Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-06-26

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he rose and took his daughter by The hane
and led her into the room where Wilson wa.
seated. "YOu must know ALL" he said, 81
am ruined-T am beggar. In a few days
must quit this hOuse-the farm which have
so highly improved and thought my own
lie proceeded to state that few days before
Crosby, in fit of ungovernable alice taun
ted him with being beegar, and told him
that he was now IN his power and he would
crush him under his feet. When Mr. Davis
smiled at what he regarded as only an impO
tent threat, Crosby, to convince him, told
} him that the patent of his farm was a forged
once, and that he, Crosby, knew the real own
er of the land-had written to purchase ii
and expected deed in a few words
Davis Immediately went home for his pat
ent, ard during his long absence had visited
the land Office. Crosby was right. The
patent, beyond all dispute was forged one,
and the claim of Davis to the farm was not
worth farthing.
1t may be proper to observe that counter
feitng soldiers patents was a regular business
in some eastern cities, and hundreds have
been duped. sit is not for myself" said the
old man, that grieve at this misfortune. l
am advanced in life, and it matters not where
or how pass the remainder of my existence.
l have little home beyond the stars, where
your mother has gone before me, and where l
would have loved to protect her child, my
own affectionate Lucy The weeping girl
threw her arms around the neck of her father,
and poured her tears upon his BOSOM
We can be happy st,li,' said said she. for
1 am young, aud can easily support US both.
A new scene followed, in which another in
dividual was the principal actor. l shall
leave the reader to form his own opinion of
it, and barely remark that at the close, the
old man took the hands of Lucy and young
Wilson, and then joining them, ,said-'My chi!-
dIen, l cheerfuly consent 10 your union
Though poor, with good conscience you
can be happy. know, Charles, you will be
kind to my daughter, for few nights ago.
when you thought that no human ear could
hear you, heard fervently implore the
thoughts of heaven upon my grey hairs, and
that God would reward my child for all her
kindness to you. Taking down his family
bible, the venerable old man added HIt is
a season ofaff1iction, but we are not forsaken,
Let US look for support to Him who has pro.
missed to sustain u.s. He then opened the
book and read
Although the fig tree, shall not blossom,
neither shall fall. and the fields yield no meat;
the hocks shall be cut off from the fold, and
there shall be no herd in the stall, yet will I
Joy in the God of my salvation"
! Charles and Lucy knet beside the venera-
BILE old man, and while he prayed, they wept
tears of grateful emotion.
1t was a seepless but not unhappy night
to the three Inhabitants of the neat cheerful
dwelling they were about to leave and 20
they knew not where.
1t was then that young Wilson learned the
real value of money. BY means of it he
could give shelter to those who had kindly
received him when every other door was clos
cd upon him.
All night long he had thought of the forg-
ed patent. There were few words dropped
by Mr.. Davis which he could not dismiss from
his mind-that Crosby had written to the
real owner of the land, and had now obtain
cd the promise of the deed.
1t is now time for the reader to become
fully acquainted with the history of the young
stranger.
His father, Charl,s wilson, senior, was a
merchant in Boston who had acquired an
immense fortune. At the close of the war
when the soldiers received land from the GOV
tLSit lOO dCTCS Vi duF,!1aIiV
Of them Cflcred their patents to Mr.. Wilson
for sale. Finding that they were resolved to
sell them. he resolved to save them from the
sacrifice of their hard earnings and he pur-
chased at fair price all that was offered In
three years no small portion of the Military
Tract came into his possession.
On the day that Charles came of age, he
gave him deed of the principal part of this
land IN Illinois, and insisted that he should
go out and see it, and if lie liked the country
settle there. Wishing him to become iden-
tified with the people, he recommended his
son to lay aside his broadcloth, and dress like
backwoodsman.
In compliance with this suggestion the
young man had assumed a rude and rustic
dress so inappropriate to his appearance and
manners, as to excite some suspicion that he
had mOtiv's or cOncealing his real charac-
ter.
On the ling of his sons departure Mr..
Wilson re, ed letter from q man in Illi-
nois who had frequently written. He wished
to purchase a certain quarter section at gov
ernment prices which Mr.. Wilson promised
he should have on these terms, provided he
forwarded certificate from the Judge of the
circuit court that the land was worth no more.
The letter just received enclosed the certifi.
cate in question. Mr.. Wilson had given this
tract to Charles, ard putting the letter and
certificate into his hand enioined upon him
to deed it to the writer, according to promise
upon his arrival in Illinois.
The remarks of Mr.. Davis forciblv remind
ed young Wilson of this incident, and on the
next morning after he became acquainted
with the plan of Crosby, with a trembling
hand he examined the letter and certificate.
1t was written by Crosby, and the land he
wished to purchase, the identical farm of Da-
Wis.
Astonished that bis friend, the Judge
should certify that the land was worth no
more, Nh. Davis asked to sec the certificate
and after moments examination, unhesilat-
ingly pronounced its signature forgery.
An explanation from the young man now
became necessary. and calling Lucy into the
room, told them his story,and laid before them
pile Cf patents and bank notes, one after
another till the sum reached thousands. 1t
was day of thankful happiness to Simon
Davis and bis daughter and not less so to
young Wilson.
Not long after this scene, Crosby entered.
His air was that Of man who ha an enc
my in his power, and intends to trample up
on him. He scarce noticed young Will
son except with a look of contempt
Alter pouring out all his maledictions
upon the family, the old man cnquired
il she would give nothing FOR improvements
made. The answer was, "Not a cent"
You certainly would not" said Wilson,
tstrive out this man and his daughter, penni
rintO the world ?"
hats thai TO you - replied Crosby
with look OF Malice and contempt
IL will answer that question:" said Will
son, and he acquainted him with what the
reader has already learned.
Crosby was at fi;s. petrifed with astonish.
ment, but when he saw that all his schemes
of v'lIany were defeated, and proof his hav-