The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-05-02

physician called. Long was the slrug.
gle between life and death. Though on.
conscious. he called upon his mother and
sister TO aid him. When the youth was
laid on her bed. and she heard him call.
ing for bis sister. Lucy Davis wept and
said 10 him, "poor sick young man.
your sister Is far distant. and cannot hear
you. but will be TO you a sister. s.
Well did this blsek-eyed maiden keep
her promise.
Al length the crisis Of his disorder ar.
giEed--ihe day which was 20 decide the
question Of life or death. Lucy bent
over him with intense anxiety, " watching
every expression Of bis features, hardly
daring 20 breathe, SO fearful was she OF
waking him from the only sound sleep
which he had enjoyed for nine long days
and nights. At length he awoke and
gazed up into the face Of Lucy Davis.
aud family inquired. "where sm II"
There was intelligence in that look.
Youth and a good constitution had oh.
tanned the mastery. Lucy felt that he
vas spared. and bursting into 4 asod Of
lrrepressible tears, rushed out Of the
room.
II vas iwO weeks more before he could
81; up even for a short time. lie had al.
ready acquainted them wiih his name
and residence, bun they had no curiosity
To learn further. and forbid his giving his
story until he became stronger. Ills
name was Charles Wilson. and his pa
lernal home Boston. A few days sfler-
wards, when Mr.. Davis was absent from
home. aud Lucy engaged about her
household affairs. Wilson saw at the
head Of his bed his pack, aud recollecI.
ing something that he wanted. opened 1t.
The first thing he saw was the identical
pocket book whose loss had excited 50
many bitter regrets. lie recollected Ia.
wing placed il shefe The morning before
he reached lIreh;'s Prarie. but in the
confusion Of the moment. that circum
stance was forgotten. lie examined and
found every thing as he lefi il.
This discovery nearly restored him 10
health. but he resolved al present TO con.
fine The secret 10 his own bosom. Il
was gratifying 10 him TO witness The en-.
tire confidence they repOsed in The honor
aud integrity Of stranger. and the plea.
sure with which they bestowed favors
upon one whom they supposed could
make no return but thanks.
Night came aud Mr.. Davis did no; re-
turn. Lucy passed a sleepless night.
In the morning she watched hour after
hour for his coming. and when sunset
approached and he was still absent. terri.
lied at his long and unusual stay, she
was setting out TO procure a neighbor 10
20 ia search Of him. when her parent
hogc in sight. She ran 10 meet him, aud
was bestowing upon him thousand en-.
dearing expressions Of affection, when
his haggati, woe-begone countenance
startled her.
lie uttered not a word, and seated
himself in gloomy silence. II was 10
vain that Lucy attempted 10 cheer him.
After long pause, during which a pow
erfui struggle was going on in his feel
ines. he arose, took his daughters hand
and led her into the room where Wilson
was seated, "you shall know ALL" said
he. Il am ruined: | am a beggar. In
a few days must leave this house this
farm which | have so highly improved
and thought my own" lie proceeded
to state tia, few days previous. Crosby,
in moment Of unsnycrnable malice. iaun-
ted 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 a. an impolent threat, Crosby, to
convince him. told him that the patent Of
his farm was forged one, and that he
Crosby knew the real owner Of the
isnd--had written to purchase il. and ex-
pected deed in few days. Davis i'm
medislely went home for his patent. aud
during his long absence, had visited the
land office. Crosby was right. The
patent beyond all doubt was forged one.
and the claim OF Davis TO the farm was
not worth farihing.
|, may be proper to observe that coun-
,crici,ing soldiers patents was regular
business in some OF the eastern cities, aud
hundreds had been dupod.
/" Il is not Tor myself" said the old
man, "thai | grieve at this misfortune.
am advanced in life, aud il matters no,
how or where pass the remaining days
Of my existence. | have home beyond
the stars where your mother has gone
before the, and where would have long
since Joined her, had | not lived to pro-
tcct her child, my own, my alfectionatO
Lacy" Tho weeping girl flung her
arms around the neck Of her father, and
poured 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 III which anoth-