Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-01-21

Your fancy cannot imagine it!''
The change which the last twenty years hav
wrought in Illinois would be incredible TO any on
who had not witnessed them. Al that Por!oh ~
settlements few, and the sPiflt 81 enterprise
,ha, now nervades every corner OF the state, hat
90, been then awakened. The blaffs Of thu
beautiful Illinois had never sent back the echo o
the steam engine. Without n market Tor then
nroduce the farmers confined their IaboIs TO the
wants of their own families. Corn was nearly
the only crop raised, and from the tune II was
"Iaid by" near the end Of June, till 'PnHin4
time" I'D November, was holiday and the inter
yen,np period was PAL scd IN Idencss, except The
Saturdays. Ga tina, day, duly as II arrived, The
settlers far and near, collected at the distlilery
and anus ed themselves with shooting at a mark
trading nags, and too often when the tn cup hat
passed freely around 10 hghung.
This is by no means picture Of oil the settle
menis of that early period, bat that - - graphi
calIy true Of many, mono OF the old settlers WI
deny. But TO my narrative
On Saturday afternoon in the year 1916, a
young man was seen approaching with slow ACC
weary steps, the house. rather the distiIlery OF
Saure Grossly, at Breni's Prairie, an obscure set.
tlemen, on The Military Tract As usual on that
day. large collection OF people were amusing
themselves al Crosby's. who owned the only dis
tillcry in that region-was a magistrate, and re.
garded by The settler, a rich, and consequent
Iy great man
The youth who now came up 10 the group was
apparently about twenty one years ot age, slen-
der FORM far and delicate complexion, with the
air Of one accustomed to good society. 1t was
evident at "A glance, that he not Injured TO the
hardshps of a frontier lie, or labor of any kind.
But his dress bure strange contrast with hts ai'-
pearance and manners. lie wore a hunting
SHIRT OF the coarscst hnsey wonlsey, Common
straw hat, and a par at deeTskln moccasins.
large pack completed hts equipment.
uaZel N TN uD the O.
mer In their cagerness To learn hp he was,
whence he came aud what was his business, the
hor.e-swap was lief, untialshed-ihe rifle was laid
aside. and even the busy lineup had temporary
respite.
Tho young man approached Squire Crosby,
whom stranger could distinguish as the
principal parsonage among them, and anXIuusiy
inquired for a house where he could be accoinmu-
dated saying that he WIS extremely III, aud tell
all the symptoms at an approaching lever.
Crosby eyed him kecnly aud susplci 'usly Tor n
moment without utterng word. knn'es and
swrndlers had been recently abroad. and the Lam
guage Of the youth betrayed that ne was IA II au-
kee'' a name al that limo associated IN the minds
of the ignorant with every thing base. Mista'
t,ng the silence and hesitation of Crosby, for a
fear Of his inability to pay. the stronger smiled
and said, IL am not without money" and putting
his hand TO his pocket to give occular proof ct
the assertion, he was horror struck 10 had mat
HI. pocket book was gone 1t contained every
cent Of his money, besides papers OF great value
to him.
Without n farihing-without even n single let.
ter or paper To attest that his character was hon
orable-in a strange land and sickness rapidly
coming upon hIm-these feelings nearly drove
him to despair. The Squire, who prld"d himself
his sagaci,y in detecting vfiiIanS. 20" found
the use of his ,ongnc. With "A loud aud snrer-
ing laugh, he said: stranger. yod are barking
up the wrong tree # YOU think for 10 cctch me
with that arr Yankee trick of Sourn.' lie pro-
ceeded IN :hnt ,uhutnan strain. seconded 10y near
" every one present, Tor the Sat IRE was pow
erfIl, and few dared disrlease hun. The youth
felt keenv his dessoIate situations and casting his
eve around over the crowd. 10 tone OF deep ana
despaitIng anxiety. impaired. as there no one
here who will receive me?' Yes, VIII cried
n man among the crowd; yes poor sick stranger.
Iw,l shelter YOU" Then in a lower tone he ad
ded, II know not whether YOU are deserving. but
know YOU are n fellow being, and III sickness
and IN want and for tho sake of Him who died
for the guilty, If not for Your sake, Will DO KIND
10 voH. poor young strargcr.'
The man who stepped forth and prottered a
home to the youth IN The hour Of suffering, was
Simon Davis, elderly man. who resided near
Crosby. and to whom the latter was deadly en-
envy Uncle Simon. as he was called, never re.
.aliated. and bore tho many prosecutions OF his
vindlctive neighbor, without comp iaInt His fam
ily consisted Of himself and daughter, his only
child. an atfact;onatc girl of seventeen.
The youth heard the offer OF Mr.. DhvIs, but
heard no more, for, overcome by his feelings and
illness, he fell insensIble To the earth
He was conveyed TO the house of his benefactor
and n physician called. Long the struggle
between life and death. Though unconscious he
called upon his mother and sister almost ncessani-
ly, 10 aid him. When the youth was laid upon
his 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
hear YOU, but | will be YOU a sister," Well
did TINS DARK eyed maiden keep her promise.
Day and night did she watch over him. except du.
ring the short intervals when she yielded her
post at his he'd side to her father
AT length the crisis of his disorder arrived
the day that TO decide the question Of life or
death. Lucy bent over him with intense ankle.
", catching every expression of his features
hardly daring 10 breathe. fearful was she o