The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-02-12
A DEBTOR FOR LIFE.
A Strange Story

A Strange Story
Twenty-Five years ago, young physician
named Wieting of Syracuse, n. Y, was just
beginning to reap commensurate reward tor q
previous career of self-denying industry, and
needy endurance having developed an ability
as g. professional lecturer by which both
reputation and profit were coming to him rap
idly. ,
4 part of the qualification he experienced
from this rise in life was in the thought that 1t
would enable him, possibly, to help some Tor
lorn and shipwrecked brother; wherever ne
went his heart and hand were ready tor gener-
Gus deeds, and in addressing an audience he
was quick to discern in it any apparently poor
student to whose suppositious case might
be addressed words of cheer and sympa-
thy.
During q 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 indi-
vidualized him to such degree IN his obser-
vstion 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 ap::
peared as one of his auditors. He determined
10 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. q. Wright, asked
the privilege of brief conversation. He was,
he said, q poor Massachusetts, boy, not yet OF
age. without relatives or friends, who felt in
himself a possibility Of great things and an
irresistible inspiration to find some one who
had the mind and means to assist Accident
had led him to attend the first lecture IN
Quincy, when at irst sight of the lecturers
face he had been impressed with sense of
peculiar natural sympathy between them.
Aside from the matter of the scientific dis
course, the speakers personality had exercised
over him q magnetism not to be either de-
scribed or resisted, so that he had been impelled
20 follow to Plymouth. It was his final con-
yiction that the stranger so influencing 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 certain
proposition.
ont: he felt absolutely sure that if he could
90 out as a miner it would be to certain riches,
and his proposal was that in consideration of
receiving half of the results of the golden
venture the lecturer should supply him with q
pecuniary outfit totthe extent OF one thousand
dollars.
ssI shall surely succeed" )" concluded the youth,
with singular earnestness of manner "Only
lend me the sum, I 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 prop
esition to scientific lecturer was, Doctor
Wieting did not receive it 80 astoundedly as a
more ordinary character might have done.
The stranger had magnetized him in his turn,
and the disposition to charity, of which previ-
Gus mention has been made, inclined him to
take peculiar view of the curious application.
Hence, instead of dismissing the applicant as
q lunatic or very shallow and audacious i'm
postor, he told him to call upon him at his
room the following day.
Nor did subsequent reflection and consulta-
tien with his more worldly-minded brother,
who was his business agent, induce the benev-
elent lecturer to think worse of the wou!d-be
Californian. In short, at the next appointed
interview, he thought still more highly of the
Youths sincerity, abilities, and confident mis-
sion. and. after an earnest conversation, bade
him come with him to Boston, where the money
should be given.
Wright went to that city, of course, received
there the thousand dollars, and-with the
words repeated, "You shall find me true !"-
departed quietly and resolutely for the gold
fields of the Pacific. By incompatible instinct,
rather than reason, Doctor Weiting felt sure
that his generosity in so trusting strange boy
had not been foolish-sure that he and Wright
had been predestined to mutually benehcent
association. and that the act would be blessed
Nor was this blind, problematic faith disap-
pointed. Within two years ne received from
his absent debtor, from varying addresses IN
the California mines, no less than i've thousand
dollars in gold.
nnni6cently oyerpaid for his benefaction, an1
IN release his grateful correspondent from all
possible future obligation, ne was answered
hat the contract for the half of all mining
na;ns still held good, and should never be fore
S Sona srThe obligation is as much with my
Naker as with you," wrote the Californian,
"and I insist upon paying according to my
ogreeu,ent." So at intervals of months, from
ysar to wear but no longer with places of ad-
dress Given. the overwhelmed benefactor was
the recipient of the golden shipments, until in
1862 the sums which had been thus sen, sent
amounted to nearly forty thousand dollars.
Soon after these splendid figures had been
reached, there came another surprise; Inc
voluntary debtor for life wrote that he was
about entering business enterprise requiring
thirty Thousand dollars more capital than ne
had at command, and begged his friend to lend
him that sum. Here again another man might
have hesitated; but the doctor, with faith un-
shaken. freely sent the money, even at great
Inconvenience to himself, in those war times.
In 1864 it came back to him, with full inter-