The advocate., 1895-04-10

paper money was abundant, the people of Masss.
chusetts contracted debts which, the paper money
having been withdrawn, they were called upon by
the courts to pay in coin. There was in all Mssss.
chusetts scarce gold and silver enough to have
discharged the obligations due in single county;
but the courts could see in that circumstance no
legal excuse for non-psyment. What little gold and
silver there was in the Commonwealth was rapidly
"lesving the country" in payments for imported
luxurieS required by the people Of wealth and fash
ion; for ordinary commerce had been demoralized
by the war, and little was exported to incline the
precious metals to come back The specie yet re-
naming at home was in the hands of the clam
orOus creditors themselves, who, from "s lack of
confidence" would not lend it on any terms.
Products of agriculture were unssleable for cash,
for there was no cash; and domestic manufactures
had been Well-nigh destroyed by the competition of
cheap wares from abroad. For these reasons men
could not pay their debts; yet they were treated
as hsrshly by the laws as if they would not pay.
Petitions to the General Court-the Massachusetts
name for its legisature-for new issue Of paper
money had been rejected, and the petitioners had
been denounced as dishonest, WOuld-be repudi-
ators; while the suffering people, who were in the
direst poverty through no fault of their oWn were
impudently told by men, themselves indulging
In unprecedented, ostentatious, extravaganza that
industry and frugality alone must be relied upon
to bring more prosperous times. So, from the
fields where they had been fighting the battles of
liberty, men came back only to be driven from their
homes confscsted by mortgages, and to be dragged
to jail for not having anything more of which
to be robbed; and Isaac Stlwell had been con-
spicuous actor in such proceedings. Gertrude did
not fully understand just why people did not pay
their debts but she was quite certain that it was
un- Christian, not to say inhuman, for a man as
rich as she knew her father was, to take mems
homes and then cast the men themselves into prison
because they did not promptly pay him money which
he did not need.
1t was Saturday evening just after "early candle
light" The next Tuesday the Fourth of July was
to be celebrated in StilWells grove short distance
from Worcester grove situated upon tract of land
he had taken for debt from an old man who had
since died psuper and insane, and whose old,
crippled widow was in the poor house to die. The
people from all over the county were to attend the
celebration.
The rich man was to preside, and so Gertrude, as.
sisted in her efforts by volume of "The Spectator,
and her mother, aided and sbetted by weekly
newspaper, were severely holding their tongues,
while the head of the family, seated at his desk,
was preparing with much labor and great care some
introductory remarks concerning the glorious bene
fits Of American liberty" There was a knock at
the door and the sheriff was shown In The pomp-
GUS rich man looked sterny at the intruder and sb
ruptly demanded his business there. With some
Embarrassment and hesitation, quite excusable un-
der the circumstances, the officer Of the law began:
"You know, Mr.. Stilwell, have writ of yours
for old man Stone, which"
"No, sir" interrupted the purse proud Stilwell,
81 know nothing about it. My attorneys attend to
such Matters
''I understand, Mr.. Stlwell, resumed the sheriff.
"But have seen your attorneys and they will do
nothing without your permission. You see my writ
runs out Tuesday, and would have to take the old
man Monday or be liable for neglect, and Stone be.