The Debtor's Daughter CHAPTER 6.
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"I presume you were not again troubled with that girl," said Mr. Putnam to his daughter Clara, on the day Grace Wilkins had been so hurt by what was said to her at school.
"What girl, father?" asked Clara.
"Why, that daughter of Wilkins," replied Mr. Putnam in a voice of contempt.
There was much in the tone and manner of her father which pained and shocked the mind of Clara, more than his words. She felt a choking sensation; and did not even trust herself to make any reply.
"Was she at school today?" asked Mr. Putnam.
"No sir," answered Clara in a low voice, while her eyes were cast upon the floor.
"She'll not insult you again; I'll warrant."
"I don't think she meant to insult me, father," Clara ventured to say.
"Don't you indeed! And isn't it an insult to be laughed at and exposed to ridicule before a whole school? If not, what is it?"
Clara returned no answer. Mr. Putnam made several other remarks on the subject, but there was no response.
A few evenings afterwards, Clara happened to mention the name of Grace, in some conversation with her mother.
"What Grace?" asked Mr. Putnam.
"Grace Wilkins," replied Clara.
"She is not going to your school yet?"
"Yes sir, she comes regularly."
"Regularly!"
"Yes sir. She told me that she wanted her father to take her away, but that he said it was the best school in the city, and he wished her to remain there."
"The best, ha! And so nothing but the best will suit him and her! That'll do excellently well for a broken-down merchant whose estate will not pay his debts!"
Mr. Putnam was fretted. He said no more, however, for he felt that the spirit he manifested was reacted against, rather than approved, both by his wife and daughter. He was fretted, because he was angry with his debtor, by whom he would probably lose three or four thousand dollars; angry with his debtor's child, because she had dared, inferior as she was in his eyes, to insult his daughter.
When evil impulses in the heart of a man like Mr. Putnam are once aroused, they rarely go to rest again. The fact that Mr. Wilkins continued to send Grace to the best school in the city — and that was the most he could do for Clara, angered him beyond measure. Instead of feeling gratified to know that Grace was not deprived of the advantages of so good a school, and pleased to see her parents making sacrifices for the sake of securing good educations for their children — he was angry because she was not cut off from such a privilege, and thrust down to a lower level.
"Does Grace Wilkins still go to your school?" he asked of Clara, a few weeks afterwards.
"Yes sir," replied Clara.
Some half audible impatient ejaculations fell from his lips. But, he said no more.
After having relinquished everything to his creditors, and moved his family into a smaller house, Mr. Wilkins set earnestly about obtaining some employment by which to support those who were dependant upon him. All his late effects were in the hands of a person who had been chosen by the creditors as assignee, and from what little Mr. Wilkins knew of his mode of settling the concern, he felt very sure that little over sixty percent of the creditor's claims would be realized. Had he been permitted to make the collections and close up the business, he was expectant that he could have paid off everything, and it might be, have saved a few thousand dollars from the wreck. Now, the prospect was, that he would be left some thirty or forty thousand dollars in debt — thus hopelessly financially embarrassed.
"What are you to do?" inquired an old business friend of Mr. Wilkins, a few weeks after he had sunk down from the level he had occupied for years.
"Heaven knows!" replied Mr. Wilkins, despondingly. "I must get something, to do however, and that right speedily, for I haven't twenty dollars left in the world."
"How do you stand in regard to your late business?"
"Responsible for all deficiencies."
"Ah? That's bad. I thought you obtained a release."
"No. Something was said about it; but Mr. Putnam opposed the suggestion so strongly, that it fell to the ground."
The man shook his head, and remarked,
"Bad — bad. I'm sorry for that."
"Don't you think it possible to get a release?" he added, with some interest in his voice.
"I'm afraid not. Mr. Putnam won't come into the arrangement; that is certain — and he influences a good many of the creditors."
"You should, by all means, endeavor to effect this Mr. Wilkins."
"They did not grant the blessing, and I cannot go and beg for it."
"Is there not something of weakness in that feeling!" suggested the friend.
"Perhaps so. But, it is the weakness of virtue. I cannot go to a man whom I owe, and say to him, 'forgive me the debt.' My tongue would cleave to the roof of my mouth."
"But, the interest of your family requires you to make this sacrifice of feeling."
"I am ready to devote even my life for their good,"_ replied Mr. Wilkins, with more feeling than he had meant to exhibit. "But this humiliation — "
He checked himself, and became silent.
"Is Mr. Putnam the leading objector to the measure of release?" said the friend in a calm voice.
"He is."
"Putnam is a hard-hearted man."
"You would have thought so, had you been present at the meeting of my creditors."
"Was he insulting."
"Cruelly insulting."
"How base! The man who can trample on and insult a brother in misfortune, must be devoid of all that is noble and generous."
"I think so. But, Mr. Lincoln, it is useless to sigh over what is past. I have gone through the ordeal, and am yet alive. All I ask, now, is some employment by which I can earn bread for my family."
The friend was touched by the subdued and broken spirit with which this was said.
"You must be released from your present obligations," he replied with firmness. "After that, few difficulties will be in your way. Do you know Everhart?"
"Yes."
"He is about to go into business."
"Ah?"
"He has means enough, but lacks experience and a thorough knowledge of mercantile affairs."
"So I am aware."
"He was asking me about you this very day."
"Indeed!"
"Yes. If you were only released, unconditionally, from the liabilities of your old business — I think a connection might be formed with Everhart."
"Do you really think so?" said Mr. Wilkins, his face brightening.
"I do, seriously. And if you will take my advice, you will set about getting a release immediately."
Mr. Wilkins cast his eyes to the ground and stood silent. Everything in him shrank from the proposed application.
"I'm afraid it will be useless," he said, at length, with much apparent despondency.
"It must be done. It shall be done!" exclaimed Mr. Lincoln, in whose mind the purpose to effect himself the desired object, was instantly formed.
"It shall be done!" he added, "And I will do it."
The look of gratitude that instantly beamed from the eyes of Mr. Wilkins, gave a more vigorous life to the generous impulse.
"Give me a list of your principal creditors, and I will see them, personally, immediately," said Mr. Lincoln. "In the mean time I will call upon Mr. Putnam, and secure his consent. I guess I can manage him."
"You shall have the list in an hour. I will leave it at your store."
The two men then separated, a lively hope filling the bosom of one — and the delight of a good purpose filling that of the other.
"Mr. Lincoln. How are you today? Is there anything that I can do for you?" said Mr. Putnam, smiling blandly, as the gentleman he addressed entered his store.
"Yes, I think there is," replied Mr. Lincoln, "and I'm glad to find you in a good mood."
"Say on." The smile on the face of Mr. Putnam slightly faded. There was something in the manner of his visitor which he did not exactly comprehend.
"I want you," said Lincoln, "to set an example of humanity today, which others, I know, will be ready to follow."
The smile was gone.
"Humanity? Hum-m-m! What about humanity?"
"I want you to sign a release for Mr. Wilkins."
The brow of Mr. Putnam fell, his lips drew together, and his head gave a decided negative.
"He's given up everything."
"I'm not so sure of that."
"What has put this thought into your mind?"
"He still sends his children to the most expensive schools in the city. How can he do so, without money?"
"Are you certain?"
"I send my daughter to Mr. Thompson's school — the best I can find — and his daughter goes there also."
"Ah? But, perhaps he'd paid in advance, and the term has not yet expired. I'm sure he's retained nothing. I've known Mr. Wilkins for a good many years, and I don't believe there is a more honest man in the community."
Putnam shrugged his shoulders and looked incredulous, saying as he did so —
"We don't know everybody."
"It is better to err on the side of humanity," replied the visitor. "Mr. Wilkins is now entirely prostrate, with a family, raised tenderly and amid luxuries, dependant upon him. He hasability and energy, and these, if untrammelled — will enable him to rise above his depressed condition. To remove these trammels is not only the dictate of humanity, but of interest. Situated as Mr. Wilkins now is, with an unsettled business likely to leave a large balance against him, he cannot again venture into the walks of trade, even if friends were to supply him with capital; neither can he form a connection with anyone who has means at command, and who would gladly unite their money with his ability."
"I presume no one would care about forming a connection with Wilkins," said Putnam in a tone of contempt.
"There is a gentleman with ample means, who is already looking towards him and thinking about making him a proposal."
"Who?"
"I don't feel at liberty to mention the name."
"Yourself?"
"No."
"Wilkins's estate will not pay over sixty or seventy cents in the dollar. That is pretty clear. And he owes me some ten thousand dollars. Do you think I am going to sign away three or four thousand dollars? No!"
"By doing so, you would put it in his power to pay this sum?"
"Power!" There was contempt in the merchant's tone of voice. "Power! What good would his ability do me?"
"It would pay the debt he owes you."
"Not unless I had the law on my side. No sir; I will not sign this release."
Mr. Putnam, who loved money, and who never lost a dollar without suffering pain — saw, in the alleged offer of a business connection with Mr. Wilkins, the means of securing whatever deficit remained after his proportion of the insolvent's estate was received. If everyone else signed off — then his refusal to do so would hardly prevent the connection in view. Rather than let so good an opportunity go unimproved, Mr. Wilkins would undoubtedly secure his claim.
"Do not say that," urged Mr. Lincoln. "It can do no good to hold a man down to the earth. Rather help him up, after he has fallen."
"I have quite as much as I can do to take care of myself," replied Putnam, coldly. "If I stopped by the way to pick up everyone who tripped and fell, I would soon be on my own back. No, I have said from the first, that I would not release this man, and I will not. I'm opposed, in principle, to the system of release. It's nothing more nor less than a premium on insolvency."
All efforts to change this resolution were unavailing. — Putnam meant just what he said. And Mr. Lincoln went away disappointed.
Shortly thereafter, Mr. Wilkins called at Mr. Lincoln's store, with the list of creditors he had been desired to make out.
"He would not sign off?" asked Wilkins, who saw, in a moment, by the countenance of Mr. Lincoln, that his application had been unfavorably received.
"No. He positively refuses."
"I expected nothing more," yet the deep sigh which accompanied these words, plainly enough showed that his hopes had been much excited.
"If all but Mr. Putnam could be induced to give a release — you might be able to pay off any balance that may be due him after your old business is finally settled."
"The holding back of one, will influence others. No — if Mr. Putnam will not let me go free, the case is hopeless. It is useless to take another step."
While they were yet conversing, a gentleman known by Mr. Wilkins came in.
"Old Mr. Archer is gone at last!"
"Ah? When did he die?" inquired Mr. Lincoln.
"An hour ago."
"There's an opening for you Mr. Wilkins," said Lincoln. "How would you like the place which he has left vacant?"
"He was President of the Marine Insurance company."
"Yes."
"What did he receive?"
"Two thousand dollars a year."
"I would be very grateful to the friend who would place me there."
"You shall have the appointment!" said Lincoln, speaking with enthusiasm, "as long as we can do no better for you. I own considerable stock in the company, and can influence a good deal more."
"Don't be too expectant." The face of Mr. Wilkins was bright with hope as he said this.
"I'm not overly optimistic. I believe you can get the place without feeling a breath of opposition."
And the result was, as Mr. Lincoln had supposed. The annual election of President and Directors was held a few days after the death of the former president, and Mr. Wilkins received the appointment. The only vote thrown in opposition was by Mr. Putnam, he being a stockholder in the Company. Whether his vote was dictated by self-interest or ill-nature, is difficult to say. Most probably both united in causing him to act as he did. Already he had pretty well settled it in his mind, that the other creditors would sign off, and that a copartnership would then be formed between Mr. Wilkins and the capitalist to whom Lincoln had referred. In this event, he would be safe for all that might in the end still be due from the debtor's estate. The election of said debtor to the office of President of an Insurance Company, with only a salary — had now cut off that prospect; and he felt exceedingly ill-natured about it. This ill-nature was increased by the conviction that, in so positively refusing to yield anything to a humane dictate, he had, in all probability, overreached himself.
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