Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-11-06
WIN as much simplicity and good hslnor

Win as much simplicity and good hanor
as ever.
The news of the loss sustained by Harri-
son went like wildfire through the burgh,
and every one wondered that man who
owed so much money should have had so
large sum as $500 in the house at one
time, and it was suspected that he intended
to fly the country with the money as soon
as he could wiring the false debt out OF
simple Watty. Every inquiry was made
after the robbers but they could not be
traced; and now Harrison, made savage by
his loss and the allusion made by Watty
about the messenger, got his caption from
Edinburgh by a special messenger, and
sent to apprehend Walter for the false
debit.
Il have a caption against you, Mr..
Wylie," said the messenger as he entered.
will you pay the debt or go with me?"
s'If you'll watt" replied Watty, with the
greatest simplicity, "til weigh this pund
O. sugar to Jenny Gilchrist, I'll TAX step
VII ye as far as the jail"
And, proceeding to serve his customer,
he INDUCED in some of his dry jokes in the
very same way he used to do and when he
had finished, called up his wife to serve the
shop, and walked with great composurel
away with the messenger to that place OF
squalor and squalid misery. He was in due
form entered in the jailer's books and de-
posted in tho old black building as a Jail
bird, where, if he chose, he might whistle
as gayly as he did in the morning when he
went out to hear the larks singing in the
clouds, to which celestial residence he had
so unexpectedly accompanied them The
news soon spread far and wide that Walter
yNvli in vic md off
were made to get him to pay the debt at
once and gain his liberty, but Walter knew
himself what he was about, and having
thus ascertained how far Harrison would
go, he sent for writer, and having given
him instructions and part of the $500 to
pay his expenses, got out in few days on
what the honest men of the law call sus
| pension and liberation.
! Some time afterward, Harrison himself,
having lost all his money was put into Jail
at the instance OF one of his creditors who
was enraged at the scheme he had resorted
to for defrauding them; and there he lay in
the very same room in which Watty had
been deposited. Harrison's creditor was a
good and godly man, and, like Walter, was
| an elder of the church, and the people
pitied him greatly for the loss he was
likely to sustain through the rogue who
had thus cheated SO many poor people.
His debt was ESQ, and, to the wonder and
amazement of all the inhabitants, he
got full payment from Walter Wylie,
whereupon Harrison was Immediately let
out of prison.
No sooner was it known that Walter
had paid one debt of Harrison than an
other creditor apprehended the rogue, and
lodged him in jail He was allowed to lie
{l1ouo
again came forward and paid this debt
| also, whereupon he was again allowed to
escape. A third creditor followed the ex
ample of the two others, and the rogue
was again committed to durance, but this
time Watty allowed him to remain for
longer time, and then paid the debt that
he might deal out his punishment in due
proportion. A fourth time the rogue was
apprehended, and fifth and sixth time,
and upon each of these occasions he was
allowed to remain for as long a time as
Watty thought might produce as much
pain as it was his intention to infict
Altogether Harrison had thus lain about
eight months in prison. His debts were
now all paid, and the whole sum of e5O0
eXhausted-having been honestly divided
among those creditors whose debtS were
just and who required them for the sup
port of their wives and children. No part
of the $500 was kept to answer the false
debt claimed against Watty, because he
had secured himself against that demand
by getting designations to the debts he
paid, whereby he might plead compensa
ton against his prosecutor. Thus had he
in his own quiet way, saved himself, pun
ished rogue and brought peace and com
fort to the homes of a. number of deserving
men, whose debts otherwise would never
have been paid.
The wonder produced by this extraor
| binary proceeding on the part of Watty
was unparalleled; and what nobody could
comprehend, they were surely entitled to
wonder at. Some thought the simple
creature mad, and his friends tried to in
terfere to prevent SO reckless a squander
ing of his means.
81 am surprised, Mr.. Wylie," said his
clergyman to him one day in the presence
of number of people who were collected
in the shop, 81 am surprised at this pro
ceeding of yours, which has spread far and
wide throughout the country If your
motive be a secret, will not ask it from
thee; but, if it is Il fair and legitimate
question, would make bold to put it to
thee, as one of my flock and an elder of our
church"
'1here is nae secret about it, SIR" re
piled Watty with his accustomed simple
ity. 1--WE are told to do guild to them wha
hate us, and pay for them VIVA despitefully
prosecute u.s." And he leered grotesque
look of simple cajolery in the face of the
godiy man.
81 fear thou misquotest the Holy Book
Mr.. Wylie," replied the minister. "We
are asked to pray for our enemies, not to
pay for them"
"Ayl ayp' calculated Watty in surprise
is it possible that that single letter r
should haze cost puir, simple body 9500%
The minister stared and the people won
dered, but up to this day none ever knew
why simple Walter Wylie paid the debts
of his enemy Harrison. Glasgow Citizen