Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-05-17
THE FORGED PATENT.

mat period our settlements were few, and
the spirit of enterprise that now pervadcs
every corner of The State had not then been
awakened. The bluff Of our own beauti-
Ful river had never sent back the echo of
the steam engine. Without a market for
their produce, the farmers confined their
Iabors 10 the wants Of their own families.
Corn was nearly the only crop raised, and
from the time it was laid 6y,' the end Of
June, I'LL pulling time, in November, was
holiday, and the intervening period was
spent in ideness, except on SATURDAYS
On that day, duly as it arrived, the settlers
far and near, collected at the disliery and
amused themselves with shooting at mark,
riding nags,' and too often when the cup
had passed freely round, in fighting.
This is by no means a picture OF all the
settlements Of that early period, but that it
is graphically true of many, none of our
Oldest settlers need deny. But TO my mar
ratlve.
One Saturday afternoon, in the year
1919, young man was seen approaching
with slow and weary steps, the house, or
rather dlslllery of squire Crosby, of Brent
Prairie, an obscure settlement on the Mill
tary Tract AS usual on that day, Urge
collection of people were amusing them
selves at Crosby's, who owned the only
dislllery in that region, was magistrate,
and regarded by the settlers as a 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 de-
lcatc complexion, with an air Of one ac-
customed to good society. 1t was evident
at lance that he was not Injured to the
hardships of a frontier life, or labor Of any
kind. But his dress bore a strange con-
trast with his appearance and manners =
He wore a hunting shirt Of the coarSest
linsey wooIsey, common straw hat, and
a pair of deer skin moccasins. A large
pack completed his equipment.
Every one gazed with curiosity on the
new conner. In their eagerness 10 learn
who he was, whence he came, and what
was his business, the horse swap was left
unfinished, the rifle was laid aside, and
even the busy tin cup had ii temporary
respite.
The young man approached Squire Cros-
by, whom even stranger could dlstn-
guish as the principle parsonage among
them, and anxiously inquired for a house
where he could be accommodated; saying
that he was extremely i'll, and felt all the
symptoms of an approaching fever.
Crosby eyed him kecnIy and suspicious
y for a moment without uttering a single
word knaves and swindlers had been re-
Gently abroad, and the language Of the
youth betrayed that he was Yankee a
name at that time associated in the minds
of the IGNORANT with every thing that is
base. Mistakng the silence and hesita-
ton Of Crosby, for fear Of his inability to
pay, the stranger smiled and said, am
not without money! and putting his hand
to his pocket 20 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 even SIN
gle letter to assert that his character was
honorable-;n a strange land and sickness
rapidly coming in upon him--these feel
ings nearly drove him to despair. The
Squire, who prided himself on his sagaci-
ty 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 to cotch me
with that arr Yankee trick of yourn.'-
He proceeded in that inhuman strain, Sc
conded by nearly every one present, fer
the Squarr' was powerful and few dared
to dispease him. The youth felt keenly
his desoate situation, and casting his eye
around over the group, in tone of deep
and despairing anxiety, inquired, : is there
none who will receive meF Yes, will,
cried a man among the crowd; yes, poor
sick stranger, | will shelter you Then
in a lower tone he added, Il know not
whether you are deserving, but | know
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 stranger.
The man who stepped forth and protfer-
ed home 10 the youth in the hour OF sut-
fering, was Simon Davis, an elderly man,
| who resided near Crosby, and 10 whom the
| latter was deadly enemy. Uncle Sam,
as he was called, never retalated, and bore
the many prosecutions Of his vindictlve
neighbor, without complaint. His family
consisted of himself and daughter, his only
child. an affectiona,e girl of seventeen.
The youth heard the offer of Mr.. Davis,
Int heard no more, for overcome by his
feelings and extreme illness, he fell insen-
sible TO the earth. He was conveyed TO
tine house of his benefactor and physi-
clan called. Long was the struggle be-
tween life and death. Though unconscIo"e