Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-04-20

! gence in that look. Youth and good constl-
| tuition had obtained the mastery. Lucy felt
that he was spared, and bursting into food
of tears, rushed out of the room.
1t was two weeks more before he could sit
| up even for short time. He had already &C.
| quainted them with his name and residence
| but they had no curiosity to learn anything
further, and forbade him giving his story un-
! til he became stronger. His name was Charles
| Wilson, and his parental home Boston.
| A few days afterward, when Mr.. Davis was
absent from home, and Lucy engaged about
| her household affairs, Wilson saw close beside
| his head his pack, and, recolecting something
that he wanted, opened it. The first thing he
saw was the identical pocket-book whose loss
had excited so many regrets. He recollected
| having placed it there the morning before he
reached Brent's Prairie, but in the confusion
of the moment the circumstance was forgot
ten. He examined it, aud found everything
as he had left it. The discovery nearly re-
stored him to health, but be resolved at pres
ent TO confne the secret to his own bosom.
1t was gratifying to him to witness the entire
confidence they reposed in the honor and in
tegrity of a stranger, and the pleasure with
which they bestowed favors upon one whom
they supposed could make no return 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 COM
ing, and when sunset approached he was still
absent. Terrified at his long and unusual stay,
she was setting out 10 procure a neighbor to
go in search of him, when the parent came in
sight. She ran to meet him, and was bestow-
irg upon him a thousand endearing express
sions of affection, when his haggard, woe-be-
gone countenance startled her. He uttered
not word, and went into his house, and seat
ed himself in silence. 1t was in vain that she
attempted to cheer him. After long pause,
during which there was a powerful struggle
going on in his feelings, he rose and took his
daughter by the hand and led her into the room
where Wilson was seated. ss1Ou must know
all,'' he said, ssIm ruined | am beggar in
a few days | must quit this hOuSe-the farm
which | have so highly improved and thought
my own He proceeded to state that a few
days before, Crosby, in fit of ungOvernable
malice, taunted him with being beggar, and
told him that he was in his power, and he
would crush him under his feet. When Mr..
Davis smiled at what he regarded only an inn
potent threat, Crosby, to convince him, told
him that the patent OF his farm was forged
one, and that he, Crosby, knew the real owner
of the land, had written to purchase it, and ex-
pected a deed in few days. Davis immedI-
ately went home for his patent, and during
his long absence had visited the land office.
Crosby was right. The patent, beyond all dis
pute, was forged one, and the claim of Davis
to the farm not worth farthing.
1t may be proper TO observe that counter
fcIting soldiers patents was regular business
in some of the eastern cities, and hundreds
had been dupcd. cit is not for myself" said
the old man, ssthat / grieve for this misfor-
tune. | am advanced in life, and it matters
not where or how pass the remainder of my
existence. | have little home beyond the
stars, where your mother has gone before me,
and where i would have loved to follow, had
it not been that would have left unprotected
her child, my own atfectiOnate Lucy" The
weeping girl threw her arms around the neck
of her father, and poured her tears upon his
bosom. ave can be happy STILL" said she,
ssfor am young, and can support us both.''
A new scene followed, in which another in
dividual was the principal 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 Joining them said ssM y children, cheer
fully consent to your union. Though poor:
with a good conscience, you can be happy. L
know, Charles, you will be kind to my daugh-
ter, for few nights ago, when you thought
that no human ear could hear you, heard you
fervently implore the blessings OF heaven up
on my gray hairs. and that God would reward
my child for all her kindness to YOU. Iaklng
| down the family Bible, the venerable old man
added, s.It is a season of affliction, but we are
not forsaken Let US look for support from
! Him who has promised to sustain u.s. He
then opened the hook and read:
.sAIthough the flg tree shall not blossom,
| neither shall fruit be in the vines, the iaoors
of the olives shall fail, and the fields yield no
meat the focks shall be cut off from the
| fold. and there shall be no herds in the stall,
| vet will Joy in the God of my salvation .
Charles and Lucy knelt beside the vcnera-
| BILE old man, and while he prayed they wept
| tears of grateful emotion. 1t was sieepiess
but not unhappy night to the three inhabitants
! of the neat. cheerful dwelling they were ABOUT
| to leave, and go they knew not where. 1t was
| then that Young Wilson learned the real value
| of money. By means of il he could give shell
| ter to those who had kindly received MN "hen
| every other door was closed upon hlIn. All
night long he had thought of the forged pat
ent There were a 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 obtained the
! promise of the deed.
IT is now time for the reader to become full
! Iy acquainted with the history of the young
| stranger. His father, Charles w llson, senior !;
| was merchant in Boston, who had acquired
| an immense fortune At the close of the war,
| when the soldiers received from the govern
ment their bounty of one hundred and sixty
| acres of land, many of them offered thelr paw
ents to Mr.. Wilson for SALE Finding that they
! were resolved to sell them, he resolved TO Sa,e
| them sacrifice of their hard earnings, ana ne
purchased at fair price all that was oneTeu.
| In three years no small portion of the Military
Tract came into his possession On the day
| that Charles became of age.he gave MN a ueeu
of the principal part of this land in Illinois;
and insisted that he sould go out and see @ it,and
if he liked the country settle there. Wishlng
| him to become identified with the people, ne
recommended his son to lay aside MS proad-
| olo+b and dress like backwoodsman
| Tn comnliauce with this suggestion, the
rouno man had assumed rude and rustic
dress. SO Inappropriate to his appearance and
.roars as TO excite some suspicion that he
had motives for concealing his real character.
IN the morning his sons departure, Mr.. II