Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-06-17
THE FORGED PATENT.
BY JOHN Russell.

| years have wrought IN Illinois, would be
incredible to any one who had not wit
messed them. At that time the settle
ments were few, and the spirit of enter
prise which now pervades every corner
of the state, had not awakened. The
bluffs of the beautiful Illinois river haC
never sent back the echo of their steam
engine. Without market for then
produce, the farmers confined their la
bors to the wants of their own families
Corn was nearly the only crop raised
and from the time it was '1aid by
near the end Of June, till pulling time,
in November, was holiday, and the
intervening period was passed in idle
ness, except Saturdays. On that day
duly as it arrived, the settlers. at tho
distillery, amused themselves witt
shooting at mark, trading nags, anc
too often, when the tin cup passed free
ly round, in fighting.
This is by no means picture Of al
the settlements of that early period, but
that it is graphically true Of many, none
of the oldest settlers will deny.
One Saturday afternoon in the yeal
l8l9,ayoungmanwas seen approaching
with slow and weary steps, the house
or rather distillery of Squire Crosby, Of
Brent's Prairie, an obscure settlement
on the Military Tract. AS usual Oh
that day, large collection Of people
were amusing themselves at Crosby's
who owned the distillery in that region.
was magistrate, and regarded by the
settlers as rich, and consequently 3
great man.
The youth who now came up to the
group, was apparently about twenty-one
years of age, and Of slender form, fail
and delicate complexion, with the all
Of one accustomed to good society, and
it was evident at a glance that he was
not Injured to the hardships Of frontier
life, or labor of any kind. But his
dress bore a strange contrast with his
appearance and manners. He wore 9
hunting coat Of the coarsest linsey wool.
Sey, common straw hat, and q pair OF
doeskin moccasins. A large pack com
pleted his equipment.
Every one gazed with curiosity upon
learn who he was, whence he came and
what was his business, the horse swap
was left unfnised-the rifle laid aside
and even the busy tin cup had a tempo.
rary respite.
The young man approached Squire
Crosby, whom even a stranger could
distinguish as the principal person
amongst them, and anxiously inquired
for house where he could be accom-
modated, saying that he was extreme
ly ill and felt all thesymptoms Of an
approaching fever.
Crosby eyed him closely and SUSPECT
ously for moment without uttering 9
word. Knayes and swindlers had been
recently abroad, and the language Of
the youth betrayed that he was ''Y an
kce,' name at that time associated in
the minds Of the ignorant with every
thing that is base. Mistaking the ST
lence Of Crosby for a fear Of his inabil
ity to pay, the stranger smiled and said
81 am not without money" and putting
his hand to his pocket to give occulal
proof Of his assertion, he was horror
struck to find that his pocket-book was
gone. 1t contained every cent of his
money, besides papers Of great value tC
him.
Without farthing-without even T.;
paper or letter to attest that his charac
ter was honorabIe-in a strange land
and sickness rapidly coming upon him
these feelings nearly drove him to DIES
pair. The squire, who prided hirnsel
on his sagacity in detecting villians,noW
found the use Of his tongue. With ;
loud and sneering voice he said:
stranger, you are barking up thC
wrong tree if you think to catch nj
with that are Yankee trick O yourn."
He proceeded in that inhuman strain
seconded by nearly every one present
for the "Square" was powerful and few
dared to displease him. The youth fel
keenly his desolate situation, and cast
ing his eyes around the group, and ii
a tone Of deep anxiety, inquired:
els there none here who will receive
me-
eyes, / will, cried a man among thu
crowd; eyes, poor, sick stranger, [ will
shelter you" Then in lower tone HI
added, II know not whether you are
deserving, but | do know that you are ;
fellow being, and in sickness and IL
want: and for the sake Of Him wht
died for the guilty, if not for your owl
sake, will be kind to you, poor young
stranger"
The man who stepped forth and prof
fered home to the youth in the houl
of suffering was Simon Davis, an elder
ly man who resided near Crosby, anC
the latter was his deadly enemy. Uncl'
Simon, as he was called, never retaliad
and bore many prosecutions of his vim
dictive neighbor without complaint
His family consisted of himself an(
daughter, his only child, an affecionat
girl Of seventeen,
The youth heard the offer of Dir. Da
Wis, and heard no more, for oyercomt
by his feelings and extreme illness, h
sank insensible. He was conveyed t.
the house of his benefactor and ply
stefan called. Long was the struggl
between life and death. Though IN
conscious, he called upon his mothe
and sister, almost constantly. to aid him
When the youth was laid upon her bed
and she heard him calling for his sister
Lncy. Davis wept, and said to him
"Poor young man, your sister is far dis
tant, but l will be to you a sister. D
Well did this dark eyed maiden keel
her promise. Day and night did sh'
watch over him, except during the shor
interval when she yielded her post a
his side to her father.
At length the crisis Of the disorde
arrived-the day that was to decid
the question of life or death. Luc
bent over him with intense ANXIETY