The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-08-23
nd once more he was alone with his

ana once more lie was alone with hi
heart.
The child left his fathers house with
newborn feeling in his heart. Tn,
dreadful unmerited punishment he hat
suffered effected one OF those suddel
changes in his character, which children
sometimes undergo-tho rarely, perhaps
at so ear y IN age. 1t had ripened hi:
faculties, set him to thinking for himself
and young as he was and little as he knew
Of the world, with a consciousness o
strength, and selfrelance, he felt that h,
could now walk alone and buffet the i'll:
of life unaided.--ilis eyes were fixed or
a gliltering goal, and with newly develop
ed energies, patience, perseverance, ant
indeed uncommon faculties of mind
George Damer at the age of fourteen
launched himself far upon the world Il
begin life ooih the sole aid Of his heart
Gld head.
He communicated his plans and his
wishes to his mother, gained at last her
fearful consent, and disappeared within
three days from the date of the above, un.
known to any one but her. Mr.. Damer
swore when he found he was gone, but
guessed he would be glad to come back
again; the boys wondered and felt unhap-
py, and little Mary cried as if her heart
would break-her play-things were laid
aside, and she grew sad and melancholy
as days and weeks passed away, and he
came no more, for she loved her brother
tenderly.
For sometime Mrs. Damer kept the
whereabouts of her son. He would oc-
casionally send her messages when OPP
portunily offered, repeatedly saying he
was well and happy, but what he was
about nothing could induce him to say.
For three years she kept the place Of his
residence, but then all tidings from him
ceased-all traces of him were lost. Ma
ny were the com lectures about him, many
the hopes and fears of an anxious parent !:
but as year counted on year, and nothing
more was heard from the youth, all set
tied into the vague feeling of despair-the
boy must be dead. It's true that neigh
Dor who happened TO be at New York
said that he met young man in law
yer's office, looking very much as George
used 10 look, but good deal handsomer,
and indeed very smart young man, he
almost thought it was George, but finally
he knew it could not be, though his eyes
looked strangely alike, and he never saw
another pair like them. But at last, he
was given up by all, even by Mrs. Da-
mer and Mary, who, although grown to a
young woman, still entertained vivid re-
membrance Of her brother.
Seventeen years to day from the time
our story commences, the little village of
R Il shall leave the matter-of fact To-
vers to guess where was thrown into a
state of excitement by the arrival of a
member of congress at the tavern of the
place.-lt was rather an unusual occur
renee, and there seemed TO be an air of
mystery connected with the stranger, for
no one could fiNd out who he was, or why
he was there. Not two hours after he
stepped from the stage coach, the whole
village was by the ears. The young la.
dies We'd with each other as to who should
get the first peep at him, contrIving, on
some plea or other, to pass the tavern
three or four times during the forenoon,
not failing to raise their heads each time,
and giving long look as they passed.
Wonderful stories were in circulation
about his beauty and gracefulness, and it
was unanimously agreed by those who
were so fortunate as TO get a look at him,
that he was the finest looking man they
ever saw. Mr.. Damer was of opinion
that he was around electioneerlng, or try
ing TO get petitioners for bill-some-
ilhng to work thelr money ont oil them,
for these congressman are sharp enough,
said he, and don't want any thing to do
with them.
But the mystery was fated TO be unra-
yelled earlier than they feared, for before
nighGall the stranger himself was seen
walking liesurely up the green lawn that
led TO the farmhouse. His form was fine
and his air noble and majestic, but a touch
of melancholy shaded his countenance as
he walked slowly along, glancing eagerly
around a, various enclosures, the garden,
the turnip field, the barns, and the house,
which looked trim and tidy in new coat
Of white.
Mrs. Damer stood for moment bewil-
dered as she opened the door, The slran-
ger spoke not. A pair of large black
eyes were fixed upon her intensely, ear
nestIy, with half mournful, half pleased