198 

 OLD - FASHIONED GEN EROSITY. 



In this town, about 90 years ago, Mr. W — ke, leather cutter, 

 (but who had retired from business) was returning from the 

 house of prayer, whither his footsteps had been directed to pay 

 his accustomed (Wednesday's) adoration to the Almighty giver of 

 good ; and noticing a large assemblage of people in the fish-market, 

 then in Whimple Street, and hearing, in strong emphasis — " we 

 will see whether you shall take the poor gentleman," — and 

 again, " does he not say that he will pay when enabled" — he was 

 induced to step out of his way, and enquire of a female in the 

 crowd, known to him, the cause of the tumult. He learned from 

 her, that the people had gathered for the purpose of rescue, and 

 that the person arrested was a sea-faring man, who had been 

 secured nigh the spot for the sum (great in those days) of nearly 

 seventy pounds. Having been drawn by his inquiries closer to 

 the centre of the bustle, he was enabled to witness the distress of 

 the prisoner, as well as the concern of the officer, and resolution 

 of the people, and being moved by the promiscuous assemblage, 

 and stimulated by his own benevolent feelings, which were prob- 

 ably heightened by the discourse of the clergyman, he desired 

 that he might be suffered to pass for a little conversation with 

 the stranger. A way was made, as soon as Mr. W — ke's inten- 

 tion became known, and silence almost as soon followed. After 

 the lapse of a few minutes Mr. W — ke felt satisfied with tlie 

 captive, who acknowledged that the debt was just, — but that he 

 was unable then to meet it, — and that incarceration, if insisted 

 upon, must be long, if not perpetual; for in those days, perhaps, 

 no insolvent debtor's relief bill operated, to throw a ray of hope 

 either upon the deserving or undeserving prisoner. 



When the feeling heart is disposed 



" to ennoble those 

 That scarce, some two days since, were worth a noble ;" 



a long preamble is unnecessary. Mr. W — ke heard the brief 

 tale, and immediately released the prisoner, by becoming on the 

 spot responsible for the debt and its expences, taking the bare 

 word only of the stranger for his security. The party then 

 walked, amid the cheers of the mob, to the house of Mr. W — ke, 

 where the money was handed over to the officer, who gave his 

 receipt, and left satisfied; while nothing further transpired 

 between the liberator and liberated, than the bare assurance of 

 confidence on one side and honesty on the other. 



Sic transit gloria inundi. 



