The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-23
More Than UOnpst.

Mr.. John Hamilton of st. Ernan's
tells the following true story, in Mac
1a;Llan's Magazine: Before the famine
of 1916 and following years, there was
already considerable flow of emigra-
ton to America; but few well-to-do
people went then. 1t was chiefly young
men and women, sons and daughters of
poor families. 1t often happened that
means were raised with difficulty enough
for one of numerous family to pay q
passage to America, and on such and
similar pleas was often asked to lend
the price of passage, to be repaid by
the emigrant. often lent the requir-
ed sum-then only three or four pounds.
They sailed in small sailing-ships from
every little port, and with very inade-
ouate arrangements for their welfare.
Contrary to what might be perhaps ex-
pected, these poor people generally sent
back the sum lent within year, and
the exceptions, / am ashamed to say,
were the very persons of whom / had
felt most secure-very decidedly of a
class looked on as more respectable;
while the poorer and less esteemed abso-
lutely never failed me-and they were
many. They were also, for the most
part, persons over whose families or re-
lations here 1 had no power, as they
were tenants or cottiers on other peoples
estates. Among these was q very large
and a very poor family. The eldest
daughter was sent for by relative who
had emigrated some time before and
who paid her passage to New York.
She dreaded going alone, and succeeded
in getting loan from me sufficient to
pay brothers passage, which was duly
repaid within the year. The next year,
the same family hearing of situations for
two more of their number, borrowed the
greater part of two passages, which
again was repaid at the promised time.
Not very long after this, another brother
borrowed the price of his passage. But
year passed and no return came. And
a second year likewise. In the course
of the third year his brother came to
me and brought the repayment Il
think, So 10s.). asked him if his broth
er had sent anything to help his old
mother, or to assist another to go to
New-York. He said he had not-not a
farthing. Where is your brother now =
I asked. Il don't know where he is, it's
80 long since he wrote And saying
this he suddenly stopped and colored.
Why said 1, how long is it since you
heard from him He stammered and
hesitated, and said he did not know.
is it more than q month"; = 'Oh yes
is it three!' No answer. lis it six p
No answer. is it year, No Sir,
it's not year. Come now, tell me,
how long is it?' We'll, Sir, I got the
letter in November And this is Sep
tember. How is this? Why did you
not bring me the money as soon as you
get itY He colored more, and said con-
fusedly, Il couldn't come with it any
sooner 'Nonsensep said l. You
couldn't come four or five miles? Now,
I see what it is; you have used the
money Your brother had sent to repay
his debt, and you have traded upon it
some way. AS it happens, you have
succeeded; but if you had lost your
speculation, how would it have been
Your brother would have been supposed
by me to have broken faith, and neglect
ed to fulfill his promise. Is it not so /?
No, Sir; Inever would let my brothers
promise to you be broken 'Then how
is it? Why were you SO long?' j
couldn't help itp The poor fellow was
greatly confused. But his flushed cheek
changed to pale when 1 said Now
you did not intend, see, to be quite dis.
honest, as you have at last brought me
the money, but you have not spoken the
truth. Have you your brothers letter
Was that it out of which you took the
bank -notesY Yes, sir Let me SET
it, Il can't let you see it. Why not
if all yeu say is trueY No, can't show
it, well, then, must think it would
make you appear more of a rogue thar
thought you. You may go; but yor
are the first of your family that ha
given me reasons to suspect your trutt
or honesty He turned and went slowly
and as thought, sullenly. l stood fol
minute and watched him. He stop
ped, took the letter out of his pocket
opened it, looked at it, then looking
round and seeing me still there, he re
turned slowly, and coming up to me hi
thrust the letter into my hand, saying
There! you can read it. Iwould neve
have let you see it, only knew he coulC
MT bear that you'd think me a rogu
or liar. He'd rather you'd know al
than that The letter was to thi
purpose: Dear brother-I suppos
you all thought me dead when yo'
were so long without hearing OF me
I was very near it; 1 met with an &C
cident and broke some of my bone
before was three months in America
and l have been in the hospital eve
since. They say will be months ye
before I am fit to work. l was hop
ing to send you some help before thi
time, but you see how it is. Th
greatest burden on my mind is tn
money Mr.. Hamilton lent me to pa,
my passage. 1t ought to be paid lonI
ago. So, brother, as soon as you hav
set the potatoes on mothers little place
go somewhere where money is to b
earned, and get as much as will pa
the gentleman, and take 1t to him, bu
don't let him know a word but that
sent it, as made promise to do
Was it not grand-this confidence G
the injured brother in the brother a
home, and the worthiness of that con
fdence in the other? This, l thinl
actually throws the high sense of hon
esty into the shade-bright as that
Also