South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-10-20
On the Forgiven List.

floating in print without a name
One of the old school merchants OF Bos-
ton, very extensively engaged in commerce,
aud located on Long Wharf, in that city
died in February, 1906, intestate, at the
ministered on the estate Among his pa
pers package of considerable size was
found after his death, carefully tied up,
and labelled as follows:
"Notes, due bills, aud accounts against
sundry persons down along shore. Some
of these may he got by suit of severe dun
ming. But the people are poor most Of
them have had fsherman's luck My chill
dren will do as they think best. Perhaps
they will think, with me, that it is best to
burn this package entire"
About a month, said the narrator of this.
after our father died, tho sons met together,
aud after some general remarks, our eldest
brother, the administrator, produced this
package, read the superscription, and asked
what course, should be taken 10 regard to it,
Another brother, a few years younger
than the eldest, man Of strong, impulsive
temperament, unable to express his feelings
by words, while he brushed the tears from
his eyes with one hand, by spasmodic jerk
of the other toward the Fireplace, indicated
his desire TO have the paper put 10 flames.
1t was suggested by another of our uum.
Der that it might be we'll to take a list of
our debtors names and of dates and &C.
counts, that we might be enabled, as the iu-
tended discharge was for all, to inform such
as might offer payment 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 thou
sand dollars, were committed to the flames
1t was about four months after our faith
er's death, in the month of June, that, as
was sitting in my eldest brothers counting
room, waiting for an opportunity to speak
10 him, there came in hard-favored, little
old man, 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. / replied that he
was the administrator, as our father died
! intestate.
WELL Said the stranger, Il have come
by from the Cape to pay debt owe the
old gentleman
My brother requested him to be seated,
being at the same moment engaged.
/ The old man sat down, and putting on
his glasses, derw out very ancient wallet
When he had thus done, aud there was
quite parcel of notes-as he sat waiting
his turn, slowly twisting his thumbs and
his old, meditative eyes fixed on the floor,
he sighed and l we'll supposed the mo-
ney, as the phrase runs, came hard, and Sc
cretly wished the old mans name might be
found on the forgiven list.
| Ny brother was soon at leisure, and ask
ed him the common questioDs-his name,
etc, etc.
The original debt was four hundred and
forty dollars it had stood long time, and,
with the interest, amounted to eight hun
bred dollars. My brother went to his ia
BILE, and, after examining the forgiven list
attentively, q sudden smile lighted up his
countenance, and told me the truth at
glance-the old mans name was there -
My brother quietly took a chair at his side,
and conversation ensued between them.
Your note is outlawed. Ii is dated II
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, Il wish to pay
it. It is the only heavy debt have in the
world should like to pay it,. Aud he
laid the bank notes before the administra-
tor and requested him to count them over.
q cannot take this money was the reply
The old man became confused.
Il have cast it at simple interest for -
years aud little over said he q vii pay
compound interest if you say SO. That
debt ought to have been paid long ago but
your father, sir, was very iGdulgcnt be
knew / had been unfortunate, and told me
not 20 worry about it,
Ny brother then set the whole matter
plainly before him and, taking the bills,
returned them o. the old man, telling him
that, although our father left no formal
will, he had recommended to his children
TO destroy certain notes, due bills, and 9th
er evidences Of debt, aud release those
who might be legally bound to pay them
For a moment the old gentleman seem
ed TO be stupeiied After be bad collected
himself and wiped a few tears from bis
eyes, be stated that from the time he had
heard Of our fathers death, he had raked
aud scraped aud pinched to get money to
pay this debt.
About ten days ago. said he, 7 had
made up the sum within twenty i5ilars'
My wife knew how much Che payment
Of this debt lay on my spirits, and advised
me TO sell a COW aud make up the differ
ence, and ret The heavy burden of my
mind. did so and now what will my old
woman say / must get home 20 the
Cane and ell bcr tbo COD s,ou-. Cbo5u