The Lincoln County herald., 1870-10-13
On The FOREIGN List,

~ wants to put his soul in the mood to d
= Ia great and good deed, lot him read i
u We wish we know who to credit il t.
. but We find it floating in print, without
y name:
One Of the old school merchants {
Boston, very extensively engaged in con-
merce, located on Long Wharf, in tha
city, died in February, 1906 intestote, n
the age Of seventy nine His eldest so
: administered upon the estate. Anon
! his papers, a package of considerable siz
was found after his death, carefully tie
up, and labeled as follows:
Notes, due bills, and accounts, agains
sundry persons down along the shore
!: Some of these may be got by suit or &c.
we're dunning. But the people are poor
; most Of them have had fsherman's luck
Ny children will do as they think best
Perhaps they will lhink with me, that i
is best to burn this package entire"
About month, said the narrator o.
this, after our father died, the sons me-
together, and. after some general remarks
our eldest brother, the administrator
produced this package, read the super
scription. aud asked what course should
be tak.n in regard to it,
Another brother, n few years younger
than the eldest, man of strong, impul-
sive temperament, unable to express his
feelings by words, while he brushed the
tears from his eyes with one hand, By q
spasmodic jerk Of the other towards the
IRE place, indicated desire to have the
paper put in the flames.
1t was suggested by another of our
number, that it might be we'll to make
list Of our debtors nsmos, and of dates
and accounts, that we might be enabled.
as the intended discharge was for all, to
inform such as might offer payment, that
their debts were forgiven.
On the following day VIC again assem-.
bled, and all the notes, due bills, and ac-
counts, whose amount, including interest.
exceeded thirty.two thousand dollars,
we're committed to the flames.
1t was about four months after our
fathers death, in the month of June,
that, as was sitting in my eldest broth.
er's counting room, waiting for an oppor.
tunity to speak to him, there came 10 a
hard.favored, little old man, who looked
as it time and rough weather had been
to the windward Of him for seventy years.
He asked if my brother was not the exec.
utor. lie replied that he was the admin
istrator. as our father died intestate.
"Well, said the stranger, II have come
IN frnN. the Cape. to pay debt I oxad
My brother requested him to be seated,
being at the same aomout vngugvd.
The old man sat down, and putting OF
his glasses, drew out very ancient wal
let. When he had thus done-and there
was quite parcel of notes-as he sat
waiting bis turn, slowly twisting his
thumbs, and his old, meditative eyes fixed
on the floor, he sighed; and l we'll sup
posed the money, as the phrase runs, came
hard, and secretly wished the old mans
name might be found upon the forgiven
list.
My brother was soon at leisure, aud
asked him the common queston-his
name, etc.
The original debt was four hundred
and forty dollars. My brother went to
his table, and aftcr examining the forgiven
list attentively, sudden smile lighted up
his countenance, and told me the truth at
a glance-tho old mans name was there
My brother quietly took q chair at his
side, and conversation ensued between
them.
"Your note is outlawed. 1t was dated
twelve years ago, payable in two years.
There is no witness, and no interest has
ever been paid. You are not bound to
pay this uote; We cannot recover the
amount"
"Sir," said the old man, IL wish to pay it. !
1t 10 the only heavy debt I have in the
word. I should like to pay it," and he
laid the bank notes before the admins
traitor, and requested him to count them
over.
II cannot take this money" was the
reply. i
The old man became confused. II
have cast . simple interest for twelve
years and little over" said he; II will
pay you compound interest If you say SO.
That debt ought to have been paid long
ago; but your father sir, was very in
du!gent; he knew had been unfortu
nate, aud told me not to worry about it.
My brother then set the whole matter
plainly before him, and, taking the bills
returned them to the old man, telling him
that, although our father left no formal
will, he had recommended to his chill.
dren to destroy certain notes, due bills,
and other evidences Of debt, and release
those who might bo legally bound to pay
them. For Q m ,ment the old gentleman
seemed to DO stupided. After he had
collected himself, and wiped a few tears
from bis eyes, he stated that, from the
time no had heard of our fathers death,
he had rsked, and scraped and piuched,
to get money to pay this debt.
"About ten days ago." said he. II had
made up the sum within twenty dollars.
NMv uifo knov hou vuoh Tho n.y