South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-11-09
The 1orgtksn Debt.

The old mercha11s who transacted
business on the Lo@ Wharf, in Bos-
ton. when I was a by. are now near.
ly all dead. Among them was one
whom I recoliect often to heard spo-
ken Of in terms of the highest praise
for his great kindness and genrosity.
As he was for manyyears largely en-.
gagged in the fishing business, lis name
was familiar to all the hardy fisher
men of Cape Cod. This noble mer.
chant died in good old age, and, M
he left no will, his eldest son was APP
pointed to settle the estate. and divide
the property among tho heirs.
After the death of$hA old merchant,
Il package of very considerable size
was found among his papers, careful
ly tied up, and labeled as follows
Notes, due.hills, and accounts against
sundry persons down along shore
Some of these may be got by suit or
severe dunning. But the people are
poor, the most of them have had
'fisherman's luck My children will
do as they think best. Perhaps they
will think, with me, that it is best to
burn this packet entire
About a month"; said my inform
ant, 'after our father died, the sons
met together, and after some general
remarks, our eldest brother, the ad.
ministrator, produced this package, of
whose existence we were already iu-
formed, read the superscriptlon, and
asked what course should be taken in
regard toit.
Another brother, few years youn-
ger than the eldcst, n man Of strong
impulsive temperament. unable at the
moment to express his feelings in
words, while he brushed the tears
from his eyes with one hand, by sud.
den movement with the other toward
the fireplace, indicated his desire to
have the paper put into the flames.
1T was suggested by another of our
number. that it might be we'll first to
make list of the debtors names. and
of the dates and accounts, that We
might be enabled, as the intended
discharge was for all, to inform such
us might offer payment that their debts
were forgiven. On the following day
we again assembled; the list had been
prepared, and all the notes, due-bills,
and accounts, whose amount, includ-
ing interest. exceeding thirty.two
thousand dollars, were committed to
the flames.
1T was about four months after our
fathers death, in the month of June,
that. rs was sitting III my eldest bro {.
theirs counting room, waiting for IN
opportunity TO say word to him,
there came in hard favored little old
man. who looked as if time and rough
weather had been to the windward Of
him for eeventy years.
lie asked il my brother was not
the executor. He replied that he was
administrator, as our father died in.
testate. WELL said the stranger, i
have come up from the Cape to pay
II debt | owed the old gentleman
My brother requested him to be seat
ed, being at the moment engaged.
The old man sat down, and put
ting on his glasses, drew out a very
ancient leather wallet, and began to
corut his money. When he had done
and there were quite a parcel Of
notes-as he sat waiting his turn,
slowly twisting ME thumbs, with his
old, gray. meditative eyes upon the
floor, he sighed; and knew the mo.
ney, as the phrase runs, came hard /;
and / secretly wished the old mans
name might be found upon the for.
given list.
NV brother was soon at leisure,
and asked him the common questions,
his name, etc. The original debt was
four hundred and forty dollars; it
had stood a long tine, and, with the
interest amounted TO sum between
seven and eight hundred dollars. NJ
brother went to his desk, and after ex-
aiming the forgiven list attentlvely,
a sudden smile lightoned up his coun-
tenance, and told me the truth at q
glance-the old mans name was
there
My brother quietly took a CHAIR by
his side, and a conversation ensued
between them, which | shall never
forgot Your note is out-lawed.,
said ms brother; 1T was dated twelve
years ago, payable in two years; there
is no witness, and no interest has ever
been paid; YOU are not bound 20 pay
this note; we cannot recover the a
mount
'Sr,' said the old man, Il wish 10
pay IT, j is the only heavy debt |
have in the world 1t may be out
lawed here; but | have no child, and
ny oil woman s ! hope we have made
our peace with God, aud wish TO do
so with man should like to pay it >
and he laid the bank notes before my
brother, and requested him 20 count
them over.
q cannot take this money, said my
brother