Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-02-07

self on his sagacty in detecting villnins, nov
found the use of his tongue. With q loud
and sneering laugh he said, -'SlraDger, you
are barking up the wrong tree # you think
to cotch me with that arr Yankee trek oi
yourn.' lie proceeded in that inbuman strain
seconded by nearly every one present. Ior
the '.Squarr' was powerful and few dared I"
displease him. The youth felt keenly III.
desolate situation, and casting his eye around
over the group, in tone of deep and despair.
fol anxiety. enquireJ, is there none who VIII
receive inc p .Yes, | wiIl,' cried man
among the crowd 'yes, poor sick stranger,
will shelter you. Then in lower tone he
added, i know not whether you are deserv-
ing. but know you are fellow being, and
in sickness aud want, and for the sake OF
Him who died for the guilty, if not for your
own sake, will ! be kind to you, poor young
stranger
\ The youth heard the offer Of Mr.. Davis,
but heard no more, for overcome by his feel
ings and extreme illness, he fell inscnslble to
the earth. lie was conveyed to the house oi
his benefactor and physician called. Long
was the struggle between life and death
Though unconscious, he called upon his
mother and sister to aid him. When the
youth was laid upon her bed, and she heard
him calling for his sister, Lucy Davis wep'
and said to him,-'poor, sick young man, your
sister is far distant and cannot hear you, but
will be to you sister, We'll did this dark
eyed maiden keep her promise. Day and
night did she watch over him, except at the
short intervals when she yielded her post at
his bedside to her father.
| At length the crisis of his disorder arrived
the day at which was to decide the qucs-
ton of life or death. Lucy bent over him
with intense anxiety, watching every express
sion Of his features, hardly daring to breathe
so fearful was she of waking him from the
only sound sleep he had enjoyed for nine long
days and nights. At length he awoke and
gazcd up into the face of Lucy Davis,S; faint
| ly enquired 'ichere an, H. There was intel
Iigence in that look. Youth and a good con
stitntion had obtained the mastery. Lucy
felt that he was spared, and bursting into 1
flood of irrepressble, grateful tears, rushed
out Of the room.
| 1t was two weeks more before he could
sit up, even for q short lime. lie had already
acquainted them with his name and residence
but they had no curiosity to learn any thing
further, and forbid his giving his story iIIl he
| became stronger. Ills name was Charles
| Wilson, and his patcrna home, Boston. A
| few DAYS afterwards, when Mr.. Davis was
absent from home, and Lucy engaged about
her household affairs, Wilson saw at the
head Of his bed, his pack, and recollectlng
something that he wanted, opened it. The
first thing he saw was the identical pocket
book whose loss had excited SO many bitter
regrets. He recollectcd having placed it
there the morning before he reached Brent's
hnf in nT n
ment that circums ance was forgotten. lie
examined and found every thing as lie had
left it.
This discovery nearly restored him to
health, but he resolved at present TO con-
fine the secret to his own bosom. Ii was
gratifying to him to witnt So the entire con-
idcnce they reposed in the honor and in
tegrity of stranger, and the pleasure with
which they bestowed favors upon one whom
they supposed could make no return but
thanks.
Night came and Mr.. Davis did not return
Lucy passed sleepless night. In the morn
ing she watched hour after hour for his com
ing, and when sunset approached and he was
still absent, terrified at his long and unusual
stay, she was setting out to procure neigh
Dor to 90 in search of him, when her parent
HoNc III slgHt. DUe ran W lUttl uHu
was bestowing upon him thousand en-
dearlng expressions OF affection, when his
haggard, woe-begonc countenance startled
her.
lie uttered not a word, and went into his
house and seated hmselfi in silence. il was
in vain that Lucy attempted to cheer him.
After long pause, during which powerful
struggle was going on in his feelings, he
arose, took his daughter by the hand and led
her into the room where Wilson was seated.
'You shall know al,' said he. i am ruined !:
am beggar In few days | must leave
this house this farm which have SO highly
improved and thought my own lie pro-
cceded to state that few days before. Cros-
by in moment Of ungovernable malice,
launted him with being beggar, and told
him he was now in his power, that he would
crush him under his feet. When Mr.. Davis
smiled at what he regarded only as an i'm
potent threat, Crosby to convince him, told
him that the patent of his farm was forged
one. and that he. Crosby knew the real own
or Of the land-had written TO purchase it
and expected deed in few days. Davis
Immediately went home for his patent. and
during his long absence had visited the Land
Office. Crosby was right. The patent, be-
yond all doubt was a forged one, and the
claims of Davis to the farm, not worth far
thing.
it may be proper to observe that counter
feiting soldiers patents was a regular bust.
ness in some of the eastern cities, and hum
dreds have been duped.
1t is not for myself, said the old man, that
! grleve at this misfortune. am advanced
in life and it matters not ho,o or ,caere pass
the few remaining days Of my existence. |
have home beyond the stars where your
mother has gone before me, and where
would have long since joined her, had not
lived to protect her child, my own, my affec.
tionatc Lucy. The weeping girl flung her
arms around the neck Of her father, and pour
ed her tears upon his bosom. We can be
happy STILL said she, for am young and can
easily support us both.
A new scene followed in which another
individual was principal actor. ! shall
leave the reader TO form his own opinion of
it, and barely remark that at the close, the
old man, took the hand Of Lucy and young
Wilson, and joining them, said, my children,
] cheeriully consent to your union. Though
poor, with a good conscience you can be
happy. know, Charles, that you will be
kind to my daughter, for few nights ago,
when you thought that no human ear could
hear you, heard you fervently implore the
blessing of heaven upon my gray hairs, and
that God would reward my child for all her
U