The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-03-16

So much at odds with probability
Your fancy cannot image ~
Mn RrssFt1 The changes which the last
twenty wears have wrought in Illinois, would be
incredible to any who had not witnessed them.
AT that period our settlements were few, and the
spirit of enterprise that now pervades every
corner of the State had not then been awakened.
The bluff of our own beautiful river had never
sent back the echo Of the steam engine. With
out market for their produce, the farmers confined
their abors to the wants of their own families
Corn was nearly the only crop raised, and from
the time it was laid by near the end of June, till
pulling time in November, was holiday, and
the intervening period was passed in idenesS,
except the Saturdays. On that day, duly as it ar
rived, the settlers far and near collected at the dis
tery and amused themselves with shooting at
a mark trading nags' and too often when the tin
cup had passed freely around, in fighting
This, sir, is by no means picture of all the
settlements of that early period, but that it is
graphically true of many, none of our oldest set
tiers will deny. But to my narrative.
One Saturday afternoon in the year 1919 a
young man was seen approaching with slow and
weary steps, the house, rather the distillery Of
squire Crosby, of Brents Prairie, an obscure set
Element on the Military Tract AS usual on that
day, large collection of people were amusing
themselves at Crosby's who owned the only dis
tilery in that region-was magistrate, and re-
garded by the settlers as rich and great man.
The youth who now came up to the group
was apparently about twenty-one years of age,
of slender form, fair and delicate complexion,
with the air Of one accustomed to good society
1t was evident at glance that he was not Injured
to the hardships of frontier life or labor of any
kind. But his dress bore a strange contrast with
his appearance, and manners. He wore hunting
shirt of the coarsest lnsey-woolsey, a common
straw hat, and pair of deerskin mocasins. A
large pack completed his equipment.
Every one gazed with curiosity upon the new
conner In their eagerness to learn who he was,
whence he came, and what was his business the
horse swap was left uninished-the rifle was
laid aside, and even the busy tin cup had tenn
porary respite.
The young man approached Squire Crosby,
whom even a stranger could distinguish as the
principal parsonage among them, and anxiously
inquired for house where he could be accommo-
dated; saying that he was extremely i'll and felt
all the symptoms of an approaching fever
Crosby eyed him keenly and suspiciously for a
moment, without uttering word. Knaves and
swindlers had been recently abroad and the Ian
guage of the youth betrayed that he was yam
of the ignorant, with every thing that is base
Mstaking the silence and hesitation of Crosby,
for fear of his inability to pay, the stranger
smiled and said, 4 am not without money! and
putting his hand in his pocket TO give ocular proof
of the assertion he was horror struck to find that
his pocket book was gone. 1t contained every
cent of his money, besides papers Of great value
to him.
Without farthing-without a single letter or
paper to attest that his character was honorable
in a strange land and sickness rapidly coming
upon him-these feelings nearly drove him to des-
pair. The Squire, who prded himself of his sa-
gacity in detecting Williams, now found the use of
his tongue, With loud and sneering laugh he
said; Stranger, you are barking up the wrong tree
if you think for to cotch me with that are Yankee
trick of yourn.' He proceeded in that inhuman
strain, seconded by nearly every one present, for
the SQUIRE was powerful and few dared displease
him. The youth felt keenly his dcsoate situa-
in tone of deep and despairing anxiety, inquir-
ed is there none who will receive mes? Yes, II
will cried man among the crowd; yes, poor
sick stranger, will shelter YOU Then in low
err tone he added, 4 know not whether you are
deserving, but know that you are fellow being,
and in sickness and 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 man who stepped forth and profered
home to the youth in the hour of suffering, was
Simon Davis, an elderly man who resided near
Crosby, and to whom the latter was deadly enc
my. Uncle Simon, as he was called, never re-
aliated and bore the many prosecutions of his
vindictive neighbor, without complaint, His fam
y consisted of himself and daughter his only
child, an affectionate girl of seventeen.
The youth heard the offer of Mr.. Davis, but
heard no more, for overcome by his feelings and
extreme illness, he fell insensble to the earth
He was conveyed to the house of his benefactor
md a physician called. Long was the struggle
between life and death, Though Unconscious,
he called upon his mother and sister, almost in
,e> sanity, to aid him. When the youth was laid
lpon the bed and she heard him calling for his
sister, Lucy Davis wept and said to him, poor sick
young man your sister is far distant and cannot
1ear you, but will be to you sister, Well
Id this darl-eyed maiden keep her promise
Day and night she watched over him except
he short intervals when she yielded her post at
lis bed side to her father
AT length the crisis of his disorder arrived
he day that was to decide the question of life or
leath. Lucy bent over him with intense anxiety
every expression of his features hardlv