Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-11-01
THE FORGED PATENT.

that time the settlements were few. and the
spirit OF enterprise which now peryades every
corner OF the State, bad not awakened The
niufs oil the Illinois river had never sent back
,ns ecno OF tne steam engine. Without mar
ket LOT 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 il was laid by" near the end of
June, tall pulling time,'' in November, was
= holiday, any the intervening period was
passed IN idieness, except Saturdays On that
day, duly as it arrived, the settlers at the dis
tillery, amused themselves with shooting at a
mark, trading nags, and too often, when the
un cup passed freely round, in fighting.
Inis Is by no means picture of all the set
Elements OF that early period, but that it is
GraPnlcally true OF many, none OF the oldest
settlers will deny
One Saturday afternoon, in the year 1919, a
young man was seen approaching with slow
and weary steps, the house, or distillery. of
Squire Crosby, of Brent's Prairie, an Obscure
settlement on the Military Tract As usual
on that day, large collection of people were
amusing themselves at Crosby's, who owned
the distlllery IN that regicn, and being a ma
glstrate, WAS regarded by the settlers az rich
and consequently great man.
The youth who now came up 10 the oroun
was apparently about twenty one years Of age
and OF slender form, fair and delicate com
plexlOn, with the air of one accustomed to good
society, and it was evident at a glance thai he
was not Injured to the hardships Of frontier life,
or labor OF any kind. But his dress bore
strange contrast with his appearance and man.
ners. lie wore hunting coat Of the cOarsest
hnsey-Woolsey, a common straw hat, and n
par oil doeskin mOccaslns. A large pack COM
Pleted his equipment.
Every one gaIed with curiosity on the new
conner In their eagerness to learn who he was
whence he came, and what was his business
loc,
iaid aside, and even the busy tin cup had
temporary respite.
Inc young man approached Squire Crosby,
"nom even stranger could distinguish as the
prlnclpal person among them, and anxiously
inquired Tor house where he could be accom-
InUdaIeo, saying that he was extremely i'll, and
ieiI all symptoms OF an approaching fever
Crosby eyed him closely and suspiciousIv for
moment without uttering a word Knayes
ana s"indlers had been recently abroad, and
tne language OF the youth betrayed that he was
ankee, a name at that time associated
IN the minds Of the ignorant with everything
snat was oase: Mistaking the silence of Crosby
for fear of his inability to paw. the strange
smiled and said, al am not without mopey.'
ana putting his hand to his pocket TO give
ocular proof of his assertion be was bor1or
struck to find that his pOcket-book was gone
IL contained every cent of his money, besides
papers OF great value to him.
Without farthing, without even n nanar o-
letter TO attest that his character was honor
aoie, In strange land, and sickness coming
IapidIy upon him, these feelings nearly drove
MIN to despair. The Squire, who prided him
sell on his sagacity in detecting villains, now
FOUND the use OF his tongue. With a loud and
sneerlDg voice he said:
stranger, you are barking up the wrong
tree, II you think to catch me with that are
ankee trick o yOurn''
de proceeded in this inhuman strain sec
onded by noarly every one present, for the
squire was powerful and few dared IN dis
Piease MIN The youth felt keenly his desc
late Situatiyn, and casting his eyes around the
group, IN tone Of deep anxiety incurred
Is there none here who will resolve me p;
les, Will, cried a man among the crowd
yes. poor, sick stranger. [ will shelter Won y
1nen IN lower tone he added -. know not
"ne'ner you are deserving, but do know that
you are a fellow being, and in sickness and in
want; and for the sake of Him who died tor
tne guilty, IT not for your own sake, will L be
KIND 10 you, poor stranger"
Inc man who stepped forth and proffered a
nome to the youth in the hour of suffering. was
simon Davis, an elderly man. who resided near
Trosoy, ana the latter was his deadly enemy.
Uncle Simon, as he was called, never retail.
lated, and bore many prosecutions of bis vim
aictiVe neigh without complaint His fam
ny consisted of himself and daughter. hi. only
child, an afectiOnate girl of seventeen.
Inc youth heard the offer of Mr. Davis. and
nearu no more, fer, overcome by his feelings
enu eAuene Illness, he sank insensible. He
was conveyed to the house of his benefactor
and physician called. Long was the strugule
between life and death. Though unconscious.
ne called upon his mother and sister almost
constantly, to aid him. When the youth was
laid upon his bed, and she heard him calling
Tor his sister, Lucy Davis wept, and said to
nlm,-" Poor young man, your sister is far
IL. aig IT-tI
did this dark eyed maiden keep her promise.
Day and night she watched over him. except
during the short intervals when she Yielded
her post at his side to her father
Al length the crisis Of the disorder arrived
me day That was to decide the question: of
life or death. Lucy bent over him with intense
anxiety, watching every expression of his fea.
lures, hardly daring to breathe, so fearful was
sne OF aWaking him from the only sound sleep
ne nad enjoyed for nine long days and nights.
AZ Iengtn ne awoke and gazed up into the face
oil Lucy Davis, and family inquired, Where
S Ioere was an intelligence in that
look' Youth and a good constitution had OBJ
tanned the mastery. Lucy felt that he was
spared, and bsrsting into a food of tears,
rushed out Of the room
1t was two weeks more before he could sit
up even for short time lie had already ac-
9ualnted them with his name and residence.
euI tney mad no curiosity to learn any ything
ne became stronger. His name was Charles
wilson, aud his paternal home, Boston
lew days afterwards, when Mr. Davis was
absent from home, and Lucy engaged about
her household affairs, Wilson saw close beside
his head his pack, and recollecting something
tnat ne wanted, opened it, The first thing he
saw was the identical pOcketbook whose loss
had excited so many regrets. lie recoIIected
haSlng placed 1t there the morning before he
reached Breut's Prairie, hut in the confusion
9I 1 the moment The circumstance was forgotten.
ne examined it, and found everything as he
Ine discovery nearly restored him to health.
put ne resolved at present to coufne the secret
10 MS own bosom 1t was gratifying 10 him To-
the honor and integrity of a stranger and ,b.
pleasure with which they bestowed favor. nnon
one whom they supposed could make NO returns
but thanks -'
Night came, and Mr.. Davis did not return
Lucy passed sleepless night. In the morn
ing she watched hour after hour for his coming