Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-11-12
PAYING AN OLD DEBT.

mefcnRnt very extensively engaged IN
commerce, and located upon the Long Wharf
died Feb 10, 1906, at the age of 10, intestate
His eldest son administered upon the estate
The old gentleman used pleasantly to say, that
for many years, he had fed very large num-
Der of Catholics, on the shores of the Mediter-
ranean, during Lent, referring to his very ex
tensiye connection with the fishing business.
In his day he was certainly well known; and
to the present time is well remembered, by
some of the i" old ones down along Shore from
the Gurnet's Nose to Race Point. Among his
papers, package, of very considerable size
was found after his death, carefully tied up, and
labelled as tollows Notes, due bills, and ac-
counts against sundry persons, down along
shore. Some of these may be got by suit or
severe dunning. 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 me, that it is best to burn
this package entire
about month"; said my informant, "after
our father died, the sons met together, and,
after some general remarks, our elder brother,
the administrator, produced this package of
whose existence we were already appri2ed,
read the superscription, and asked what course
should be taken in regard to it, Another
| brother few years younger than the eldest, a
man OF strong, impnlsiye temperament; unable
at the moment to express his feelings by words,
while he brushed the tears from his eyes with
one hand, by u spasmodic jerk of the other,
towards the Fireplace, indicated his wish to
have the package put into the flames. It was
suggested, by another OF our number, that ii
might be we'll, first, to make list of the debt
ers' names, and of the dates, and amounts, that
We might be enabled, as the intended discharge
was for ALL to inform such as might offer pay
ment, that their debts were forgiven. On the
following day, We again assembled-the list
had been prepared-and all the notes, due
bills, and accounts, whose amount, including
interest, exceeded thirty-two thousand dollars
were committed to the flames.
g II 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 if time
and rough weather had been 10 windward o.
him for seventy years. He asked ii my brother
was not the executor. He replied that he was
odmiri.trs,or az onr e,bsr died in,e.tate
e ',.,.m,, 80 iA'es'".s'
| Heii, saiu the Stranger i've come up
from the Cape TO pay debt owed the old gem
tleman.n
|
NY pfotnef, continued my informant re
quested him to take seat, being at the mo-
ment engaged with other persons nj the desk .
Tha "a 80. do.u al ,,,,;n - ~.
.ue o'u man ''' uo""' anu pu''"s w "'9
glasses, drew ont very ancient leather pocket
book, and began to count over his money.
When he had done-and there was quite a marcel
of h.nt no,.. 80 ha -, mo;t;na II. ~
:, oalA .o'',as ~ s"'' ma't,Hs - l"."'
SLOWLY twisted ms thumbs, with ms ola gray