LXVII.—BEST KIND OF REVENGE.CHAMBERS.
CHAMBERS.
1. Some years ago, a warehouseman in Manchester, England, published a scurrilous[488]pamphlet, in which he endeavored to hold up the house of Grant Brothers to ridicule. William Grant remarked upon the occurrence that the man would live to repent what he had done; and this was conveyed by some tale-bearer to the libeller, who said, “Oh, I suppose he thinks I shall some time or other be in his debt; but I will take good care of that.” It happens, however, that a man in business cannot always choose who shall be his creditors. The pamphleteer became a bankrupt, and the brothers held an acceptance[489]of his which had been indorsed[490]to them by the drawer, who had also become a bankrupt[491].
2. The wantonly libelled men had thus become creditors of the libeller! They had it in their power to make him repent of his audacity.[492]He could not obtain his certificate without their signature, and without it he could not enter into business again. He had obtained the number of signatures required by the bankrupt law, except one. It seemed folly to hope that the firm of “the brothers” would supply the deficiency.[493]What! they, who had cruelly been made the laughing stock of the public, forget the wrong and favor the wrong doer? He despaired. But the claims of a wife and children forced him at last to make the application. Humbled by misery, he presented himself at the counting house of the wronged.
3. Mr. William Grant was there alone, and his first words to the delinquent[494]were, “Shut the door, sir!”sternly uttered. The door was shut, and the libeller stood trembling before the libelled. He told his tale, and produced his certificate, which was instantly clutched by the injured merchant. “You wrote a pamphlet against us once!” exclaimed Mr. Grant. The supplicant expected to see his parchment thrown into the fire. But this was not its destination. Mr. Grant took a pen, and writing something upon the document, handed it back to the bankrupt. He, poor wretch, expected to see “rogue, scoundrel, libeller,” inscribed, but there was, in fair round characters, the signature of the firm.
4. “We make it a rule,” said Mr. Grant, “never to refuse signing the certificate of an honest tradesman, and we have never heard that you were anything else.” The tears started into the poor man’s eyes. “Ah,” said Mr. Grant, “my saying was true. I said you would live to repent writing that pamphlet. I did not mean it as a threat. I only meant that some day you would know us better, and be sorry you had tried to injure us. I see you repent of it now.” “I do, I do!” said the grateful man. “I bitterly repent it.” “Well, well, my dear fellow, you know us now. How do you get on? What are you going to do?” The poor man stated that he had friends who could assist him when his certificate was obtained. “But how are you off in the meantime?”
5. And the answer was, that, having given up every farthing to his creditors, he had been compelled to stint his family of even common necessaries, that he might be enabled to pay the cost of his certificate. “My dear fellow, this will not do; your family must not suffer. Be kind enough to take this ten-poundnote to your wife from me. There, there, my dear fellow! Nay, don’t cry; it will be all well with you yet. Keep up your spirits, set to work like a man, and you will raise your head among us yet.” The overpowered man endeavored in vain to express his thanks: the swelling in his throat forbade words. He put his handkerchief to his face, and went out of the door crying like a child.
[488]Scurˊ-ril-ous, grossly abusive.[489]Ac-ceptˊ-ance, a bill or draft accepted by the party on whom it is drawn, who thus becomes liable for its payment at the time stated in the draft.[490]In-dorsedˊ, a bill or note is indorsed by the party, to whom it is made payable, or who may be the holder of it, writing his name across the back of it.[491]Bankˊ-rupt, a person who is unable to pay his debts.[492]Au-dacˊ-i-ty, boldness; impudent presumption.[493]De-fiˊ-cien-cy, want.[494]De-linˊ-quent, one who fails in his duty.
[488]Scurˊ-ril-ous, grossly abusive.
[488]Scurˊ-ril-ous, grossly abusive.
[489]Ac-ceptˊ-ance, a bill or draft accepted by the party on whom it is drawn, who thus becomes liable for its payment at the time stated in the draft.
[489]Ac-ceptˊ-ance, a bill or draft accepted by the party on whom it is drawn, who thus becomes liable for its payment at the time stated in the draft.
[490]In-dorsedˊ, a bill or note is indorsed by the party, to whom it is made payable, or who may be the holder of it, writing his name across the back of it.
[490]In-dorsedˊ, a bill or note is indorsed by the party, to whom it is made payable, or who may be the holder of it, writing his name across the back of it.
[491]Bankˊ-rupt, a person who is unable to pay his debts.
[491]Bankˊ-rupt, a person who is unable to pay his debts.
[492]Au-dacˊ-i-ty, boldness; impudent presumption.
[492]Au-dacˊ-i-ty, boldness; impudent presumption.
[493]De-fiˊ-cien-cy, want.
[493]De-fiˊ-cien-cy, want.
[494]De-linˊ-quent, one who fails in his duty.
[494]De-linˊ-quent, one who fails in his duty.