The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-09-19
Paying an Old Debt.

A merchant, very extensively engaged in
commerce and located upon the Long Wharf,
Boston, died intestats February Is, 1905, at
tho age of sevcnty.fvs. After his death,
package Of very considerable size was found
carefully tied up and labelled as follows -
"Notc., duo bills and accounts against
sundry persons down along shore. Some Of
them may bogot by suit and severe dunnlng
But the people are poor; most of them have
had fisherman's luck. My children will do
az they think best. Perhaps they will think
with me, that it is best to burn this package
entire"
About a month after he died, the sons
me. together, when the elder brother, the
administrator, produced the packet, read
the superscription, and asked what course
should be taken in regard to it. Another
brother, u few years younger than the ell
dest, man of strong impulsive tempsra-
ment, unable, at the moment, to express his
feelings by words, while he brushed the
tears from his eyes with one hand, by
spasmodic jerk Of the other toward the fire.
place, indicated his wish to have the packet
put into the flames. 1t was suggested by
another brother, that 1t might be well first
to make list of the debtors names, and of
tho dates and amounts, that they'b ena-
bled, as the intended discharge was for all,
to inform such as might offer payment, that
their debts were forgiven. On the following
day they again assembled, and the list had
been prepared, and all tho notes, due bills
and accounts, tho amount Of which, inclu-
ding interest, amounted to thirty thousand
dollars, were committed to tho flames.
Il was about four months after our fathers
death, continued my informant, in the
month of June, that as ! was sitting in my
eldest brothers counting room, waiting Tor
an opportunity to .pcak with him, there
came in hard favored, little old man, who
looked rs IL time and rough weather had
been to windward Of him for seventy years.
He asked If my brother was not the c1ecu'
tor. Ny brother replied that he was nd.
m,nistrator, as our father died intestate.
.wsll,' said tho stranger, Il have come up
from the Capo to pay debt ] owed the old
gentleman
nv brother requested him to take SCAT
being at the desk. The old man sat down
and putting on his glasses, drew out very
ancient leather pocket book, and began to
count over his money. When hc had tn'
ishcd, MS hs sat waiting his turn, slowly
twirling bis thumbs, with his oldgray mcdi-
ta,ivo eyes upon the door, ho sighed, and
knew the money, as the phrase runs. came
harI, and secretly wished tho old mans
name might be found on the forgiven list
Nv brother was soon at leisure, and asked
him tho usual questions, his name, resi-
dence, &c. Tho original debt was four hun.
dred and forty dollars. 1t had stood long
time, and with tho interest, amounted to be-
tween seven and eight hundred dollars. My
brother went to his desk, and after examin-
ing the forgiven list attcntivcly, sudden
smile lit up his countenance and told me-
the truth at single glance. The old man
name was there! Ny brother quietly took
a chair by his side, and conversation oc-
CURED between them which l never shall
forget.
Your note is outlawed; : said he; 1t was
dated twelve years ago, payable in 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 this amount
Sir said the old man, u wish to pay it.
It is the only heavy debt I have in the world.
1t may be outlawcd here, but ! have no child,
and my old woman and hope We have
made our peace with God, and wish to do 50
with man. should like to pay It, And
he laid his hank notes before my brother
requesting him to count them over.
Il cannot take the money, said my broth
r.