Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-05-23
PAYING AN OLD DEBT.

A merchant very extensively engaged in com
merce. and located upon Long Wharf, Boston
died intestate. Feb, 18th 1902, at the age OF seven
ty-fve. After his death, n package OF very con-
siderable size was found carefully tied up and la
beled 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 peo-
ole are poor; most of them have had ~fsherman's
luck. NV children will do as they think best
Perhaps theS will think, with me, it is best to
burn this package entire"
About a month after he died, his sons met to-
gether, when the elder brother, the administra-
tor, produced tue packet, and read the superscrip-
ton. and asked what course should be taken in re-
gard to it. Another brother, a few years young
er than the eldest, a man of strong i%mpulsive
Temperament, unable at that moment, to express
his feelings by word while he brushed the tears
from his eyes with one hand by a s%pasmodic
Jerk of the other toward the fire place, indicated
his wish to have the packet put into the fumes
1t was suggested by another brother, that it
might be well first to make Il list Of the names,
and of she dates and amounts that they be cna.
blcd, 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 the notes, due-bills and accounts, which,
including interest, amounted to thirty thousand
dollars, were committed to tie flames.
1t was ABOUT luur months uller our latner Z
death, continued my informant, in the month of
June, that l was sitting in my eldest brothers
office waiting for an opportunity to speak with
him, when there came in n hard favored little old
man, who looked as if time and rough weather
had been to the westward of him for seventy
years. lie asked if my brother was not the exc
I%cutor. My brother replied that he was admin
I~istrator, as our father died interstate.
"Well," said the stranger, II have ONE up
from the Cape, to pay a debt |. owe the old gen.
tleman.
Ny brother requested him to take a seat, he
being at the desk. The old man sat down, and
putting on his glasses, drew out q very ancient
looking pocket book and began to count over his
money.
When he had finished, as he sat waiting his
turn slowly twir!ing his thumbs with his old gray
meditatiye eyes upon tha foor, he sighed. and /
knew the money, as the phrase runs, came hard
and secretly wished that the old mans name
might be found ON the forgiven list. My brother
was soon at leisure, and asked him the usual ques
lions, his name, residence, &c. The. original debt
was four hundred and forty dollars. 1t had stood
a long time, and with the interest amounted tc
between seven and eight hundred dollars. My
brother went 10 his desk and after examining the
forgiven list attentively, n sudden emile lit uI
his countenance, and told me the truth at q single
glance. The old mans name was there! NJ
Brother quietly took q chair by his side, and n con
versation ensued between them which never shall
"a forget.
% ted twelve years ago, payable in two years Their
is no witness, and interest has never been paid
you are not bound 10 pay the note; we can neve
l. recover this amount"
= Sir" said the old man, II wish to pay it. |
!, is the only debt | have in the world, 1t may b.
outlawed here. IbutI have no child, and my oil
woman and ! hope we may make our peace will
40 God, and | wish 20 do so with man. | should lk
~ to pay it," And he laid the bank notes befor
my brother requesting him to count them over.
We Il cannot take the money" was the reply of m,
brother.
n. The old man became alarmed. ~ have cast sim
pie interest for twelve years, and counted it al
over" said he. II will pay you compound inter
est, if you require it. The debt ought to hay
been paid long ago; but your father was very in
dulgent-he knew I'd been unlucky, and told m,
'es not to worry about it."
he My brother then properly set the matter befor
err him, and taking the bank-bills he returned then
er to the old mans pocket-book, telling him that al
sr- though our father left no formal will, he had reco
mended to his children to destroy certain notes
ms due-bills, and other evidences of debt, and re
al lease those who might be legally bound to pa,
ly them.
For a moment the old mau appeared to be stupe
IT. fed. After he had collected himself, and wipin,
p the tears from his eyes, he said :-"From the tim,
NJ I heard Of your fathers death, | have raked anC
hc scraped, %pinched and spared, to get the money to
or gether for the payment Of the debt. About ter