The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-08-18
SRlrrtra 1rtirlps,
American Honor.
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

About seventy-iive years ago, there was
at Charleston, South Carolina, a family
consisting of several members. 1t be,
longcd to the middle class-that is to say,
contained barristers, bankers, merchants,
solicitors, and so on-ail of them animat-
ed, at least SO far as appears, by a high
sense OF honor and integrity. But noble
sentiments are no certain guarantee
against poverty. One Of the members Of
the family in question became cmbarras-
scd, borrowed $1,000 of one of his rela-
tives, but was soon after seized with para
lysis, and, having kept his bed five years,
died, leaving behind him n widow with
several children. He could bequeath them
no property, instead of which they rccciv-
ed as their inheritance high principles,
and strong affection for the memory of
their father. The widow also was, in this
respect, perfectly in harmony with her
sons. BY dint, therefore, ofprudcncc, in
dustry, and economy, they amasScd among
them the sum of e4OO, which they ricid-
~ appropriated 70 the repayment OF a part
OF their fathers debt. The old man had,
indeed, called them together round his
death bed, and told them that, instead of
fortune, he left them a duty to perform :;
and that if it could not be accomplished
III one generation, it must be handed
down from father to son, until the descend
ants Of the B--s had paid every
tarthinG to the descendants of the SIS.
While matters stood i'll this prcdica-
mcnt the creditor part of the iamilv re-
moved TO england, and the debtors re-
manned Mt Charleston, struggling with diff
ticultics and emblrrassmcuts, which not
only, disabled them from paying the pa
ternal debt, but kept them pcrprtuaIlv in
honorable poverty. OF course, the wish
to pay in such minds survived the ability.
1t would have been to them an ENJOYMENT
of high order to hunt out their relatives
IN England, and place in their hands the
owing 5000. This pleasure, which they
were destined never to taste, often formed
the subject of conversation around their
fireside; and the children, as they grew
up, were initiated into the mystery of the
E60O.
But that generation passed away, and
another succeeded to the liability; not
that there existed any liability in law, for
though deed had been executed, It had
lapsed in the course of time, so that there
was really no obligation but that which
WAS strongest Of allan uneradicahlc
sens" of right. Often and often did the
i---S OF Charleston meet and consult
together on this famous debt, which every
one wished, but no one could afford &c
pay. The sons were married, and had
children whom it was incumbent on them
to support the daughters had married
too, but their husbands possibly did not
acquire with their wives the chivalrous
sense of duty which possessed the breast
OF every member, male and female, of the
Is. family, and inspired them with wish
to do justice when fortune permitted.
1t would be infinitely agreeable to COL
Iect and pcruse the letters and records OF
consultations which passed or took place
between the members of this family on
the subject Of the 5000. These docu-
mcnts would form the materials of one of
the most delightful romanccs in the world
the romance Of honor, which never dies
IN some families, but is transmitted from
generation to generation like treasure
above all price. When this brief notice
is read in Charleston, it may possibly lead
to the collection Of these materials: which
with the proper names of all the persons
engaged, should, we think, be laid before
the world as n pleasing record of hercdi-
tary nobility of sentiment.
After the lapse of many years, a widow
and her three nephcws found themselves
in possession of the necessary means for
paying the family debt. Three quarters
Of a 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 a
search was Immediately commenced to
discover the creditors in England. This.
however, as may well be supposed, was
no easy task. The members of the s.
family had multiplied and separated, mar
RED and intermarried, became, some poor
and wealthy, distinguished and obscure
by turns, changed their typographical as
well as social position, and disappeared
entirely from the spot they had occupied
on their first arrival from America.
But honor is indefatigable, and by de
grees a letter reached person in Ken
siDgton, who happened to possess some
knowledge of lady Of the s. family, mar
ried to q solicitor practising with great
success and distinction in London. When
the letter had come to hand, she at first
doubted whether il might not be sort of
grave hoax, intended to excite expectation
for the pleasure Of Witnessing its disap-
pointment. However, the English solici-
tor, accustomed to the incidents Of life,
thought there would at least be no harm
in replying to the letter from Charleston,
and discovering in this way the real state
Of the affair.
Some delay necessarily occurred. esne-