Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1845-08-14
AfsteIIaneous.
From .iAs Louisville .adtrti,sr.
THE FoR GED PATENT.

n + Remember youlno case like this I Orif
Your memory none records, is such one
So much AT odds with probability
Your fancy cannot imagine liz
The changes which the last twenty
years have wrought in Illinois, would be
incredible 10 any who has not Witnessed
them. Al that period the settlem eltI
were few and the spiri, Of enterprise
which now pervades every corner Of The
1 State, bad not then been awakehed.-
The bluffs Of the beautiful Illinob river
: bad never sent back the echo of[Ihe
steam engine. Without q, market lfor
their produce, the farmers confined then
{ iabors TO the wants OF their own families
Corn was nearly the only crop raised, aud
: from fhe time itswas laid BY near the
end Of June, till pulling time. in No.
yember, was holiday, az heinlerven-
ing period was passed 10 idleness, except
the Saturdays. On that day, duly as II
arrived, the settlers. far and nesr collect.
ed AZ the distiiisry eua .n~.-l tl.---s
selves with shooting Of q mark, trading
mage and too often when the Tin cupEha
passed freely round, in fighting.
This us BY: means a~picture 81 all
the settlements Of that early period, but
that tits graphically true Of many, none
Of The old settlers viii deny. Blu. 10 my
narrative.
One Saturday afternoon in the year
1919 d Young man, was seen approaching
with slow and weary steps. the house, OF
rather The distil!ery Of Squire Crosby, Of
Brent's Prairie an obscure settlement on
the Military Tract. As usual on That
.sday, large collection Of people were a.
rnu.ins themselves al Crosby's who owns
ed the only distiilery in that region--was
q magistrate. and regarded by the settlers
Is 4 rich and consequently great man.
The youth who new cane up 10 the
group was apparently about twenty-one
years lof age, and OF slender form, fair and
delicate compile with the air Of one &C.
tnstoned TO good society, snd il waseSi-
dent 81 q glance that he was not Injured tc
the bardships Of frontier life, or laboi
Of any kind. But his dress bore strange
contrast With bis tsppearance andem
ners He wore q hunting coat OF uht
coarsest linsey woolsey, common straw
shei. and pair Of deerskin nocasihs. A
large psck completed his equipment
Every ols gszed with 5curiosily upol
the new conner 10 their eagetness Il
learn who he fras, whence be came, AM
what was bic business, The horse swsI
wa. iefl .nninished-the rife was 1ait
aside. and even the busy lin cup had |
,enpoty respite.
The young man approached Squire
Crosby, whom even stranger could dis
tinguish as,he principal parsonage atnonl
them. and anxiously enquired for a hous.
where be could Sc Accommodated, sayin,
that be was extremely i'll and felt all ih'
sympioms7of an approaching fever.
Crosby eyed him ksenly and suspi
eiously for moment without utie.ingi
word. Kaayas aud swindIers had beef
recently abroad, and the language Of Iii
J youth betrayed that be was : Yankee.
Z name at thai time associated IN the mind
Of The ignorant with every thing that
base. Mistaking the silence Of Crosby. 10
fear Of bis inability 10 pay. The strange
4 smiled aud said. I am mol without mo
ney. aud putting his hand TO his poke
70 give ocular proof Of the assertion, b
was horror struck tu end that hi
pocket book was gone. Il codtained eve
~ cent Of his money. besides papers (
great value torhim.
Without ., lar;hirg--without even
angle letter or psperlo attest that his CHI
rtcier was honorable--in q strange Ian
and sickness rapidly coming upon him
those ieeliog nearly drove him 70 desPai
The Squire, who prided himself on his 81
eaciiy il detecting Williams. now foun
he use Of bis tongue. With lou
and sneetine voice. BE said Strange
YOU ere baikiogup the wrong Tree i 70
think for 70 scolch' me with that =
Yankee irick Of yourn. He proceede
Is thai inhumaa strain, seconded BY nea
lv.eyery ODE present. for The 'Sqsrr "
powerful. and few dared displsase hiu
Ths youth lell keenly bis 1esolaie stu
lion. md casting bis eye around over !!
rronb, ii 1 lonD e deep ssnxielys enqu'
ID II ihers none who will receive me.
Yes, viii. cried . man umong 4
crowd yes. poor sick stranger, "
iteller yep. Then ID ! lower lone