The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-06-03


babe farewell to his friends, and went forth
upon the distant seas. He was faithful to
the important trusts reposcd in him. The
ship was laden and ready to return; when,
TO the sad dismay of all on board, who
were greatly attached to him, he could not
be found! Every effort was made, for
weeks and weeks, but the'shp was finally
compelled to sail without him.
Sad was the news for his disconsolate
parents, and his good master, Mr.. How
ard. Conjecture followed conjecture, but
all was mysterious and appalling. The
Ajax returned again to the Indies. The
strlctest injunctions were made by Mr..
Howard, that no efforts should be wanting
IN the endeavOr to discover the fate which
had belallen his young friend. Captain
Bradshaw, a most excellent AN, was in
defatigable but deeply did b eplore the
day that once more compelled him to
weigh anchor, without the s. ghtest tidings
to cheer the anxious parents. though no
voyage was made to the Indies for many
years afterward, without al possible in
quiries, yet the conviction had almost RI
peued into certainty, that the young man
had been murdered, perhaps in the hope
of booty, at his last visit to the shore, a.
mong an unknown people.
Years rolled away. The region of
Goldman county advanced rapidly in set
Element, enterprise and industry. Where
once stood the farm of the elder Worth
ington, now the thriving, bustling, and en-
terprising village of Wexford shot up
its aspiring head, with its immense iacto-
ries, its capacious stores, and rich and
tasteful dwellings. 1t was upon the banks
of one of the noblcst rivers in the world,
where the elder Worthngton had saga
ciously sat himself down, relying upon
his axe and his arm. But how little did
he think that ere fifty years had rolled a.
way, the acres he then reclaimed would
become the abode of thousands, and him
self thereby rendered one Of the weaIthiest
men of Goldman county. Yet this is but
one case of that talismanic power which
has converted the forest into cities, and
given to the poor great riches, III the NIGH
ty march OF enterprise, industry, and IN
lcligence, in the marvellous realm of the
New World. Wexford had become a
place of great note. 1t was a central point
of trade for the surrounding country,
which was peopling with astonishing ra-
pidily and all contributed TO give all i'm
portance to the family of the Worlhing-
tons. They were not only very rich, but
were eminent i'll the estimation of ''all the
region round about" The sons had
grown up under all the advantages which
wealth and connection could impart.-
They had studied learned professions, as
Il matter of course, and settled in Week
ford, relying upon the immense wealth
which the extraordinary rise of property
had poured into the lap Of the family
Honors thickencd upon them. Benjamin
was twice elected TO Congress, and all the
brothers at times elevated to favor in the
municipality, or the honors Of state par
tiaiiies.
The father and mother of the numerous
family were now i'll the vale of years.
The prudence, economy, and simplicity,
which won the esteem Of all, and laid the
the foundation of their wealth, continued
TO shed benign influence over their de-
clniog days. They were the very anti
podes of the new races who had come
upon the stage of human action; and Of
ten did they dcplore, i'll the bosom of their
own domestic circle, that hearlcss eti-
quette and cold fornality, which had rem
dered their children so ambitious to out
shine others, and to be looked up 10 as the
exclusives of Wexford. But there was
deeper feeling still, which hung heavily
over their wasting years; the painful dis
appearance of their son, who had ever
been their iavoEte, but who had always
beer regarded by the brothers and sisters
with that unnatural jealousy which such
a feeling is apt to begct IN the minds of
mere worldlings. In October of this year,
tn. aged veteran was lorewarned, by the
insidious influences of Pickering mortali-
", that he was soon to be "gathcred to
his fathers"
"For Time, though old, is strong in flight;
Years had roiPd swiftly by,
| And autumn's falling leaf ioretold,
The good old man must die;
and, with the prudence, foresight, and
cnlmness which had acinaiel him lhrnnplI