A Refractory Man Compelled to Pay a Debt

A refractory man who owed a small debt of about $43, refused to pay it all, but offered to do so if ten dollars was taken off. His creditor, feeling that it was just, declined to abate the amount.

For more than a year the creditor waited, after having no attention paid to his correspondence or, claim by the debtor, who exhibited unmistakable obstinacy and want of courtesy. At last it was put into the hands of a lawyer. The lawyer, too, was fairly provoked at the faithlessness of the debtor in his promises or his attention to the subject; thus matters dragged wearily for months, yet exercised leniency in pressing the claim.

The creditor, whose forbearance had now reached the extremity of endurance, at last was led to take it to the Lord in prayer; saying he would "willingly forgive the whole debt if in anything he was wrong, but if the Lord thought it was right, hoped that his debtor _might be compelled to pay the amount he so obstinately withheld_."

To the astonishment of all, a letter received from the lawyer four days after, informed him _that his debtor had called and paid the claim in full_ with interest to date. "In doing so, he said he paid it _under protest_," thus showing he was _compelled by something he could not resist to pay it all_.