American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-08-25
from the Louisville Advertser,J
T Il L 7 . X Il Cd PA L EE'T
BY JOHN RUSSELL

Ermeu5 n you "a case liz" thst OFif
Your mruory meme records is such ne
~puIUch al odds Wtih prohnii'ity
n tou tancr cannot Imagine it.
''' e changes which the last twenty years
~, wrought in Illinois. would be Incredible
,1y who he, not witnessed them. At that
Tod The Se'j. ments were few and the spirit
.fGutcr.I.ee wI.~. now rcrvadcs every corner
y nf the State, Lad not been awakened, The
bluhs Of TIN o.auuill Illinois river kQd never
sent back the cclo cf the steam engino. With
mt a market toi their produce, the farmers con-
fined their lahors 10 the wants of their own ia
miles Corn was nearly the Only crop raised
and from the tiRe it was "laid by,'' near the
end .. June, till "pullng time" IN November,
was holiday, and the intervening period was
passed IN idlcness, except the Saturdays. On
that day, duly as it arrived, the settlers far and
near, collected at the distllery, and anus d
themselves with shooting at a myrk, Grading
nage and too often when the tin cup had pass
ed freely round, in fighting.
This IL By no means picture Ct all tho set
dement's Of that early period, but taat it is gra-
phlcally true of many, none Of the old settlers
will deny. But to my narratteo.
Ga Saturday afternoon in TIE year 1919, a
Young man was seen approaching with slow
and weary steps, the house, or rather distilery
Of Squire Crosby of Brent's Pearie, an obscere
settlement on the Military Tract. AS usual or
that dav large collection Of people were
amusing themselves at Crosby who owned the
only distllery in that region-was a magis.
lrale. and regarded by the settlers aG a rich, and
consequently great man.
The youth who now cane up 10 the group
WIS ai'2trently about twcnty-onc years Of age,
I'd of slender form, fair and delicate complex
L. with the air of one accustomed to good 60
5tv, and it was evident ut glance that he
as not Injured to the hardshps Of frontier
lie, or labor Of any kind. But his dress bore &
s,rDago contrast with his appearance and man
naIs, He wore hunting coat Of the coarseSt
lnsoy woolsey, common straw la, and PAIR
Of deolsjun moccasns. A large pack complet-
his equipment.
Every one gazed with curiosity upon the
slcw conner In their eagerness to learn who he
g2s, whence he came, and what was his hus.-
loss, the horse swap was left Notwithstanding
iic was laid aside, and even the DUsy tin cup
had temporary respite.
The young man approached Squire Crosby,
when even stranger could distinguish as the
! principal person among them, and anxiouslY
enqgired for q house where he could be ac-
commodated, saying that he was extremely
Ill and tolt all the symptoms of an approaching
| ever.
Crosby eyed him keenly and suspiciouly for
moment without uttering a word. Knaves
and gEindlers had been recently abroad, and
the language of the youth betrayed that he was
sYankee" name at that time associated i'll
the miRds of the 'gnorant'' with every thing
that is base. Mstaking the silence o.! Crosby,
for fear of his inability to pay, the stranger
smiled and said, 81 am not without money"
and putting his hand to his pocket to give occu-
lar proof of the assertion he was horrer- struck
to fihd that his pocket book was gone. 1t con-
tanned every cent of his money, besides papers
Of great value to him.
Without Neutrality-suspicious. even a single
letter or paper to attest that his character was
even honorable-in strange land and sickness
rapidly coming upon hm-those feelings near
IL drove him to despair. The Squire, who
prided himself on his sagacty in detecting vii
lains, now found the use of his tongue. With
a loud and sneering voice, he Stranger,
youare barking up the wrong tree If you think
for to scotch' me with that ar Yankee trick OF
yourn." He proceeded in that lnhuman strain,
seconded by nearly every one present, for the
nSqnarr" was powerful and few dared splease
him. The youth felt keonly his desolate stua-
lion, and casting his eye around over the
roup, in tone Of deep anxiety, inquired, Sis
aere none who will receive mem eyes, i
aill )" cried a man among the crowd; yes,
DOR sick stranger, will shelter you" Then
lower tone he added, 81 know not whether
GU are deserving, but know that you are a
Fellow being, and in sickness and in want, and
for the sake of him who died for the guilty, il
not for your own sake, will be kind to you,
poor young stranger"
The man who stepped forth and proffered a
home to the youth in the hour of suffering was
Simon Davis, an elderly man, who resided near
Crosby, and to the latter was deadly enemy
Uncle Simon, as he was called, never rctaliated
and bore the many prosecutions of his vadic.
tive neighbcr, without complaint. His family
consisted of himself and daughter, his onl,
child, an afIectionate girl of seventeen '..
The youth heard the offer of Mr.. Davis, but
heard no more, for overcome by his feelings