Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-03
A DEBTOR FOR LIFE.


Twenty-fve years ago, young physician
named Wieting, Of Syracuse, y. Y, was just
beginning to reap commensurate reward for
previous career of self denying study, unpaid
industry and needy notwithstanding de-
veoped an ability as professional lecturer by
which both reputation and prodt were coming
experienced from this rise in lie was in the
thought that It would enable him, possibly, to
help some "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 Door student TO whose supposititious
cast might be addressed words of cheer and
sympathy. During series of lectures on
physiology and the laws of health at Quincy,
Mass, in the winter of 1919, he noticed am Dugst
the regular attendants a pale-faced, poorly
attired and singularly intellectual looking
young man., whose earnest attention and
fixed gaze individuslzed him to such a
degree in his observation that at last he
found himself almost designating him
From Quincy the lecturer went with his course
20 Plymouth, in the same state, and when there,
again the strange youth appeared as one of his
auditors. He 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 even
ing, the youthful stranger sought the doctor on
the platform, and, giving his name as W. l..
Wright, asked the privilege of brief converse
ton. He was, he said, poor Massachusetts
boy, not yet of age, without relatives or friends
and an irresistible inspiration TO find some one
who had the mind and means to assist. Acct
dent had led him to attend the first lecture in
quincy, when, at first sight of the lecturer :
face he had been impressed with a sense Of
peculiar natural sympathy between them.
Aside from the matter OF the scientific discourse,
the speakers personality had exercised over h IN
magnetism not to be either described OF r 81 t.
ed, so that he had been impelled to follow him TO
Plymouth. IL was his final conviction that the
stranger so influencing him conld be NJ other
than md wi als ha usti
gated him TO look for, and in this belief he now
wished TO submit certain proposition.
The California; gold fever had just broken out;
he felt absolutely sure that if he could 60 out as
miner 1t 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 a pecun mary
outfit to the extent of 81 900, 81 shall surely
succeed" concluded the youth, with singular
earnestness of manner. "Only lend me the
sum ask aud have faith in my hon sty, and
will make fortunes for both of as. Trust lac
and you shall find me true!" Extraordinary
and homogeneous as this proposition to a scien-
tihc lecturer was, DR.. Wieting did not receive
1t SO astoundedly as more ordinary character
might have done. The stranger had msgne-
tized him in his turn, and the disposition to
charity of which previous mention has been
made inclined him to take peculiar view of the
curious application. Hence. instead of dismiss
ing the applicant as alunatic, or a very shallow
and audaeous imposter. he told him TO call
upon him at his rooms on the following day. Nor
did subsequent reflection and consultation with
his more worldly -minded brother, who was his
business agent, induce the benevolent lecturer
to think worse of the would-be Californian.
In short, at the next appointed interview, he
thought still more highly of the youths SINGER
ity, abilities, and confident mission, and, after
an earnest conversation, babe him come with
him to Boston, where the money should be
given. Wright went to that city, OF course, re-
ceiyed there the $1,000, and-with the words
repeated. ''You shall find me truel"-depar 4
quietly and resolutely to the gold fields of the
Ru ma Ia fr,-ft -, ~,
reason, DR.. Wieting felt sure that his generosity
in so trusting stranger and a boy had not been
foolsh-sure that he and Wright had been pre-
destined to a mutually bench cent association,
and that the act would be blessed, Nor was
this blind, problematic faith disappointed.
within two years he received from his absent
debtor from varying addresses in the California
mines no less than s5 900 in gold. Writing at
last to say that he was already muuiticently
overpaid tor his benefaction, and TO release his
grateful correspondent from all possible future
obligation, he was answered that the contrac:
for the half Of all mining gains still held g,oi +,
and should never he f9regou9. The oblig4-
ton is as much with my Maker as with you"
paying according to my agreement"
So, at intervals OF months, from year to year
but no longer with places of address given, tn Q
golden shipments, until IN 1852 the sums which
had been thus sent amounted to nearly 80 900
in coin. Soon after these splendid figures b sd
been reached there came another surprise, The
about entering business enterprise recurring
$50 900 more capital than he had at commani,
and begged his friend to lend him tn at su m
Here again another man might have hesitated
but the doctor, with faith mistaken, freely sent
the money, even at great inconvenience to him
self in those war times. In 1864 Ii came back b
him with full interest, and with 1t another letter
OF ardent gratitude from the borrower. "You
doubtless, think" concluded the writer, sstha
you have been well repaid already for yo1r
kindness; but the time is coming when YOU
shall receive yet further proof of my
gratitude. You will yet be possess)r Of a
larger fortune than you ever thought possible -
But, since the letter 30 ending, ami without
address, Dr.. WeituDg has never heard again
from Wright and now communicates the story
to writer for the Troy Times, in the hope
that the publication may lead to some certain
information of the fate of his long-sileut
princely debtor. Whether the grateful Cali
fornian is dead, or has experienced reverses of
fortune which he cares not to reveal, Is un-
known to his old benefactor, whose letters to
California. inquiries and messengers, have all
proved unavailing to solve the question. Hence
II Is, after all, in most unsatisfactory conit-
ton of incompleteness that the remarkable
narrative finally comes to public kno Wedge
but this artistic defect is more than counter.
balanced by the high and fairly poetic human
ity running through the given facts, and the
fine spirit of manly trust and consummate low
atty characterzng the respective actors in this
drama of faith.