Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-10-08
THE POOR DEBTOR.

. nave COIiiiulJIeu, he was an nOneSJ ana whole
2 hearted young man. | never knew that h,
had any positive vices, and his failure il
business was probably owing to the want O
y that watchful prudence which are the condi
tions of success.
5 For time he had been prosperous, and
while floating gloriously on the tide of success
be had married, and had become the father
of beautiful and interesting child. The
: tide turned; he failed, and everything looked
black to him. Then he discovered that he
had been living too fast but he was innocent
of any intention to defraud his creditors, and
| verify believe he would have lived on
bread and water, rather than run in debt to
support his extravagances.
For a time he. had hopes of being able to
recover himself He had rich uncle in the
western part of PENNSYLVANIA, who, he
thought, would help him out of the difficult
ty. He had written to him, and for several
weeks anxiously awaited an answer. None
came; either the letter had been miscarred,
or his uncle was to prudent to attempt to
support the fortunes of tottering house,
Aiken's creditors refused to wait any longer,
and took possession of his effects. Most of
them, however, were satisfied when they had
got all there was to be got, and were willing
that the young man should begin again.
But there was one among them who was
not satisfied even to let the dead bury the
dead" He was angry. He accused the bro
ken trader Of having defrauded him-of hay
ing used the money which should have been
appropriated to the payment of his debts in
supporting an extravagant style of living
He pursued the poor debtor with untiring ma
lignity, and finally caused him to be impris-
ioncd, declaring that he should not come out
+" till he Had paid the uttermost farhing"
lie was a hard man-this Barlow-a very
hard man. There was no feeling of compass
sion in his merciess bosom for the young
wife who waited in vain for the caressing arm
Of the father of her child.
Aiken had been in prison about a fort
night, when his darling child died. NIisfor-
tune never comes singly, and it seemed in
that dark hour Of trial and misery as
though God had forgotten him. His loved
one had gone where there was no sorrow or
Sadness and he had not been by its little
couch side to close its eyes-had not been
near to support his anaushed wife IN thet
He wept in bitterness Of spirit. Long,
loud and deep were his groans; but they
brought him no relief. Oh, it was terrible
season for him, who had thus far basked in
the bright sunshine of prosperity!
The funeral was appointed for Sunday
afternoon. had transacted some business
for Barlow, and considered him as client
He had recently purchased piece of real
estate, about whose titc there was some
doubts. had examined this title, and was
convinced that could mike out good case,
when Barlow bot the esate, lawsuits and all.
Late on Saturday fternoon message
came TO me with the rquest that | would
procure the release of Aiken for one day, so
that he might attend tie funeral Of his child.
The particulars of the case were given me,
and, as any feeling heat would have been, |
was warmly interested l readily promised
to ask Barlow to relcae the debtor, assuring
the messenger that hewould promptly COM
ply. :.
| fastened to therrcditor's honse; but to
nv intense surprise ad indignation, he abso-
lutely refused to etAiken out of Jail, even
for single day!
In vain I tried to,ursuade him, in vain
reasoned with hnlk he was obstinate.
pointed out to hip the inhumanity Of his
coulse-he didn't Gre for that. ! told him
his reputation woql suffer-he didn't care
a - for that.
j I was reused t9ndignation, and reproach-
cd him. It wasf no use; and left his
house, and shooHff the dust from my feet.
# occurred to nh his minister-Barlow
was a church-gdg man might have more
influence, and Waited upon the the Rev.
: Mr.. P--,kquesting him to intercede
for the poor debr
: Mr. p hst not q moment in hasten
! iuo to the hou of his parishioner; but he
: was as unsuccSful as had been, and, may
Il add. even md indignant. The kind-heart-
: ed clrecymanal allied upon the grief stricken
: mother and lid her that the weeping father
could not ev4 follow his dead child to the
!. Grave. Helpyed with her and did what he
}, could to conort her; but even the promises
Of religion ,ould not fill the gap in her
y I went tthe H Street church the
to next day.k saw Mr.. Barlow demurely cov-
or his face ith his hands in prayer-time, and
ID look as satmonious as vertable saint
I'd T would Z have had that mans heart in my