Page:Honest debtor, or, The virtuous man struggling with, rising superior to, and overcoming misfortune (1).pdf/4

( 4 ) be avaricious.'-'Avaricious! he is not ſo,' replied rhe Dutchman; he is not ſolicitous for riches. Never, I am well aſſured, did be deſire the wealth of another; he is only careful of his own. But in the management of it he exhibits ſuch an ingenious and reſined frugality, that the Dutch themſelves are aſtoniſhed at it.'-But what moſt ſurpriſes meis, the ſecrecy with which he conceals, even from me, the uſe he makes of his money.'

'Before my departure, I became better acquainted with this uncommon and virtuous young man.

'My dear countryman,' said I, the day I was taking my leave of him, 'I am going back to Paris. Shall I be so unfortunate as to be of no service to you there? I have given you the pleasure of obliging me as much and as often as you pleased; do not refuſe me an opportunity of returning the obligation.'-'No ſir,' ſaid he 'you ſhall have it; and in exchange for the little ſervices which you are pleaſed to over rate, I will come this evening, and requeſt one from you, which is of the moſt material conſequence to me. I muſt obſerve, that it is a ſecret which I am going to communicate to you; but I can be under no apprehenſions on that account. Your name alone is a ſufficient guarantee. I promiſed to keep it faithfully; and, that very evening, he called upon me, with a caſket full of gold in his hand.