The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-07
DEBTOR AND CREDITOR.
BY T. S. A.

affairs, Mr.. Elderp" asked one oil them.
Il think we shall secure pretty fair
percentage. Don't you%
"Yes, if we wind him up"
"That We shall do OF course. Why let
him go on? Ii will take him two or three
years to get through, # at all"
"Ir he can get through in two or three
years, / shall certainly he in favor OF
letting him go on. Times have been
rather hard and business dull. But
everything looks encouraging now"
81 DON'T believe i'll extensions, Mr..
Highland. The surest way, when man
gets into difficulties, is TO wind him up
and secure what you can. Ten chances
10 one, if you lev him so on, you lose
every cent"
IL have granted extensions in several
! instances, Mr.. Elder" replied his COM
panion, "and obtained, eventually, my
whole claim except in single case"
| "Ips always a risk. l go by the motto,
"A Lird in hand is worth two in the
busb,'" returned Elder. II am always
ready to take what l can get to-day, and
never trust TO the morrow. That is my
way OF doing business"
"But DO you not think the debtor en-
| titled to some considerations
"How?' with a look OF surprise.
"He is a man Of like passions with
ourselves"
Il don't know that L understand you
exactly, Mr.. Highland"
MIR. Carlton has domestic relations as
well AS you and l."
81 never doubted it. But what OF
that?"
III we break him up in business, the
evil will not visit him alone. Think Of
the effect upon his family"
"ln trade we never consider mans
family relations"
sBut should we not, Mr.. Elder!
Should we not regard the debtor as IA
manW
"As man who owes us, and Is unable
to pay what is due; but i'll no other
ligh' - returned MI. Elder, with Il ight
curl oI his lip.
"rhere we differ widely"
"And Will continue 10 differ, imagine
Good morning Mr.. Highlanul'
The two men parted,
l. An hour previous, Mr.. Carlton, about
whom they had been conyerslng, sat
with his family, wife and tnree daugh-
terS, at the breakfast table. He tried To
converse i'll his usual cheerful manner
but too heavy weight was upon his
heart. There had come u crisis~in his
affairs, which ne feared would not be
passed without ruin TO himself. IL the
efforts Of his misfortune would not reacu
beyond his store and counting room: il
upon his head alone would fall the irag-
ments of Il broken fortune he would not
have murmuret. But the disaster could
not stop there! 1t would extend even To
the slnctu.y OF home.
On the DAY previous he had called Oh
lew Of his creditors anu asked OF them
an extention. Ii this were not gwen
it would be impossible for him to
keep on longer than few weeks. The
spirit in which most OF creditors had re-
ceiVed the unexpected announcement
that he was in difficulties, gave him
little TO hope. He was TO have another
interview with them during the day
, From that, AS II would exhibit the
result Of d nights reflection upon the
minds of his creditors, he would be abe
) to see clearly his chances of being sus
: tained i'll business. He awaited the
Ihour with nervous anxiety. When i
arrlved, and a lew creditors called il
had assembled, he saw little i'll thei
faces TO give him hope. The first wht
spoke out plainly was Elder.
: 81, gentlemen," he said, firmly, "an
: Opposed to ali extensions. If man Cal
not pay as he goes, l think he had bette
Iwlnd up"
\ ''lt ali do not agree in this matter, il
= will be no use 70 attempt eXlenuinI
4 | Mr. Cartoons time" remarked one of tn
creditors. who thought and ielt as di,
t Elder, bat was not willing to come ou
e 50 plainly.
s "Ihat IS very true" said third. ~
partial extension VIII be of no use"
The heart oil poor Carlton allnos
ceased to beat.
:. "Have you any objection to retirin!
, for u few minutesp said Mr. Highland
to the debtor.
. 81 will Withdraw, certainly" returned
9 Mr.. Carlton and lett tue room.
, "My own view, gentleman said Mr.
q Highland, sis, that we ought to grant al
that is asked. Mr.. Carlton's business i
= good, and he Will get over his presen
e difficulties easily, il we only assist hin
, a little. We should be just, as man to
, ward man; ana this | do not think w
should be III This case unless we con
slider Carlton as well as ourselves, Ii
s lis an honest man, and an houest man il
q IdifticuItiesis always enLitled to consider
Iation."
!, THAT is all very well. But when maj
e gives his note payable al certain da,
/, he ought be very sure that he will b.
able to take it up. Creditors are en-
titled TO some consideration as well a
= debtors. The cry of poor debtor is sool
b
, Ipoor creditor? l, for one, am not pre-
pared to extend"
! This was said by Elder.
GAS for me-" spoke up another, g.
|never take but one view OF matters like
] this. IfI think l will do better by re
Inewing, l am ready to do so; ii by wind
ling up the party now can 40 better, ]
: Igo for winding up. l have confidence il
: ECarlton's integrity. l believe he means
fwelL But can he yet through that is the
Iquestlon."
: II believe he can," said Mr.. Highland
"And doubt it," returned Elder.
The efforts of Elder to eface the i'm.
Iipression the words Of MIR. Highland had
) made proved in vain. 1t was agreed
-. that the debtor should receive the ex
tension he asked. When informed o
this decision, Carlton could not hide hi.
emotions, though he strove hard to d.
SO. His grateful acknowledgment fol
/, the favor granted touched more thar
one heart that had been cold as ice to
ward him short time before. How diff
ferent were his feelings when he met hil
family that evening, and silently
thanked Heaven that the cloud which
, mad hovered over and threatened tt
break in desolating tempest had passed
from the sky.