The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-09-05

startled her.
iic uttered not word, and went into hi
house and seated himself in silence. 1t wa
IN vain that she attempted to cheer him
After long pause, during which powerful
struggle was going on in his feeliDgs-b
rose ana took his daughter by the hand ant
led. her into the room where Wilson wa
seated. You know all" he said, ~ an
ru'ned-l am beggar. In few days
must quit this house--the farm which
have so high y improved and thought my
own" He proceed to state that few day.
before, Crosby, in a moment of ungoverna
BILE malice, taunted him with being beggar
and told him that he was now in his power
and he would crush him under his feet
kWhen Mr., Davis smiled at what he regard
iSed as an impotent threat-Crosby, to con
fvince him, told him that the patent of bis
Farm was forged one, and that he, Crosby
nknew the real owner of the land--had writ
ten to purchase it-and expected deed IL
a few days. Davis Immediately went home
! for his patent, and during his long absence
/ had visited the land Office Crosby was
right. The patent. beyond all dispute, was
forged one, and the claim OF Davis to the
I farm, not worth farthing
( 1t may be proper to observe, that coun-
terfeiting soldiers patents was a regular
business in some of the Eastern cities, and
hundreds had been duped. 1T is not for
myself" said the old man, THAT grieve
at this misfortune. | am advanced in life,
and It matters Eot how or where pass the
remaining days OF my existence. | have a
home beyond the stars, where your mother
has gone before Inc, and where / would
have long since Joined her, had | not lived
to protect her child, my own affectonate
Lucy. The weeping girl flung her arms
around the neck Of her father, and poured
her tears upon lis bosom. We can be
happy still" said she, - for am young and
can easily support Us both
\ new Scene followed in which another
individual was "a principal actor. / shall
leave the reader - form his own opinion Of
II, and barely remark that at the close, the
old man took the hands OF Lucy and young
Wilson, and then joining them. said my
children, chcerial'y consent to your union.
Though poor, with l good coascie:ce you
can be happy. know, Charles, that you
will-bc kind to my daughter, for fcw nights
ago, when you thought that no human ear
coald hear you, heard you fyryently i'm
p'Orc the blessings Of heaven upon my gray
hairs, and that God would reward my child
io- a. her Kindness 70 You" Taking down
his family L bic, the venerable Old man add
ed, "it J. i season Of afiict.or, but We are
not forsaken, let os look for support TO Him
who has promised TO sustain Us" IL open
Cd the Book and read" Although the fig
tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be
on the vines the .abors Of the olive sLal.
fail and the fields shall yield 10 meat; the
tlocks shall be cut of from the fold, and
there shall be TO herd in the stall. yet will !
rejoice in the Lord; | viii JOY in God Of my
salvation"
Charles and Lucy Lug,; beside the yene.-
able old man, and While lie prayed, they
wcpt Gears Of grateful emotion.
II was a slc,P!css but not an unhappy
night to the three inhabitants Of the neat
aud dcheerful dwelling thay were about to
leave and 20 they hutw not wrcre. l. Was
then that young Wilson learned the real
value of money. BY means OF il lie could
give shelter to those who had kindly receiy-
CO him .TL-n every other door vas closed
upon him.
~! night long lie thought os the Forged
Patent. There were few words dropped
10y Mr Davis which he could not dismiss
from his m.ad-that Crosby lad written t.
the real owner Of the land, and obtained the
promise OF deed.
It's now time for the render to become
more fully acquEnied with the history Of
the youn- stranger.
HIS father, Charles Wilson, Sen, was 4
merchant Of Boston, who had acquired an
immense fortune. At the close OF the late
war, when the soldiers received from the
Government their bounty Of 100 acres Of
land, many Of th II offered their patents to
Mr. Wilson for sale Finding that they
were resolved to sell them, he concluded to
-. d
ings and purchased at fair price al that
were offered. 10 three years no small por-
ton Of the Military Tract cam. into lis pos
session.
On the day that Charles became Of age,
he gave him u deed of the principal part Of
this land in Illinois, and insisted that he
should 20 out and see it. and if be liked the
country, settle there. Wishing him to be-
come identified with the people, he recon-
menGcd lis son on his arrival in the state,
to lay aside his broatcoth, and dress like
back wogdSmGn.
In compliance with this suggestion, the
young man had assumed a rude and rustic
dress so inappropriate to his appearance
and manners, a. 10 excite some suspicion
that he had some motives in concea!ng his
real character.
On the morning OF hi sons departure,
Mr.. Wilson received letter from a man in
Illinois who had frequently written. He
wished to purchase certain quarter section
at Government price, which Mr.. Wilson
promised he should have on those terms,
provided he forwarded certificate from the
Judge of the Circuit COurS that the land
was worth no more. The letter just receiv-
ed enclosed the certificate in question. Mr..
Wilson had given this tract to Charles, and
putting the Letter and certificate into his
nand, enJoined upon him to deed it to the
writer, agreeable to promise, on his arrival
in Illinois
The remarks of Mr. Davis forcibly rcmin-
ded young Wilson of this incident, and on
the next morning after he became acquaint-
ed with the design of Crosby, with trem-
bling hand he examined the letter and GER
uticate. 1t was written by Crosby, and the
land he wished to purchase, the identical
farm of Davis.
Astonished that his friend, the Judge,
should certify that the land was worth no
more, Mr. Davis asked to see the certificate;
and after moments examination, uhhesi-
tatingly pronounced the signature forgery.
An explanation from the young man now
became necessary, and calling Lucy INTO
the room and told them his story, and laid
before them pile Of patents and bank notes
one after another, till the sum reached thou
sands.
it was a day of thankful happiisss to ST.
mon Davis and his daughter, and not less so
to young Wilson.
Not long after this scene, Crosby entered.
His air was that of man who has an ene-
my in his po rer and intends to trample up
on him. He scarcely noticed Wilson, ex-
cept with look of contempt. After pour
ing out all his maledctions upon the family,
he advised them to leave Immediately. The
old man inquired if he would give him no
thing for the Improvements made? The an
swer was, "Not cent?"
"You certainly would not,'. said Wilson,