Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-11
A Debtor for Life.

Debtor for Life.
Twenty-Five years ago, a young physi-
clan named Wieting of Syracuse, n. Y,
was just beginning to reap commensu-
rate reward for a previous career of self
denying study, unpaid industry and
needy endurance-having developed an
ability as a professional lecturer by
which both reputation and profit were
coming to him rapidly. A part of the
qualification he experienced from this
rise in life was in the thought that it
would enable him, possibly, to help some
90 forlorn and shipwrecked brother ;"
wherever he went his heart and hand
were ready for generous deeds, and in
addressing an audience he was quick TO
discern in it any apparently poor stu
dent to whose suppOsitious case might
be addressed words of cheer and sympa-
thy. During series of lectures on
physiology and the laws of health at
Quincy, Mass, in the winter of 1S49, he
noticed among the regular attendants
pale-faced, poorly-attired and singularly
intellectual looking young man, whose
earnest attention and fixed gaze indiYid-
ualized him to such degree in his OBJ
servation that at last he found himself
almost designating him specially in some
of his spoken remarks. From Quincy
the lecturer went with his course to
Plymouth. in the same State, and when
there, again the strange youth appeared
as one of his auditors. lie determined
to ascertain who he was, but before he
could take the ordinary steps to such
end the faithful follower undertook his
own introduction. After the lecture one
evening, the youthful stranger sought
the doctor on the platform, and, giving
his name as w. z. Wright, asked the
privilege of a brief conversation. He
was, he said poor Massachusetts boy,
not vet of age, without relatives or
friends, who felt in himself a possibility
of great things and an irresistible inspi-
ration to find some one who had the
mind and means to assist. Accident
had led him to attend the first lecture at
Quincy, when, at first sight of the lee
turer's face, he had been impressed with
a sense of a peculiar natural sympathy
between them. Aside from the matter
of the scientific discourse, the speaker 8
personality had exercised over him a
magnetism not to be either described or
resisted, so that he had been impelled to
/ follow to Plymouth. 1t was his final
| conviction that the stranger so influence
| ing him could be no other than the great
| friend whom his needs had instigated
| him to look for, and in this belief he
| now wished to submit a certain PROPOSE
| ton. The California gold fever had
! lust broken ont he felt absolutely sure
! that if he could go out as a miner it
| would be to certain riches, and his pro-
| posal was that, in consideration of re-
| ceiving half of the results of the golden
| venture, the lecturer should supply him
with a pecuniary outfit to the extent of
! $1,000! % | shall surely succeed, con-
| cluded the youth, with singular earnest
ness of manner. . Only lend me the
sum ask and have faith in my honesty,
and | will make fortunes for both of us.
Trust me and You shall find me true =
| Extraordinary and incongruous as this
| proposition to a scientific lecturer was,
Doctor Wieting did not receive it so as
toundedly as more ordinary character
might have done. The stranger had
magnetized him in his turn, and the
disposition to charity of which pre-
| yious mention has been made inclined
him to take a peculiar view of the Gu
rious application. Hence, instead OF
dismissing the applicant as lunatic, o.
a very shallow or audacious impostor
he told him to call upon him at hi
rooms on the following day. Nor die
subsequent reflection and consultation
with his more worldly minded brother
who was his business agent, induce thu
benevolent lecturer to think worse o
the would-be Californian. In short, a
the next appointed interview, he though
still more highly of the youths SINGER
ity, abilities and confident mission, and
after an earnest conversation, babe hin
come with him to Boston, where tn
money should be given. Wright wen
to that city, of course received there tn,
$1,000 and-with the words repeated
'You shall find me true !"-departe'
quietly and resolutely for the gold-ield
of the Pacific. BY incompatible in
stinct, rather than reason, DIR. Wietini
felt sure that his generosity in so trust
ing stranger and a boy had not been foo
ish-sure that he and Wright had bee
predestined to a mutually beneficent as
ISOLATION, and that the act would b
blessed. Nor was this blind problemati
faith disappointed Within two year
he received from his absent debtor fror
varying addresses in the Californi
, mines no less than $4,000 in gold. Writ
ing at last to say that he was alread
munificently overpaid for his benefaC
ton, and to release his grateful CORE:
pondent from all possible future obligs
ton, he was answered that the contraC
: for the half of all mining gains still hel
good and should never be foregoHt
1.-THE obligation is as much with NJ
Maker as with you, wrote the Califol
! MAN, ssand / insist on paying accordin
to my agreement. So, at intervals {
months, from year to year, but no longt
with places of address given, the Owe
whelmed benefactor was the recipient {
/ golden shipments, until in 1862 the SUI
which had been thus sent amounted
. nearly $40, 900 in coin. Soon after thes
splendid figures had been reached thel
, came another surprise. The voluntsr
q debtor for life wrote that he was abol
D entering business enterprise requirin
f $4,000 more capital than he had {
Q command, and begged his friend to len
him that sum. Here again another ma
: might have hesitated; but the doctor. wit
faith mistaken, freely sent the money
T even at great inconvenience to himse
D in those war times. In 1864 it cam
I back to him with full interest, and wit
it another letter of ardent gratituC
: from the borrower. "You doubles
think" concluded the writer, s'that yo