The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-01-13


Is he an industrious and prudent
young man :" inquired Mr.. Edgar
caution and cupidity at once excited.
He is"
" What's his name 20
" Blakewell.'
80, | know him. Very well send
him along, and if his paper is good, I'll
discount it."
You'll find it first rate" said the
gentleman.
"How much shall 1 charge him 20
That was Mr.. Edgar's first thought, so
soon as he was alone. Even as he
asked himself the question, the young
mechanic entered.
=" You take good paper, sometimes 20
said the latter, in a hesitating manner.
The countenance of Mr.. Edgar, be-
came, instantly very grave.
Sometimes 1 do" he answered,
with assumed Indifference.
4" | have note Of Leyden & Co. i
that l wish discounted" said Blake
we'll
"For how much 2"
"Three hundred dollars, six months, {"
and handed Mr.. Edgar the note.
81 don't like over four months
notes." remarked the mon,y lender,
coldly. Then he asked" What rate
of interest do you expect to pay 2"
Whatever is usual. OF course I
wish to get it done as low as possible.
My profits are not large, and every dol
lar pay in discounts, is so much taken
from the growth of my business and the
comfort of my family"
You have family :"
Yes, sir. A wife and four child
ren."
Mr.. Edgar mused for a moment or
two. An unselfsh thought was strug-
CLING to get into his mind.
"What have you usually paid on this
paper :" he asked.
"The last l had discounted cost me
one and half per cent. month"
" Notes Of this kind are rarely mark
etable below that rate" said Mr.. Edgar.
He had thought of exacting two per
cent.
"If you will leave the note, and call
round in half an hour, I will see what
can be DONE"
Very well," returned the mechanic.
" Be as moderate with me as you can"
For the half hour that went by during
the young mans absence, Mr.. Edgar
walked the floor of his counting room,
trying to come to some decision in regard
to the note. Love Of gain demanded
two per cent. a month, while a feeble
voice, scarcely heard, SO far away did
it seem, pleaded for generous regard
to the young mans necessities. The
conflict taking place in his mind was a
new one to the money lender. In no
instance, before, had he experienced
any hesitation on the score of a large
discount. Love of gain continued
clamorous for two per cent on the note
yet, ever and anon, the low voice stole
in pleading accents, to his ears.
"I'll do it for one and half" said
Mr.. Edgar, yielding slightly to the claim
of humanity, urged by the voice, that
seemed to be coming nearer.
Love of gain after slight opposition,
was satisfied. But the low, penetrating
voice asked for something better still.
Weakness Folly!" exclaimed Mr..
Edgar. "I'd better make him a pre-
sent of the money at once +"
1t availed nothing. The voice could
not be hushed.
Zone per cent. He couldn't get it
done as low as that in the city,"
He is poor young man, and has a
wife and four little children" said the
voice, "Even the a. straction of legal
interest from his hard earnings is defect
enough; to lose twice that sum, will
make heavy draught on his profits,
which, under the present competition in
trade, are not large. He is industrious,
and, by his useful labor, is aiding the
social well-being. Is it right for you to
get his reward to take his profits, and
add them to your already rich accumu-
lations 7"
Mr.. Edgar did not like these home
questions, and tried to stop his ears, so
that the voice could not find entrance.
But he tried 10 vain.
Il" Bank rates on this note," continued
the inward voice, " would not much
exceed n ne dollars. Even this is a
large sum for poor man to lose. Double
the rate of interest, and the loss becomes
an injury to his business, or the cause Of
seriously abridging his home comforts.