Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-17
aalistellanu.
ON THE FORGIVEN LIST.


One of the old school merchants of
Boston, very extensively engaged in COM
merce, and located on Long Wharf, in
that city, died in February, 1906, intsstate.
at the age of seventy-nine. His eldest
son administered upon the estate This
old gentleman used pleasantly to say, that
for many years he had fed large number
of Catholics on the shores of the Mediter-
ranean during Lent--referring to his
very extensive connection with the fishing
business. In his day he was certainly re-
membered by some Of the "old ones
down along shore from the Garnets
Nose to Race Point.
Among his papers, a package of con-
siderable size was found after his death,
carefully tied up, and labelled as follows:
Notes, due bills, and accounts 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 fshermen's luck. My
children will do as they think best. Per-
haps they will think, with me, that it is
best to burn this package entire
About month (said the narrator of
gethcr, and, after some general remarks,
duced this package, read the superscrip-
tion, and asked what course should be
taken in regard to it. Another brother, q
few years younger than the eldest, man
of strong, impulsive temperament, unable
at the moment to express his feelings by
words, while he brushed the tear from his
eyes with one hand, by spasmodic jerk
of the other towards the fire place, indica-
ted his desire to have the paper put into
the flames. 1t was suggested by another
of our number, that it might be well to
make list of our debtors names, and of
the dates and accounts, 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 them.
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 commit
ted to the flames.
1t was about four months after our IA
theirs death, in the month Of June, that,
as ! was sitting in my eldest brothers
counting room, there came in a hard-iav-
ored, little old man. waiting for an oppor-
tunity to speak to him, who looked as if
time and rough weather had been to the
windward of him for seventy years. He
asked if my brother was not the executor.
He replied that he was the administrator.
as our father died intestate well" said
the stranger. II have come up from the
Cape to pay debt owed the old gentle
man" My brother requested him to be
seated, being at the same time engaged.
The old man sat down, and putting on
his glasses, drew ont very ancient wal
| lot i,,, h,.l n,,I
was quite parcel of notes-as he sat
and his old gray meditative eyes fixed up
on the floor. he sighed; and | well 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, and
asked him the common question-his name,
etc. The original debt was four hundred
and forty dollars; it had stood long time,
and with the interest, amounted to eight
hundred dollars. My brother went to his
table. and after examining the forgiven
list attentively, sudden smile lighted up
his countenance, and told me the truth at
a glancc-the mans name was there! My
brother quietly took chair at his side, and
conversation ensued between them.
Your note is outlawed; it 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 note-we cannot recover the amount"
Sir" said the old man, II wish to pay
it, 1t is the only heavy debt have in the
world. should like to pay it," and he
laid the bank notes before the administra-
tor, and requested him to count them over.
4 cannot take this money" was the
reply
The old man was confused. Il have
cast simple interest for twelve years and
little over" he said II will pay you COM
pound interest. if you say so. That ought
to have been paid long ago, but your father.
sir, was very indulgent; he knew had
been unfortunate, and told me not to wor-
ry 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 commended 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
a moment the worthy old man seemed to
be strpetied After he had collected HIM
self. and wiped few tears from his eyes,
he stated that from the time he had heard
of our fathers death, he had raked and
scraped, and pinched and spared, to get
the money to pay the debt. "About ten
days ago." said he, Il had made up the
sum within twenty dollars. My wife knew
how much the payment of this debt lay
upon my spirits, and advised me to sell
cow, and make up the difference, and get
the heavy burden off my mind. did so.
and now, what viii my old woman say?
She'll probably say over the very words
she said when she put her hands on my
shoulders rs we parted:-'l have never
seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed
begging bread" With a hearty shake Of
the hand, and a blessing npon our fathers
memory, he went upon his way rejoicing.
After a short silence, seizing his pencil
| and cnstinar =. few foures ..'rhern ex-