Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-12-27
whether this view Of the debtors character


from the floor and looking with some stern
ness into the face Of his prosecuting cred
itor.
"For your own - q trust you will
keep a clear "a |" returned Mr..
Green. "As fo, L matter between
us, all | wish > 4, Whether you mean
pect to recei( l,@ething"
"How much Is the debt ?" asked Mr..
Wilkins.
at was three hundred and seventy dollars
at the time Of your failure. Interest added,
1t now amounts TO four hundred and fifty"
said Mr.. Green.
"There were other debts besides yours"
"Of course there we're but have moth
ing to do with them"
"The whole amount Of my Indebtedness
was twenty thousand dollars. The yearly
interest on this debt Is more than my whole
income. / cannot pay even the interest,
much less the principal"
But you can pay my small claim If you
will you could have paid it before this
time II the disposition had existed. You
talk Of conscience, but I'm afraid, Brother
wilkins, in your case there is very mar
row foundation Of honesty for conscience TO
rest upon. / don't put much faith in the
professions of men who live after the fashion
you live and yet refuse 10 pay their debts.
I'm plain-spoken individual, and you now
have my mind freely"
The tone and manner of the creditor were
harsh in the extreme
Perhaps" said Mr.. Wilkins. with forced
cslmness, There may be less of dishonesty
in my withholding than in your demanding"
Dishonesty Do you dare 7" The cred
itnr,o faoa ara boI o,I = |;
indignation.
"There are ten creditors in ALL" said Mr..
Wilkins, with regained composure. Let
me put to you question. l owe John Mar
tin six hundred dollars. Suppose had six
hundred dollars, and little prospect of ever
getting any more, and were to pay the whole
of 1t over to John Martin, instead Of divid-
ing it equally between you and all the cred
itors, would you deem that right on my
part !? Or would you think Martin really
honest If he were to crowd and chafe me
until in very desperation, as it were, gave
him the whole of what mainly belonged to
others Would you not say that he had
possessed himself of your property l know
you would. And let me say to you plainly,
! that do not think your present effort to get
me to pay off your claim entire, regardless
OF others equally as much entitled to pay as
yourself, at all indicative of unsefshness,
or spirit of genuine honesty. II ] have
any money to pay, it belongs equally 10 all
my creditors-not to any one Of them ex-
clusively."
To be turned upon thus by a man who
was in debt to him-to be charged with a
dishonest spirit by the poor creature whose
relations to society he regarded as essen.
TALLY dishonest-this was too much for the
self-complacency of Mr.. Green. He rose up
quickly, saying, in a threatening tone
"You will repent this insult, sir have
forborne for years, believing that you were
really honest; but for this forbearance
now meet with outrage. l shall forbear no
longer. You are able enough to pay me,
and | will find way to compel you to do
So"
| Left alone with his troubled thoughts,
poor Mr.. wilkins felt not only humiliated
and wretched, but alarmed. There is no
way in which his creditor could extort the
sum due him except by seizing upon his
household furniture. His fears proved not
altogether groundless. On the very next
day sheriff's writ was served on him at
the suit OF Harvey Green.
What do you purpose doing ?" asked
Mr.. Wilkins, on meeting with his creditor a
| 1eW days a1terWard
"Get my money" was answered, sternly.
"But have nothing"
| ave will soon see about that Good
morning."
Mr.. Green imagined that the indignation
felt towards Mr.. Wilkins was directed
against his dishonest spirit,-was, in fact, a
righteous indignation, when its spring was
in cupidity and wounded pride.
| 7 bo L,fa L. - II G L =
against Mr.. Wilkins, when he expected to
get judgment by default, as no answer had
been made by the defendant in the case.
And it was his purpose, as it had been from
the beginning, TO order an execution as
soon as the matter was through the court,
and seize upon any property that could be
found.
| Evening came, and Mr.. Green sat, with
his children around him in his pleasant
home. A sweet little boy knelt before him
his pure hands clasped in prayer while from
his lips came, musically, the words taught
by the Lord to his disciples, Forgive us
our debts, as we forgive our debtors" There
seemed to be deeper meaning in the words
murmured by innocent childhood than had
ever before reached his perceptions. His
thoughts were stirred new emotions awak.
ened. The prayer was said, and the little
one arose and lifted his rosy lips for the
goodnight kiss.
Father" said he, turning back after go
ing across the room. "Pm not going to lei
Harry Williams pay me for that sled. II
was broken to pieces the next day after
let him have it,
"He bought it from you," said Mr.. Green
al know he did; but Harry's mother is
poor, and he only gets penny now and
then. 1t will take him long, long time to
save dollar; and then the sled is broken
and no good to him. have great many
more nice things than he has, and why
should want his pennies when he gets SC
few?"
"What made you think of this ?" asked
the father, who was touched by the words
of his child.
at came to my mind Just now when
was saying my prayer. Iprsyed, Forgive
us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
not 2"
"Yes, my son."
"Well, il don't forgive him his debt,
how can expect God to forgive me my
debt If | pray to him to forgive me as |
forgive Harry, and don't forgive Harry at
all, don't | ask God not to forgive me,
father 2"
The child spoke earnestly, and stood with
his large, deep, calm eyes fixed intently
upon his fathers face. Almost involunta.
rily Mr. Green repeated the words
90 If ye forgive not men their trespasses,
said our Saviour, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses.
"Pll forgive Harry the debt, father. I'm
sure he isn't able to pay for the sled and
have great many more nice things than he
has. If | don't do it how can | ever pray
that prayer again ?"
"Oh, yes, yes forgive him the debt, by
all means !" replied the father, kissing his
boy.
That evening was spent by Mr.. Green in
for many years. The words of his child
had come to him like rebuking precepts
from heaven, and he bowed his head, hu
inflated and repentant, resolving TO forgive
in the future, as he would be forgiven.
On the morning that followed, rs Mr.
Wilkins, from whose mind the cloud had
not lifted, who was yet trembling for the
home of his children, was passing from his
door, a lad placed letter in his hand He
knew the face of the boy from its likeness
TO that of Mr.. Green.
"Mlore trouble" he sighed to himself, rs
he thrust the note into his pocket. An
hour afterward he opened it, and, to his be.
wilderment and surprise, found within his
account fully drawn out, and receipted with
the signature of Harvey Green. Below the
receipt was written, / stand rebuked.
must forgive, il hope to be forgiven"
| II xuaa NTH lttEonltu that NJ lI,lh,.s