The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-07-07
NO. $50.
Paying up ola Debts.

n merchant very Sxenelvely chgagc0 IL
commerce, and located on Long Wharf, Bos.
ton, died intestate, Feb. 18th 1903, at tho
age of sevcn,y-five. After his death h
package Of very considerable size was found
tied up labeled rs follows:
''Notes, due.bills, and accounts agaics.
sundry persons down along shore. Some Of
them may be got by suit and severe duuning.
But the people are poor; most of them have
had fisherman's luck. NY children will do
as they think best. Perhaps they will think
with IRE, that it is best to burn the package
entire"
About month after he died, tho sons met
together when the eldest brother, the adniu-
istrltor, produced the package, and read the
superscription, and asked what course should
be taken in regard to it. Another brother,
a few years younger that The eldest, nan
of strong impulsive temperament, unable At
that moment to express his feelings by words,
while brushing the tears from his eyos With
one hand, by spasmodic jerk of the other to-
ward the fire place, indicated his wish to
have the packet put into the flames. 1t w&a
suggested by another brother, that it might
be well first TO make list of the names, apd
of the dates and amounts, that they b. ens.
blcd, as the intended discharge was f all,
to inform such as might offer payment, thss
their debts were forgiven. On the following
day they assembled, and the list bad been
prepared, and all the notes, due-bla and
accounts, which, including interest, arnoJted
to thirty thousand dollars, were comm ed to
the famcs.
1t was about four months after our {, ,heFs
death. continued our informant, in the Gioa,h
Of juno, that was sitting in my eldest roth
er's office waiting for an opportunity tc peak
with him, there came in hard favorcC litL!o
old man, who looked as il time and rough
weather had been to tho windward Of him
for seventy years. He asked if my brother
was not executor. Ny brother replied thas
he was administrator, rs our father died 10
testatc.
WELL" said The stranger, 81 have come
up from the Cape, to pay debt to the old
gentleman."
Ny brother requested him to take sent,
and putting % hi4 glasses, drew out very
ancient looking pocket book aud began to
count over BIS money.
Wien he had finished, as he sat waiting
his tuln, slowly twirling b. thumbs VITA hs
old grey, mpditatiyo eyes upon tho doc, he
sighed, ard knew the money as the phrase
runs, came hard, aud secretly wished that
the cd rnan's name might be found on the
forgiven list. Ny brot er was soon at leisure,
and asked him the usual questions, his narnc.
residence, &c. The original debt was foUr
hundred and forty dollars. 1t had stood =
long time, and with the interest amounted
to between seven and eight hundred dollars.
NV brother went to his desk, aud after exam
ining the forgiven list attentively, sudden
smile lit up lis countenance and told me tho
truth att single glance. The old mans
name was there! My brother quietly took
n chair by his side, and conversation ensued
between which | shall never forget.
"Your note is outlawed," said he. "It was
dated twelve years ago, payable in two years;
there is no witness and interest has never
been vad; YOU are not bound to pay this
note; We can ncv,r recover the amount"
"sir," said the old man, II wish to pay it.
1t Is tho only debt that have in the world.
l. ay be optlawed here, but have no child,
aud my old woman and hope we may have
peace with God. and wish to do so with man.
| should like to pay it," An! he laid tho
bank notes before my brother, requesting
him to count them over.
Il cannot take the money" was the reply
of my brother.
The old man became alarmed II have
cast simple interest for twelve years, and
it all over" said he. 81 will pay
YOU compound interest, if you require it,
The debt ought TO have been paid long ago;
bat Your father was very indulgcnt-he knew
I'd been unlucky, and told me rot to worry
about il.
Ny brother then properly set the matter
before him, and tak!ng the bank bill return
cd them to the old mans pocket book. tel
ling him that although our father had left
no formal will, he Lad recommended to his
children TO destroy certain notes due bills,
and other evidences Of debt, and release those
who might be legally bound to pay them.
For moment the old man appeared 10
be siupiied. After he had collected him
sell, and wincing the tears from his, eyes, he
said: "From the time heard Of your fa-
theirs death, have scraped and rnked, pinch
cd and spared, to get tho money together
for the payment Of this debt. About ten
days ago, made up the sum within twenty
FIVE dollars. NY wife knew how much the
Of this debt lay on my spirits and
pd, sed me to sell COW and make up the
and get the heavy burden off my
mind. did so; and now what will my old
woman say9 must go back to the Cape
and tell her this good news. She'll probably
repeat the very words she used to when sho
put her hand on my shoulder as we parted
Il have never seen the rigteous forsaken nor
his seed begging bread"
Giving cacl of us shake Of tho hand.
and a blessing on our old fathers memory.
he went on his way rejoicing.
After short silence, taking pencil and
making a cast-"Thcre," said my brother
"Contrivc n plan to convey me YOUR share OF
Ihe pleasure derived from the operation and
The money is at your service"
EF Tom Thumb made free exhibition
Of himself in Westminster (London) County