Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-12-23
The Golden Rule.
As We Forgiye Our Debtors.

Harvey Green was a shrewd man Of busi
ness--honest in all his dealings, vet ever ex
acting his own He took no advantage O
others, and was very careful not to let other
take advantage Of him. While acting on th
precept Owe no man any thing he neve
lost sight Of debtor, nor rested while IN,
obligation remained In force. A natural re
suit was that Harvey Green prospercd in th
things of this world-not that he became
very rich but so well off as to leave no rea
sonabe want unsuppied.
1t so happened, few years ago, that
man named Wilkins, after an unsuccessful
struggle with fortune, continued through 81,
or seven years, failed in business Few mel
had toiled harder or suffered more; an,
when at last he yielded to the pressure o
iron circumstances, he sunk down for a sea
sou PROSTATE in mind and bsdy Every thinl
he had was given up to the creditors-th,
property paid but a small percentage Oh tn,
claims--and then he went forth into tn,
world, all his business relations broken up
and, under the heavy disadvantages of hi
situation, bravely sought to gain for his large
dependent family, things needful to their sus
tenance aud growth in mind and body.
Among his creditors was Green. Now
( Wilkins belonged to the same church tha
Numbered Green among its members Whei
the latter heard of the failure he was a gooc
deal disturbed, though the sum owed hin
was not over four hundred dollars On re-
! Election he grew more composed.
/ wilkins is an honest man. said he Ia
himself He'll pay me sooner or later"
II did not take long to sell off, at a sad sac.
rifce, tb stock of goods remaining in the
hands of the debtor, for he threw no impedi.
ment in the way of those who sought tc
obtain their due.
All, my friend, said the latter, on meet.
ing with Green, few days after the closing
up of his insolvent estate, " this is a sad bust.
ness But if God gives me strength, will
pay of every dollar OF this debt before die
An honest man can never sleep soundly while
he owes his neighbor a farthng."
THE right spirit, brother wilkins" an.
swered Green, " the right spirit. Hold fast
to that declaration, and all will come out
straight in the end Though | can't very
well lie out Of my money, yet | will wait
patiently until you are able to pay me.
always SAID you. were an honest map,is land
God helping me, will, " said the debtor
his voice trembled, and his eye grew moist
o, how dark all looked in the future What
cloud was on his path What weight Of
grief, modification and dependency on hi.
/ heart
The two men parted, and each took his
homeward way--the debtor and the creditor
The one, with eountenanee erect, self-compla
cent feelings and elastic step; the other, sac
and depressed.
That night Mr.. Green prayed, Forgiv,
Us our debts as We forgive our debtors.
Yet scarcely had the words died on his lip
ere he was nusing on the chances in favor o
his ever receiving from the penniless Wilkins
the few hundred dollars owed him by tha
unhappy individual. There was no sympathy
for him in his heart no thought of his ter
ribe prostraton of spirit; nothing of pity
and forgiveness. A selfish regard for hi
own interest completely absorbed all human,
considerations.
Time passed on. Mr. Wilkins was Ii,
drone. An earnest, active man, he sooi
found employment-not very remuneratiy'
at first, but still sufficiently so to enable hin
to secure many comforts for his family auC
to provide for their education,
One, two, three years, glided by, Witt
the growth of his children, his expenses in
creased, and kept so close tread upon hi
income that he had not been able to pay oil
any of the old obligations; although he nev
er lost sight of them and never ceased to fee
troubled on account Of their existence.
80, debt debt, debt" he would Otter
sigh to himself "What would not give Il
be able to say, | owe no man any thing.
But with my large family and limited income
what hope is there !"
This was his depressed state of mind ou'
day when Mr.. Green called in to see him
Many times before this unhappy man ha'
been reminded Of his debt,
" How are you getting on ?" inquired tn
creditor, fixing his eyes steadily upon poo
Mr. wilkins, who felt sense Of sufocation
and slightly quaied before his tyrant
." have much to be thankful for" meekl
answered the debtor. My health has bee
good, and have had steady employment"
You are living very comfortably
"And weare greatful to kind Proyidenc
? for our blessings"
Your salary is one thousand dollars
year,"
at is and | have six children to SUP
port
8" You ought to save something. I've bee
easy with you long timei it's three year
now, and you haven't offered me one cen
If you'd paid me five or ten dollars at a time
the debt would have lessened. | wish 20
would make some arrangement. You ough
to save at least two hundred dollars iror
your salary. know plenty of men VIII
only get eight hundred year, aud have a
large families as yours."
The eyes of Mr.. Wilkins fell heavily t
the ground he felt as if a heavy weight ha
been laid upon his bosom. He made no re
ply, for what could he say?
"I have always upheld you as an homes
man." remarked Green, in tone that implies
an awakening doubt as to whether this view
of the debtors character was really correct.
"That is between God and my own con
science" said Wilkins, lifting his eyes iron
the floor, and looking with some sternness in
to the face of his prosecuting creditor.
=" For your own sake, trust you will keel
Il clear conscience" returned Green. :" A
for the present matter between us, all wisl
to know is, whether you mean to pay ~,
debt; and if 80, when may | expect some
thing2"
"IIow much is the debit" asked Wilk
ins.
alt was three hundred and seventy dollar
at the time of your failure. Interest added
it now amounts to four hundred and fiiy,
said Green
There were other debts beside yours"
"Of course there We're; but | have moth