Litchfield enquirer., 1856-11-13

About amonth, 2 said my informant, !" after
0ur father died, the sons met together, and,
after some general remarks, our elder brother
the administrator, produced this package, ol
whose existence We were already apprized, read
the superscription, and asked what course
should be taken inregard to it. Another broth
| er, . few years younger than tho eldest, man
Of strong, impulsiye. temperament, unable at
the moment to express bis feeling by words,
while be brushed the tears from his eyes with
one hand, BY . spasmodic jerk Of the other,
towards the fireplace. Indicated his wish to have
the package put into the flames. 1t was sug-
gested, BY another of our number, that it
might be well, first. to make list Of the debt
ors' names, and Of the dates, and amounts, that
We might be enabled, as the intended discharge
was for all, to inform such a. might offer pay
ment, that their debts were forgiven. On the
following day, We again assembied-the list had
been pfepared-and all the notes. due-bills, and
accounts, whose amount, including interest, ex-
(ceeded thirty.twe thousand dollars, we're com.
mitted to the flames.
It 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 for an oppor-
tunity to speak with him, there came in hard
favored, little old man. who looked as il time
and rough weather had been to windward of
him for seventy years. He asked il my broth
er was not the executor He replied that he
was administrator, as our father died intestate
Well, ssid the stranger. I've come up from
the Cape to pay debt owed the old gentle
man, my brother" continued my inform
ant, requested him to take seat being at
the moment engaged with other person. at the
desk. *
The old man sat down, and, putting on his
glasses, drew ont very ancient leather pocket
hook. and began to count over his money
When he had done--and there was quite n
parcel Of bank hotes-as he sat, waiting his
turn slowly twisting his thumbs, with his old
gray, meditative eyesupon the floor, he sighed !;
and knew the money, as the phrase runs
came hard-and secretly wished the old mans
name might be found upon the forgiven list.
Ny brother was som at leisure, and asked him
the common questions--his name, &c. The
original debt was four hundred an6 forty dol
lars-it had stood long time, and, with the
interest, amounted to sum between seven and
eight hundred My brother went to his desk,
and, after examining the forgiven list attentive
", q sudden smile lighted up his countenance.
and told me the truth at glance--the old
mans NINE was there My brother quietly
took a chair BY his side. and conversation
ensrsd between them, which never shall for.
get. Yodr hohesia eutlawed,' said my broth
ers Il was dated twelve years Sg0, 1,ayahle
in two years; there Is no witness, and no in
tcrest has ever been paid you are not bound to
pay this note We cnnnot recover the amount
Sir said the old man, wish to pay Il. It
Is the only heavy debt have in the world. It
may be outiawcd here. but I have no child, and
my old woman and hope we have made our
peace with God, and wish to do so with man.
I should like to pay IL, and he laid his bank
notes before my brother, requesting him to
count them over. Il cannot take this money
said my brother. The old man became alarmed.
havccast simple interest for twelve years and
little over said the old man. Il will pay
you compound interest. IL ron say 40. The
deb. onghtsto have been paid long ago, but
your father. sir, was very indulgent-he knew
I'd been uulucky, and told me not to worry
about it, ~ % ~
s~sasf AZ asEssa ss,sssas8 4ssss zs-.s sse ,sa
=" Ny brother then set the whole matter
plainly before him, and. taking the bank bills,
returned them TO the old mans pocket-book,
telling him that, although our father left no
formal viii. he had recommended to his children
70 destroy certain notes, due-bills. and other
evidences OF debt, and release those who might
bslegaly bound to pay them. For q moment
The worthy old man appeared 70 be stupe6ed.
Aftsf BE had collected himself. and wiped 81 few.
tears nom Bis eyes, be stated that, from the