The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-11-12
THE FORGED PATENT

the spirit of enterprise which now pervadcs
every corner of the State, had not awaken
ed. The bluffs of the Illinois river had
never sent back the echo Of the steam.cn-
glne. Without 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
laid by" near the end Of June, till "pullirr
t'me,' in November, was II holiday, and the
Intervening period was passed in idleness,
except Saturdays. On that day, duly as it
arrived, the settlers, at the distilIcrv, anu
scd themselves with shooting at n mark, tra-
ding nags, ana too often. when the tin cup
passed freely round in fighting
This is by no means 4 picture Of all 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 wear 1910,
n young man WIS seen approaching, with
slow and weary steps, the house, or Gislil,
lcry, Of Squire Crosby, Of l;rcnt's Prairie,
an obscure settlement on the Military Tract.
AS usual on that day, q large collection OF
people were amusing themselves at Crosby'S,
who owned the distllrrv in that region,
and being magistrate, was regarded hv
the settlers as rich, and consequently Il
great man.
The youth who now came up to tho
group was apparently about twcnty-onc
years of age, aud Of slender form, fair aud
delicate complexion, will, the air of one a C.
customed to good society, anu it was evil
dent at glance that he WAS not Injured to
the hardships Of frontier life, or labor Of any
kind. Hut his dress bore a strange con,
lrast with his appearance and manners. lie
wore hunting coat of the coar$cst linscv
woolsev, a common straw hat, and Il pair of
docskin moccasins. A large pack compile
ted his equipment.
Every one gazcd will, curiosity on the
new conner. In their cagcrncss to learn
wh" he WAS, whence he came, and What was
his business, the horse swap was left uutin-
ishel, the rifle laid aside, and even the Lu-
sy tin cup had a temporary respite.
The young man approaching Squire Cros-
10y, whom even stranger could distinguish
as the principal person among them, and
anxiously inquired for house where he
could be accommodated, saying that he
was extremely i'll, and felt all symptoms Of
IN approaching fever.
Crosby eyed him closely and suspicious
'y tora moment without uttering word,
knaves aud swiu1lcrs had been recently
abroad, and the language Of the youth be-
traycd that lie was a''l ankcc," name at
that time associated in the minds Of the iy.
norant with everything that was base. Mis-
taking the silence Of Crosby for fear of his
inability 10 pay, the stranger smiled and
said, Il am not without money" and put
ting his hand to his pocket to give ocular
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 to him.
Without fartl.ing, without even pa
per or letter to attest tl,a! his character was
honorable, in strange land, and sickness
rapidly coming upon him, these feelings
nearly dcove him to despair. The Squire,
who prided himself on his sagaci,y in de-
feeling villains, now found the use of his
tongue With loud and snce,irg voice
lie said
"S;ranger, you are barking up the wrong
tree, if you think to catch ME with that are
Yankee trick o'yourn."
lie proceeded in this in human strain, So,
condcl by nearly every one present, for the
Squire was powerful, and few dared to
dspleasc him. The youth felt kccnly his
dcsolatc situation, and casting his eyes
around the group. in tone Of deep ankle
ty inquired:
'is there none here who will receive me q
"Ycs, WILL" cried man among the
crowd "ycs, poor, sick stranger, I will shel
ter you. Then in lower tone he added
ii know not whether you are deserving
but l do know that you are fellow Le
ing and in sickness and in want and for
the sake of Him who died for the guilty il
not for your own sake, will be kind to
you, poor stranger"
The man who stepped forth and protfer.
cred home to the youth in the hour OF
suffering, was Simon Davis, an elderly man
who resided near Crosby, and the latter was
his deadly enemy. Uncle Simon, as he
was called, never retaliated, and bore many
prosecutions of his vndictive neighbor with
out complaint. His family consisted o.
himself and daughter, his only child, an af
fectionate girl of seventeen.
The youth heard the offer of Mr.. Davis
and heard no more, for, overcome by LII,
ceilings and extreme illness, he sank insen'
sible. He was conveyed to the house 0
his benefactor, and physician called. LONG