Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-07-18
Paying an Old Debt.

commerce, and located on Long Wharf,
Boston, died intestate February 1s, 1903,
at the age Of 75. After his death, pack
age of very considerable size was found
carefully tied up and labeled as follows -
Notes, due bills and accounts against
sundry persons down along shore. Some
of them may be got by suit and severe
dunning But the people are poor; most
of them have had fsherman's luck. My
children will do as they think best. Per-
haps they will think, with me, that it is
best to burn this package eutire.'
About month after he died, the sons
met together, when the eldest brother, the
administrator, produced The packet, and
read the superscription, and asked what
course should be taken in regard to it
Another brother, a few years younger than
tho eldest man of strong, impulsive
temperament, unable at that moment to
express his feelings by words, while he
brushed the tears from his eyes with one
hand, by spasmodic jerk of the other
towards the fire place, indicated his wish
to have the packet put into the flames. 1t
was suggested by another brother that it
might be well first to make list of the
names, and of the dates and amounts,
that they might be enabled, as the intend
ed 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 the notes, due bills, and
accounts, which including interest, amount
ed to $4,000, were committed to the
| flames.
1t was about four months after our ia.
| theirs death, continued our informant, in
the month Of June, that l was sitting in
my eldest brothers Office, waiting for an
opportunity to speak to him, when there
eame in hard favored little old man, who
looked as if time and rough weeher had
been to the windward of him for seventy
years. lie asked if my brother was not
the executor. My brother replied that he
was administrator, as our father died int
estate.
DWELL" said the stranger, II have come
up from the Cape, to pay debt | owe to
the old gentleman"
My brother requested him to take q
seat he being at the desk The old man
sat down, and putting on his glasses, drew
out very ancient looking pocket. book
and began to count over his money.
When ho had finished, as he sat waiting
his turn, slowly twirling his thumbs, with
his old gray, meditative eyes upon tho
floor, he sighed, and knew the money, as
the phrase runs, came hard, and secretly
wished that the old mans name might bc
found On the forgiven list. Ny brother
was soon at leisure, and asked him th'
usual questions, his name, residence, &c
The original debt was four hundred ant
forty dollars. 1t had stood long time
and with the interest amounted to bctweel
t seven and eighthundred dollars. Mybrothe
went to his desk, and after examining thu
forgiven list attentively, sudden smil
lit on his countenance, and told mo tn
truth at a single glance. The old man
| name was there My brother quickl,
c took chair by his side, and convers tiol
e ensued between them which never shal
a forget.
o "Your note is outawed," said he. 81
C was dated twelve years ago, payable i
y two years; there is no witness, and interes
!, has never been paid, You are not boun
C to pay this note; we can never recover thi
n amount"
e "Sir," said the old msn, ~ wish to pa
l. it. 1t is the only debt have in the work
If It may be outlawed here, but | have 4
,e child, and my old woman and hope "
e, have made our peace with God, and wis
s, to do with man. I should like to pay it.
st And he laid the bank notes before my brt
IS ther, requesting him to count them over.
in 81 cannot take the money was IL
reply of my brother.
The old man became alarmed. "I hay
Of cast simple interest for twelve years, al
counted it all yuer," said he. 81 will pa
~ you compound interest, if you require
The debt ought to have been paid lor
ago but your father was very indulge
10 he knew I'd been unlucky, and told 4
not to worry about it,"
My brother then properly set the matt
before him, and taking the bank bills
in returned them to the old mans pocket boo
telling him that although our father left
formal will, he had recommended to |
IL children to destroy certain notes, due bill