Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-01-17
A DEBTOR FOR LIFE.
A Strange story.

| mensurate reward for previous career
Of self-denying study, unpaid industry
aud needy endurance-having develop
ell an ability as a professional lecturer
by which both reputation and profit
were coming 10 him rapidly. A part Of
the qualification he experienced from
this rise 10 life was in the thought that
it wouId enable him, possibly, to help
some 'forlorn and shipwrecked brother;'
wherever he went his hand and heart
were ady for generous deeds, and in
addressing an audience he was quick to
discern in it auy apparently poor stu
dent to whose suppositions cast might be
addressed words of cheer and sympa-
thy. During a series Of lectures on
physiology and the laws Of health at
| Quincy, Mass in the winter Of l849, ne
noticed amongst the regular attendants
pale faced, poorly attired and singu-
larly intellectual looking young man.
whose earnest attention and fixed gaze
indvidualized him to such a degree IN
his observation that at last he found him.
self almost designating him specially il
some of his spoken remarks From
Quincy the lecturer went with his course
t. Plymouth, 10 the same State aud
when there. again the strange youth APP
peared as one of his auditors. He deter
mined to ascertain who i've was, bnt be-
fore he could take the ordinary steps to
such end the faithful follower undertook
his own introduction After h S lecture
one evening the youthful stranger sought
the lecturer on the platform. and. Civ
ing his name as w u. Bright asked the
privilege of brief conversation He
WAS, he said, poor Massachusetts boy,
not yet of age, without relatives or
friends, who felt IN himself possibility
of great things and an irresistible incli-
nation to iud some one who had the
mind and means to assist, Accident
led him to attend the first lecture in
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 speakers
personality had exercised over him
magnetism not to be described or re-
sisted, so that he had been impelled to
follow him to Plymouth. 1t was his
final conviction that the stranger. so IT,
iuencug him, could be no other than
the great friend whom his ceeds had in-
stigated 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 go out as miner it
would be to certain riches, and his pro-
posaI was that, in consideration of re-
ceiviug half of the results Of the golden
venture, the lecturer should supply him
with pecuniary outfit to the extent
Of $1,000 81 shall surely succeed,
concluded the youth, with singular
earnestness of manner. "Only lend me
the sum ask and and have faith in my
honesty, and win make fortunes for
both of us. Trust me and you shall
find me true +" Extraordinary and in
congruous as this proposition to scien-
tific lecturer was, DR.. Wieting did not
receive it SO astouudediy as more ordi-
nary character might have done The
stranger had magnetized him ia his turn
and the disposition to charity of which
previous mention has been
made inclined him to take q peculiar
view of the curious application. Hence
instead of dismissing the applicant as a
lunatic, or very shallow and audacious
imposter, he told him to call upon him
at his rooms on the following day Nor
did subsequent reflection and consuta-
ton with his more worldly minded
brother, who was his business agent, in
duce the benevolent lecturer to think
worse of the woud-be Californian In
short, at the next appointed interview,
he thought still more highly Of the
youth's sincerity, abilities and confident
mission, and, after an earnest converse
ton. babe him come with him to Bos-
ton, where the money should be given
Wright went to the city, received the
81 1000, and-with the words repeated,
"You shall find me uev'-departed
quietly and resolutely to the gold fields
of California. By incompatible instinct,
rather than reason, DIR. Wieting felt sure
that his generosity in so trusting a
stranger and boy had not been foolish
sure that be and Wright had been
predestined to a mutually beuifcent
association, and that the act would be
blessed. Nor was this blind, problemat-
ic faith disappointed. Within two years
he received from his debtor from va
rying addresses 10 the California mines
no less than $4,000 in gold. Writing
at last to say that he was already NUM-
fcently overpaid for his benefaction,
and to release his grateful correspondent
from all possible future obligation, he
was answered THAI the contract for the
half of all mining gains still held good,
and should never be foregone. "The OBJ
legation is as much with my Maker as
,,,;kh ,,o,, ,,,rota tba Califarpiap stan1