The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-04-14
How a Merchant was Sold.

A MONG the solid merchants of Boston
"A two generations ago, none stood
higher than Mr.. Henshaw. He was as fine
specimen of the old time Boston merchant
as could be found shrewd and far seeing
in his business operations, exact in all his
transactions, he was withal very lenient
with an unfortunate debtor, especially
when he thought the unfortunate was hon
est and meant to be honorable.
Ono day country merchant who had
been doing business in New Hampshire,
and who was owing Mr.. Henshaw about
$1,000, called upon him and with pallid
face and fearful eyes, told him he had
failed and that his endorsement on some
confidential paper had taken every dollars
worth of his stock which had barely re-
allied enough to liquidate his liability as
endorser and that everything was gone
but a farm of 150 acres which he owned
free of incumbrance, and "Here," said
the debtor, Z" is deed of that which have
drawn and duly executed conveying it to
you, here is the abstract of title duly certi-
fed, and the papers are all recorded. 1t is
all can do, and have come to ask you to
accept it and give me release"
And what do you propose to do ?" asked
the kind hearted merchant. He an
swered that he was going to sell his house
hold furniture, and with the proceeds, take
his wife and child and go west, enter some
land, and try and work out new home
This "touched the spot" and seizing him
by the hand, Mr.. Henshaw said, (the tears,
meanwhile streaming down his benevolent
face). God bless you for an honest man !''
and at once executed the release, and then
taking his check book, wrote check for
$500, and presented it to the bankrupt,
saying, "Take this, it will help you to
start in your new home, and tell you, sir,
that never in my life signed a check with
more satisfaction. So with fervent "God
speed'' from the generous merchant, the
man withdrew. This occurred in the fall
of the year, and when the roads "got set
tied" the following spring Mr.. Henshaw
thought he would take a trip to New
Hampshire and see his farm, and either
rent OF dispose of it some way. He accord
ingly took the stage early in the morning,
and little after dark arrived at the village
in sight Of which the honest bankrupt had
stated the farm was located.
Taking his supper he retired to rest
The next morning he was up with the sun,
and walked out upon the steps of the inn,
where he seen the landlord, and stating the
object of his visit, he produced the deed,
and asked If he could tell him the exact
location of his farm, as he proposed to
take look at it after breakfast. The jolly
landlord, upon looking at the precious
document, smiled audibly, and said
"Yes, Squire, that's all right. Your
title is clear. l am the Town Clerk, and
know all about it. But Squire, l guess
you won't care to go over the place. You
can see it all from here"
4" Where ?" asked Mr.. Henshaw.
The old man pointed to high ledge of
rocks, covered with loose boulders, COM
pTising, without donbt, full 100 acres,
upon the whole area Of which single goat
would have died of starvation, if limited to
the products Of that farm for sustenance.
"Good heavens You mean to tell me
thai pile of rocks is my farm9'
"Just so, Squire, and it has been a prof
table farm to moro than one purchaser,
can tell you"
"How so ?''
"WeIl, you see, Squire, nobody round
here is fool enough to pay taxes on it, and
every two or three years it is sold for taxes
and is always bid in by some merchant for
dollar or two, and be keeps 1t until he fails,
and then goes to Boston and uses it in set
tling with his creditors. Why, I suppose,
Squire, that that air pile of rocks has paid
more'n $1,000, of debts, owin to them
smart Boston merchants. But there's the
bell for breakfast. Won't you take little
rum and tanzy, 6quire9'' It's a real good