Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1856-12-18
EDWARD q. GOODWIN, Edltor ana publishsr.
From ihe Illinois Baskwoodsman.
The Forged Patent.

Il
The changes which the last twenty years
hare wronght ID Illinois, wonld be incredibly
TO one who has not witnessed them, At that
period our settlements were few, and the spirit
Of enterprise that now peryades every corner
Of the State, had not then been awakened.
The bluff Of our own beautiful river had never
sent back the echo Of the steam engine. With
out q market for their produce, the farmers
confined their labors to the wants of their own
families. Corn was nearly the only crop raised,
and from the time it was alaid by the eud
of July. till " pulling time, z IN November, was
O holiday, and the intervening period was
passcdin idleness, except on Saturdays. On
that day, dniyTas It arrived, the settlers far
and near, collected at the distilIery, and amused
themselves with shooting at a mark, trading
nags," and too often, when the tin cup had
passed freely around, in fighting.
This sir, is by no means a picture of all the
settlements Of that early period, but that it is
graphically true of many, rome OF our Oldest
settlers need deny. But to my narrative.
One Saturday afternoon in the year 1919, a
young man was seen approaching with slow an'!
weary steps, the house, or rather distiery Of
squire Crosby, of Brent's Prairie, an obscure
settlement on the Military Tract. As usual
on that day, o large collection of people were
amusing themselves at Crosby's, who owned,
the only distillery in that region-he was a
magistrate, and was regarded by the settlers
as q rich and great man. e .ss@
The youth who now camcu to the group,
was apparently about twcnty-one years Of age,
of slender form, fair aud delicate complexion,
with the air Of one accustomed to good society.
1t was evident at glance that he was not ill.,
ured to the har,lshps of frontier life. or labor
of any kind. But his dress bore ! strange
contrast with his appearance and manners
lie wore n hunting shirt of the coarscst lnscy
woolsey, q common straw hat and pair OF
decr-skin moccasins. A large pack completed
his equipment.
Every one gazcd with curiosity upon the new
conner. In their eagcrness to learn who he
was, whence he came, and what was his bust
ness, the horse swap was left nnfnishcG--the
rifle was laid aside, aud even the busy tin cup
had temporary respite.
Tha Young man approached Squire Crosby,
whom, even q stranger could distinguish as the
principal parsonage among them, and alxiously
enlnired for house where he could be accom-
odatcd saying that he was extremely i'll and
felt all tho symptoms OF an approaching fever.
Crosby eyed him kecnly aud suspiciousIy for
moment without utteling word knavcs
and swindlers hsd been recently abroad, and
tho language of the youth betrayed that he
was "a yankee" II name at that time associa-
ted in the minds of the ignorant with every
thing that is base. Mistaking the silence and
hesitation Of COSBY, for fear OF his inability
to pay, the stranger smiled aud said, at am
| not ,wifhnut -.
his pocket to give occular proof of the asser-
ton, he was horror-struek to find that his peck
ct book was gone. II contained every cent Of
his money, besides papers of great value to him.
Without flrthing--witbout even single
letter or paper to attest that his character was
honorable---in strange land and sickness rap
idly coming upon hinl--thesc feelings nearly
drove him to despair The Squire who pri,led
himself on his sagacity in detecting villains
now found the lse OF his tongue With loud
and sneering laugh he said, Stranger, you
are barking up the wrong tree ii you thiuk to
eoteh me with thai arr Yankee trick of yourn.' y
lie proceeded in that nhuman strain, seconded
by nearly every one present, for the " Sguarr"
was powerful. and few dared to displease him.
The youth fNt keenly his desolate situation,
and casting his eyes around over the group, in
tone Of deep, and desparing anxiety, eu.
CURED, :is there none who will receive me ?''
I" Yes will cried man among the crowd /;
Eyes, poor sick stranger l will shelter you.'
Thea in a lower tone he added, / know not
whether you are deserving, but know you are
fellow being, and in sickness aud want, and
| for. the sake of him who died for the guilty. ii
not for your own sake, will l be kind to you,
poor Young stranger
The man who stepped forth and proifered a
home TO tia youth in the hour suffering, was
Simon Davis, an elderly man, who resided near
Crosby, and to whom the latter was deadly
enemy. Uncle Simon, Us he was called, never
rctaiiatcd, and bore the many PROSECUTIONS oi
his yindictiye neighbor, without complaint. His
family consisted of himself and daughter Ills
only child, an affectionatc girl of seventeen.
| The youth heard the offer Of Mr.. Davis, but
heard no more, for overcome by his feelings
and extreme illIcss, he fell insensible to the
earth. lie was conveyed to the house Of his
bcnefactor, and a physician called Long was
the struggle between life aud death. Though
unconscious, he called upon his mother and sis
ter to aid him. When the youth was laid upon
| her bed, and she heard him calling for his sis
ltcr, Lucy Dsyis wept and said to him, poor
Isiek young man, your sister is far distant, and
cannot hear You, but win be to you q sister y
/ Well did this dark-eyed maiden keep her prom
| isc. '' -.
AT length the crisis Of his disorder arrived
1.-The day which was to decide the question
Iofa life OF death. Lucy bent over him with in
tense acxicty, watching every expression Of hi:
features. hardly daring to breathe, SO fearful