Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-08-17
:med. humph! the very first man i

from your own earninsS!'
sHardly from my own earnings-and yet l
have a lot OF the finest wild land in the set
Element, and Fll tell you how queerly got
il. You know, that is if you heard OF 1t,
that about ten years ago there was a sort OF
upturning here, and change oil owners.-Weh
Mrs. Ashley that nows, God bless her noble
heart! gave me this lot outright for services
she fancieS rendered her the time OF this fra
cas-I could tell you all about 1t, but | sup
nose Won have heard of the money digging Il
fa:.. and what then happened
Il have-what happened at the time but not
after. What became of the old occupatS who
lost their farmsP
why Martin, you see, being the best udge
of what he deserved, like a sensible man cut
his thrat on the spot; and the judge and his
wife, thought considering it would be no
more than fair shake to take his farm after
helping off his sw eet widow; two of the money
diegers ran away more scared than hurt, and
their farms were also taken, and as to the rest
the Judge lie: them off easy after paying for their
betterments* as much as their whole farms
were worth, twas Said.' Well he could afford
TO do il, for all the wild lands of the valley fell
10 him, besides his father in-law, dying soon
after, left him all his property, that is about
half of it giving the rest to charities. And now
siY, seeing ysu have rather free mack of ask
ing questions yourself, su2posing ask you one
What IS your namef
do you not recollect me-?
Why-no-and yet i, seems to me I've
seen your moral phiz somewhere"
You once had good reason to remember
ne: and wish could say with you that
have never been ashamed Of my name.
/ am Cow,
Gov. Gov! what that same Cow, who.
o o rahl-Yes, that have reason to re-
msmbe, you-your coming brought me
that righteous lot of land which would be
q, work on to-day, if the Judge would con-
sen, TO lie, me leave him. Yes. yes, you
made my fortune if the devil did send you
bu, what in oil nature has brought you
back here again?'
Better motives, Mr.. Butler, trust than
ihose which once led me here. Are Mr..
and Mrs. Ashley IN the housea l would sec
them at the door for o moment
'Hulloo! Hnlloo! the house! Judge Ash
ley and lady halloo!'
A middle aged gentleman with politi-
cal newspaper in his hand and looking a
lil,le ,estv OF being interrupted in his rea-
ding, hastily came 10 the door. A hand
some young matron some years younger
than her husband, with chubby black
eyed infan, in her arms, made her appear
ance little in the rear OF the latter.
"Wha now, David. is the house on fire.
or what, that you make such an outcry?"
"Why here is one Of the seven wonders
of,he world Do you know tina, gentle
mani"
The lady sh uddered and shrinking back
a step, and whispering something in the
ear of her husband.
Il, can. be- said the latter, slight
frown passing over his brow.
My name is Cow said the stranger ri
ding up to the door without offering to dis.
mount. You are Mr.. and Mrs. Ashley,
believe. She, perceive. knows me and
we'll may she remember me and my for
mer injuries. And for that reason | have
presumed to call OF your door. l ask not
TO enter for | am unworthy-and yet for
myself, prehaps. | should he thankful thai
| was directed TO this spot for the lesson
here received in the awful death of my as
sociale in crime and my long imprisonment
that followed, were the means | trust OF
plucking me as q brand from the burning
For many years | have been an unworthy
preacher of the gospel, laboring in the far
west. Returning once more and for the
last time. to visit my native New England
have come some distance out Of my course
to see you-io perform duty to you and
to my soul-to ask the forgiveness which
my God, humbly hope, has extended to
one SO utterly unworthy Of his mercies.-
Can you sir. forgive oil the injuries inten-
ded TO your
'Freely?' replied Ashley. visibly touched
q, the deep debasemeni Of the other, freely
from my heart. most freely!'
And you, dear lady, you, who have yet
more to forgiven
If you, sir said she, have the forgive
ness Of God and my husband. il shall not
long be said that you lack the forgiveness
of Mrs. Ashley for an offence committed
against May Martin-you have i. sincere
ly.'
'Dismouni. SIR said the Judge. walk
in and dine with u.s.
Nay, il may not bot may not be wor.
thy people. However. we may forgive,
or even respect, there may yet be asso.
ciations connected with individuals which
must render their presence forever painful.
1t were better that tarried not; but ere l
leave continued he, riding up close to the
door step on which the couple stood. and
extending his hands, Il would take hand
Of each in token of p eace. and US seal Of
forgiveness
His request being complied with, he
lifted his fearful eyes to heaven and ejac-
ulated in mournful utterance-
%, my Father above. who could forgive
me, the vilest OF the vile, and bless one SO
utterly sinful and lost. wilt thou bless and
prosper these thy servants-their little
ones and oil that is iheirs-not only in the
things Of this life, but in that light and love
which is now our only durable happiness
and hereafter our heaven.
Casting one long and mournful look on
the happy pair, and bowling a mute fare.
well. he slowly rode away, and was seen
no moro.
*This word for improvements made on
lands and frequently found or the Yer.
mont Statute Books, was, we believe.
4 a. l. ,f sb.x k..s