Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-09-17

breathe, - ieariul was she OF awakening
him from the only sound sleep he had en-
joycd Tor nine long days and nights. At
length he awoko aud gared into the face OF
Lucy Davis, and family inquired, Z" Where
am II" There was intelligence in that
look. Youth and good constitution bad
obtained tho mastery. Lucy felt that he
was spared, and bursting into a aool Of
tears, rushed ou, Of tho room.
1t was two weeks more before he could
sit up even for short time. lIo had alreA-
dyacquain,ed them with his name and res
ilcnco, bu, they had no curiosity TO learu
anything further. and forbade him giyIng
hi. story until be became stronger. His
name was Oh rles Wilson, and his pa,ernal
home Boston.
\ few days aftcrward. when Mr.. Davis
was absent from homo, and Lucy engaged
abou, her household affairs, Wilson saw
close beside hi. head his pack. and recollcc-
ting something that he wanted, opened II.
The first thing he saw was the identical
pocket book whose loss had excited 80 many
regrets. He rcccolectcd having placed IL
there the morning before he reached Brent :
Prairie. but in the confusion Of the moment
the circumstance was forgotten. iic exam
incl 4, and found everything as he lci, 1t.
Tho discovery nearly restored him to
health, bat ho resolved a, present TO confne
the secret TO bis own bosom. IL was graft
lyin, 10 him 20 witness tho entire confidence
they repjscd in the honor and integrity Of
a stranger, and the pleasure with which
they bestowed favor. upon one whom they
supposed could make M return bat thanks.
Night came. and Mr. Davis did not r.
turn. Lucy passed slccPlc'' night. In
the morning she watched hour after hourior
Nj, coming, and when sunset approached
he was still ahsen, terrified At bic long AMI
unusual stay. she was s'ttins out 70
procure a ighb1r to 80 in search Of him,
when her rlrsni came in sisht. She ran 20
meet him, and WIS bc'tovIns upon him
thousand cnl airing expressions Of affection,
when his hasstrl, wo-J,soae eoun,cnancc
startled her.
H. uttered No, word, AMI went into hi.
house and seated himself in sileu,'. twas
in ,ain that she attempted 60 cher him.
Af,cr a long pause. during which there was
u powerful struggle soiuson In lis feelings,
he ross and taxing hi- daughter by ibc hand,
tel her into the room where William was
.s,ti. You must know ALL" be- said.
~ ar, ruir,,l, | am bcrsar." In lgw
d,y- must qIit tli- house; the farm that
| have improved, and called my own" lie
rrrrrrl,I o. -t,e that lew days before,
Crosby inAit nf unsp,ernnb.' malice, cal.
lei liu h-s.lr. and told him be was now
in hi. power, and be would crush him un.
der III, feet. When Mr.. Davis SMILED NJ
what be- regarded as only an imp),,nt threat,
Crosby. tp convince him, told him that tho
patent q bi. farm was forged one, and
that he. Crosby, knew the real owner Of the
land had written to purchas' it, and *.
pecicd a decd IN a lew days. Davis inmc-
Iiatcly went hon, Tor hi, pl,an,, nni dur.
ins his long absence had visited the land
Office. Crosby wa. right. The patent be.
yond al dispute was a lorsei one. and the
claim or Davis to the farm was not worth -
farshins.
/ 1t may bo proper to add that counterfeit
ins soldiers patents was regular busine-,
practice in some Of tho eastern cities, and
hundred, have been dupci. 4, Is not for
myself" said ,hc old man, "that grie,c
at thi, misfortune. am advanced ia life,
aud It matters not how nor where pass the
reminder OF my existence. have littl'
home beyond the stars, where your mother
ha, gone before INC, and where lwolld have
loved 70 protect her child, my own alice
Tomato Lucy" Tie weeping slrl threw
her arms around tho neck OF her father, and
poured her tears upon his bosom. "Wc
can be happy stlll," said she, +" for AIN
young, and can easily supper, us both"
/ \ new scene followed in which another
individual was a prominent actor. shall
leave the reader to form his own opinion Of
1t. and barely remark that at the close, the
old man took the hands of Lucy and young
Wilson, and then ioinins them said "my
children. chcerlully consent TO your union.
Though poor, with a good conscience you
can be happy. know, Charles, you will
be kind 10 my daughter, for u icw nights
ago, whcn you thought no earthly ear could
hear you, heard you leryently implorc the
blessings Of heaven upon my gray hairs, and
that God would reward my child for all her
kindness to you. Taking down his family
Bible. the venerable old man added, 1t is
season OF afliction, but We are not lorslk.
en-. Let US look for support to him who
has promised 70 sustain US" lie then
opened tho book aud read
! although the fs.troe shall not blossom,
neither shall lfllt be in the vines, the lhbOrs
Of the olive shall fail, and tho fields yield no
meet; tho locks shall be cut OF from the
fold, and there shall be no herd in the stall,
yet will Joy in the God Of my salvation"
Charles aud Lucy kncli beside the ycner-
abe old man, and while he prayed they
wept tears Of grateful emotion. 1t was a
slecpless but not unhappy night to the three
inhabitants Of the neat, cheerful dwelling
they were about to leave, aud 60 they knew
not where.