Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-04-03
PAYING AN OLD DEBT.

A merchant very extensively engaged
in commerce, and located upon the Long
Wharf, Boston, died intesta,e, February
18th, 1902, at the. age OF seventy-ifre.
After his death, a package of very con-
siderable size was found very 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 fishermen's luck.
My children will do as they think best.
Perhaps they viii think, with me, that
it is best to burn this package entire"
About month after he died, the sons
met together, when the elder brother.
the administrator, produced the packet,
and read the superscription, and asked
what course should be taken in regard to
1t. Another brother, few years young
er than the eldest, a man Of strong i'm
pulsive temperament, unable, at that mo-
ment to express his feelings by words,
while he brushed the tears from his ewes
with one hand. by spasmodie jerk Of
the other toward the Fireplace, indicated
his Wish to have the packet put into the
flames. Fl was suggested by another
brother, that it might be web first TO
make a list of the debtors names, and of
the dates and amohnts, that they be en-
abled, as the intended discharge was for
all, TO inform such as might offer pay
ment, 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, amounted to thirty
thousand dollars, were committed to the
flames.
1t was about four months after our
fathers death, continued my informant,
in the month of June, that / was sit
: ting.in my eldest brothers office, waiting
for an opportunity TO speak with him,
when there came in hard favored, little
old man, who looked as if time and
rough weather had been to the windward
of him for seventy yna-z- It-= -.al--a -
! my brother was not the executor. My
brother replied that he was the admins.
: sratof, as our farner aleu Inteslate.
Well,' said the stranger, Il have
come up from the Cape, to pay a debt
: owed 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
2 drew out very ancient pocket-book and
: began to count over his money.
When he had finished, as he sat wait
a ing his turn, slowly twirling his thumbs
:. with his old gray, meditative eyes upor
e the floor, and / knew the money, as til,
phrase runs, came hard, and secretly
+ wished that the old mans name nigh
d be found on the forgiven list. My broth
IS er was soon at leisure, and asked him tn
usual questions, his name, residence, &c
IS The original debt was four hundred am
d forty dollars. 1t had stood long time
e and with the interest amounted 70 be
tween seven and eight hundred dollars
Ie My brother went to his desk. and afte
n examining the forgiven list attentively,
If sudden smile lit upon his countenanct
a and told me the truth at a single glanc,
b. The old mans name was there! NJ
brother quietly took chair by his side
lie and a conversation occurred betwee
It. them which | shall never forget.
le Your note is outlawed,7 . said he
Ii was dated twelve years ago, payable j
le two years there is no witness, and intel
m est has never been paid; you are n,
rs bound to pay this note; we can nevc
le recover this amount"
a Sir" said the old man, g wish
pay it. 1t is the only debt / have IN ii
world. 1t may be outlawed here, but
g have no child, and my old woman and
1t hope we have made our peace with Go
er and wish to do so with man. / shou
like to pay it. And he laid the bills b
fore my brother, requesting him to cou
h, them over.
'ly cannot take the money" said n
brother.
all The old man became alarmed. Il ha'
cast simple interest for twelve years, al
10 counted it all over" said be. / "
pay you compound interest, if you 7
quire it. The debt ought to have be,
On paid long ago; but your father was We
=. indulgent-he knew / had been unluck
and told me not to worry about i"
Ny brother then properly set the m
md ter before him, and taking the bank bi
he returned them to the old mans pocl
book, telling him, that although our fai
to er left no formal viii, he had reconmer
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