Alexandria Gazette & Advertiser

BANKRUPT FAMILY MADE HAPPY.

A merchant of Bordeaux, who had carried on trade with equal honor and prosperity till he was turned off fifty years of age, was, by a series of unexpected and unavoidable losses, at length unable to comply with engagements, and his wife and children, in whom he placed his principal happiness, were reduced to a state of destitution, which doubled his distresses. He comforted himself and them however, with the reflection, that upon the strictest review of his own conduct, no want either of integrity or of prudence, could be imputed to him. He thought it best, therefore, to repair to Paris, in order to lay a true state of his affairs before his creditors, that being convinced of his honesty they might be induced to pity his misfortune, and allow him a reasonable space of time to settle his affairs. He was kindly received by some, and very civilly by all; and wrote immediately to his family, congratulating them on the prospect of a speedy and favorable adjustment of his difficulties. But all his hopes were destroyed by the cruelty of his principal creditor, who caused him to be seized and sent to jail. As soon as this melancholy event was known in the country, his eldest son, a youth of about 16 years of age, listening only to the dictates of filial piety, came post to Paris, and threw himself at the feet of his father's obdurate creditor, to whom he painted the distress of his family in most pathetic terms, but apparently without effect. At length, in the greatest agony of mind he said, "Sir, since you think nothing can compensate for your loss but a victim, let your resentment devolve upon me, let me suffer instead of my father, and the miseries of prison will seem light in proportion to procuring liberty for a parent to console the sorrows of the distracted and dejected family that I have left behind me." Thus, sir, you will satisfy your vengeance, without sealing their irretrievable ruin." And here his tears and sighs stopped his utterance. His father's creditor beheld him upon his knees in this condition for a full quarter of an hour. He then sternly desired him to rise and sit down; he obeyed. The gentleman then walked from one corner of the room to the other in great agitation of mind for about the same space of time. At length, throwing his arms about the young man's neck, "I find," said he, "there is something more valuable than money—I have an only daughter, for whose fate I have the utmost anxiety. I am resolved to fix it. In marrying you she must be happy. Go, carry your father's discharge, ask his consent, bring him instantly hither; let us bury in the joy of that alliance, the remembrance of all that has passed."