Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-07-29
tive have ever published this before
which is possible; it will bear republca-
tom

BY l.. MARIA CHILD.

ucf idtu WOThlIiS, uneuuCdteu Hecnan c,
from Indiana or Illinois. He told me tina,
he was one Of thirty or forty New Eng.
landers, who twelve years before, had gone
out TO settle in the Western wilderness,
They were neighbors; and had been drawn
TO unite together in emigration from gen.
eral unity Of opinion on various sub
Jects. For come years previous they had
been in The hab,; of meeting occasionally
at each others houses, TO talk over their
duties TO God and men, in all simplicity oil
heart Their library was the gospel, their
priesthood the inward light. There were
hen no antislavery societ es; but TINS
taught and reverently willing TO learn
they had no need Of such agency, 10 dis
cover that it was wicked to enslave.-
The efforts of peace societies had reached
this secluded band only in broken echoes,
and non resistance societies had no exist
tence. But with the volume Of The Prince
of Peace, and hearts open to Fl is influence
what need had they Of preambles and reso-
lulion'
Rich in spiritual culture, this band
started for the Far West. Their in.
ward homes were blooming gardens; they
made tleir outward in wilderness
They were industrious and frugal, and
all things prospered under Their hands
Bot soon wolves came near the fold. in he
sh po Of reckless unprnciplcd adventures;
believers in force aud cunning, who &C ed
according to heir creed. The colony o!
Christians spoke Of their depreda;ions
IN terms Of gent'est remon STRANGE, and re-
paid them with unvarying Kindness They
went Earther-they openly announced,
~ on may do US what evil you choose.
We will return nothing but good" Law
yers came into the neighborhood and Of
tered Their services to settle disputes
They answered, We have no need of you
As neighbors, we receive you in the most
friendly spirit; but for US, your occupation
has ceased to exist" "What will We do.
if rascals burn your rms, aud steal your
harvests?' ave viii return goot for evil
We believe this is the highest truth, and
therefore the best expedIency.'
When the rascals heard this, they con-
side ed it marvellous good joke, and sa id
and did many provok ng things, which 10
them seemed W uy. Bars were taken
down in the night and cows let into the
cornfeIds. The Christians repaired the
damages rs well as they could, put the
cows in the barn, and at twilight drove
them gently home, saying, "Neighbor.
your cows have been in my field. | have
fed them well during the day, but would
not keep them ali night, lest the children
should suffer for their milk"
Ii this was fur, they who planned the
joke found no heart TO laugh at It. BY de-
grees visi le change came over these
troublesome neighbors. They ceased to
cut off horses tails, and break the legs Of
poultry, Rude boys say TO a younger
brother, Don't throw that stone, Biz!
w lien killed the chicken last week,
didn't they send it 10 mother, because they
thought chicken broth would be good for
poor Mary! | should think you would be
nshemed 10 throw stones at their Chickens
Thus was evil overcome with good. till
not one was found to do them wiltul in
jury.
Years passed on. and saw them thriving
in worldly substance, be yond their ne gbors
vet ed by all From them the law
yer and the constable obtained no fees
The Sher # slammered and apologzed,
when he took their hard earned goods in
payment Tor the war lax. They m Idly
replied, Ills bad trade, friend. Exam
inc il in the light OF conscience, land see if it
b, not So But while they refused TO pay
such fees ard taxes, they were liberal to
n proverb in their contributions for all USE
fol and benevolent purposes.
A, the end of ten years, the public lar DIS
which they chosen for their farms,
were advertised for sale by auction. Ac-
cofding 10 the custom, those who had Sci
tied and cultivated the soil, were consider
ed 10 have the right to bid it in at the gov
eminent p.ice, which at that time was
81 % per acre. But the fever Of land
speculation then CHANGED to run unusually
high. Adventures from all parts of the
country we're focking to the auction, capi.
talists in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New
York and Boston, were sending agents 10
buy up Western lands. No one supposed
that custom or equity would be regarded.
The first DAVIS sale showed that spec ,ula-
ton ran 10 the verge of insanity. Land
was eagerly bought in at seventeen TO
twenty-five and thirty dollars an acre.
The Christian co.ony had small hope OF
retain g their farms. As first settlers,
they had chosen the best land;and perseve.
ing industry had brough, il into the highest
cultivation. | S market value was much
greater than the &C es already sold at ex-
orbitan. prices. In view of these facts
they had prepared their minds for another
remove INTO The wilderness, perhaps 10 be
again elected by similar process. But
the morning their lot was offered for sale
thew observed, with grateful su prise, thai
their neighbors were every where busy
among the crowd, begging and expostulat
ing: Don't bid on these lands! These
men have been working hard on them for
zen wears. During al thai time, they
never did ha rm TO man 10 man or brute.
They are always ready TO give good for
evil They are blessing TO any neigh
borhood. Ii would be SIN and shame to
bid on their lands. Let them go at the
Government price,
The sale came on; the cultiva,ors OF the
soil offered 81 -. intending to bid higher
i: necessary. But among all that crowd
oc selfish, reckless spectators; not one
~ n