Page:Honest debtor, or, The virtuous man struggling with, rising superior to, and overcoming misfortune (1).pdf/14

( 14 ) 'I landed at Amſterdam. On my arrival, my firſt care was to enquire who among the wealthy merchants of that city, was the man of the greateſt character for honour and probity; and all agreeing in naming Odelman, I repaired to him.

'Sir,' ſaid I, 'a ſtranger perſecuted by misfortune flies to you for refuge, and to aſk you whether he muſt ſink under its weight, or whether by dint of reſolution and labour, he may be able to overcome it? I have no one to patronize or be anſwerable for me. I hope in time, however, to be my own ſecurity; and in the mean while, I entreat you to employ a man, that has been educated with care, is not deſtitute of knowledge, and is of a willing diſpoſition. Odelman, after having liſtened to, and ſurveyed me with attention, aſked who had recommended him to me? “The public opinion," ſaid I. “On my arrival, I enquired for the wiſeft and beſt man among the citizens of Amſterdam, and you were unanimouſly named."

'He appeared much ſtruck with a certain expreſſion of ſpiritedneſs and frankneſs in my language and countenance, which miſfortune imparts to reſolute minds, and which nature ſeems to have made the dignity of the unfortunate. He was diſcreet in his queſtions, and I was ſincere, but reſerved in my anſwers. In a word, without betraying myſelf, I ſaid enough to remove his diſtruſt;