American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-11-25
THE FORGED PATENT.

~ thot chaDgeB which the last twenty
years have Wrought in Illinois,, would be
incredible tossny one who had not witness.
ed them: At that time the settlements.
were few. and the spirit Of enterprise which
now evades every corner Of the State had
not awakened. The bluffs Of the ILL
noise river had never sent back the echo Of
the steam engine. Without market for
the produce, the farmers coufued their
little lsbors TO the wants Of their own fam.
lilies. Corn was nearly the only crop
raised, and from the time it was "laid BY"
near tn, end Of June. til "pulling time"
10 November. was holiday. and the inter
vening period was passed in idleness.
except Saturdays On that day. duly as
it arrived, the settlers at the distilery, anu
sed themselves with shooting at a mark,
trading nSgs. and too often when the cup
pas aed freely around, in fighting.
This is by no means picture Of all the
settlements Of that early period, but that it
is graphically rue Of many, none of the
oldest settlers will deny. m "a
On Saturday afternoon, 10 the year I8 10
a young mas was seen approaching, with
slow and weary steps. the hous or dis
tIllery. of Squire Crosby. of Brent's Prai
RE, an obscure settlement on the Military
Tract. As usual on that day large col
lection Of people we're amusing them.
selves at Crosby's who owned the distillery
III that region. aud being magistrate.
was regarded by the set,lers as rich. and
p0n ae N uanilU a ura af man
The, youth who now came to the group
was apparently about twenty -one years Of
age, and Of 81 nder form, fair and delicate
complexion, with tbe air Of one accustomed
to good society. and it was evident at a
glance that he was not injured to the hard
ships of frontier life. or labor OF any kind.
But his dress bore strange contrast with
his appearance and mauaers. He wore q
hunting coat of the coarsest linsey woolsev
q common straw bat, and pair Of doeskin
moceasins. A large paok cmplsted his
equipment. A.ftf 80 @tt
Every one gazed with cusiosity on The
new conner. In their eagreness to learn
who be was. whenc he came. and what
was his business, the horse swap was left
unfinished, the rife laid aside. and even
the busy tin cup had temporary res
pite.
The young man approached Squire
Crosby, whome eyen a stranger could dis
tinguish as the principle person among
them, and anxiously inquired for a house
where he could be accommoda ated, saying
that he was extremely i'll. and felt all sym
toms OF and approaching fever.
Crosby eyed him closely aud suspicious
" for moment without saying word
Knaves and swindlers had been recently
abroad. and the language Of the youth be-
trayed that he was a Yankee" name a
that time associated in the minds of the
ignorant with everything that was base.--
Mistaking'th silence Of Crosby Tor fear o
his inability to pay. the stranger smiled
and said, II am not without money" and
putting his hand to his pocket to give oc
cular proofiof bis assertion, be was horror
. struck to find that Ills pocket book was
gone. It contained every cent Of biz
money. besides papers of great value t.
him. sf Ff t@
Without farthing, without evena pa
! per or letter to attest that his character
WAS honorable in . strange land. and sick
ness coming upon him, these feelings near
4 ly drove him to despair. The squire
who prided himeslf on his ssgaciIy in de
tecting yilliSus, now found the use Of hi
tongue. With loud and snsuring voice b.
said: =,
Stranger you are barking up the wropl
. tree, If you think you catch me with ths
} Yankee trick O. youfu."
i He proceeded in this inhuman strain
) seconded by nearly every one present, 70
t the esquire" was powerful, and lev
] dared to dsplease him. Tie youth fel
: keeuly his desolate situation. and ctstipl
, his eyes around the groop. in tone Q
! deep anxiety inquired: .e'l. =
! ''Is there none here who will receiv
me?' ,,l
4 "Yes. / wi!I." cried man among th
i crowd: "yes, poor, sick. stranger, i wi
: shelter you" Then in lower tone b
|. added know not whether you are deser
wings but do know you are fellow be