Mr.. Wesley Immediately sent for medical
assistance, but it was too late for the unfortunate
female, who expired few hours after from starva-
ton, as the doctor declared. You imagine, nv
lord, that the remaining eight guineas would not
60 far in aiding such distress as this No expense
was spared for the relief of the now only surviving
sufferer. But SO extreme was the weakness to
which he was reduced, that six weeks elapsed be-
fore he could speak sufficiently to relate his own
history. 1t appeared he had been a reputable mer-
chant and had married beautiful young lady,
eminently accomplished, whom he almost idoized.
They lived happily together for some time, until,
by the failure of speculation in which his whole
property was embarked, he was completely ruined.
No sooner did he become acquainted with his mis-
fortune than he called all his creditors together,
and laid before them the state of his affairs show
ing them his books, which were in the most perfect
order. They all willingly signed the dividend ex-
cept the lawyer, who owed his rise in the world to
this merchant; the sum was f250, for which he
obstinately declared he should be sent to jail 1t
was in vain the creditors urged him to pity his for
lorn condition, and to consider his great respecta
blllty-that feeling was stranger to his breast,
and In spite of all their remonstrances he was hur-
ried away to prison followed by his weeping wife.
AS she was very accomplished, she continued to
maintain herself and her husband for some time
solely by the use of her pencil in painting small
ornaments on cards. And thus they managed to
put little aside for the time of her confinement.
But so long an illness succeeded this event that
she was completely incapacitated from exerting
herself for their subsistence, and their scantv saw
ings were soon expended by procuring the neces-
sanes which her situation then required. They
were driven to pawn their Clothes and their re-
sourses failing, they found themselves at last re-
duced to absolute starvation. The poor infant had
Just expired from want, and the hapless mother
was about to follow it to the grave, when Mr. Wes-
ley and his friend entered and, as before said,
the husband was so reduced from the same cause,
that without the utmost care he must have fallen a
sacrifice; and as Mr.. Wesley, who was not for
doing things by halves, had acquainted himself
with this case of extreme misery, he went to the
creditors and informed them of it.
|. They were beyond measure astonished to learn
what he had to name to them; for so long time
had elapsed without hearing any thing of the mer-
chant and his family, that some supposed he was
dead, and others that he had quilted the country
Among the rest he called on the lawyer and paint
ed to him in the most glowing colors the wretched
ness he had Just witnessed, and which he 1.-THE law
yer) had been instrumental in causing; but even
this could not move his compassion; he declared
the merchant should not leave the prison without
paying him every farthing! Mr.. Welsey repeated
his visits to the other creditors, who, considering
the case of the sufferer agreed to raise amount
and release him. Some gave flOO, others 600
and another f300 The affairs of the merchant
took different turn; God seemed to prosper him.
and in the second year he called his creditors to-
gether, thanked them for their kindness, and paid
the sum so generously obtained.
Success continuing to attend him, he was ena.
bed to pay all his debts. and afterward realized
considerable property His afilictiars made such
a deep impression upon his mind t,lat he determin
ed to remove the POSSIBILITY of others suffering from
the same cause aid fSI this purpose advanced
considerable SIM as foundation fund for the re-
lief of small debtors. And the very first person
who partook of the same was the inerorabie ta,c-
ger
"This remarkable fact so entirely convinced
Lord Shelbourne of the mistaken opinion he had
formed of Mr.. Wesley, that he Immediately order
ed a dozen busts to embellsh the grounds of his
beautiful esiGence."-Sn,ith's anecdotes.