The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-02-24

the stranger smiled and said, II am no,
without money" and putting his hand
to his pocket to give occular proof of his
assertion, he was horror-struck to fine
that his pocket book was gone. 1t con
tained every cent of his money, besides
papers of great value to him.
Without farthing, without even pa
per or letter to attest that his charac.
ter was honorable, in strange land, and
sickness rapidly coming upon him, these
feeling nearly drove him to despair. The
Squire, who prided himself on his sagac.
ity in detecting Williams, now found the
use Of his tongue. With loud and
sneering voice he said
"Stranger, you are barking up the
wrong tree, if you think to catch me
with that are Yankee trick o'yourn."
He proceeded in this inhuman strain,
seconded by nearly every one present,
for the esquire" was powerful, and few
dared to displease him. The youth felt
keenly his desolate situation, and casting
his eyes around the group, in tone of
deep anxiety inquired: '.,' q"
"I Is there none here who will receive
me 90 :.
Yes, WILL" cried man among the
crowd; eyes, poor sick stranger. I will
shelter you" Then in lower tone ad-
ded =" know not whether you are
deserving. but do know that you are
fellow being, and in sickness and want !;
and for the sake of Him who died for the
guilty, if not for your own sake, will /
be kind to you poor stranger.
The man who stepped forth and prof
fered 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 ST.
mon, as he was called, never retaliated
and bore many prosecutions of his vim
dictive neighbor without complaint. His
family consisted of himself and daught-
er, an only child, an affectionate girl of
seventeen.
The youth heard the offer of Mr.. Da-
Wis, and heard no more, for overcome by
his feelings and extreme illness, he sank
insensible. He was conveyed to the
house of his benefactor, and physician
called. Long was the struggle between
life and death. Though unconcious, he
called upon his mother and sister almost
constantly to aid him. When the youth
was laid upon his bed, and she heard
him calling for his sister. Lucy Davis
wept and said to him" Poor young
man, your sister is far distant, but | will
be to you sister," Well did this dark
eyed maiden keep her promise. Day and
night she watched over him, excepting
during the short intervals when she yield
ed her post at his side to her father.
At length the crisis Of the disorder
arrived-the day that was to decide the
question of life and death. Lucy bent
over him with intense anxiety, watching
every expression of his features, hardly
daring to breathe, so fearful was she Of
awaking him from the only sound sleep
he had enjoyed for nine long days and
nights. AT length he awoke and gazed
up into the face of Lucy Davis, and
family inquired. "Where am ?"-
There was intelligence in that look
Youth and good constitution had gain
ed the mastery. Lucy felt that he was
spared, and bursting into flood of tears,
rushed from the room. 1t was two
weeks more before he could sit up even
for short time. He had qlready ac-
quaintcd them with his name and resi-
dence, but they had no curiosity to learn
any further, and forbade him giving his
story until he became stronger. His
name was Charles Wilson, and his pa
rental home Boston.
A few days afterwards, when Mr.. Da-
Wis was absent from home, and Lucy en-
gagged about her household affairs, Will
son saw close beside his head his pack,
and recollecting something that he want
ed, opened it. The first thing he saw
was the identical pocket book, whose
loes had excited SO many regrets. He
recollected having placed it there the
before he reached Brent's Prai-
rie, but in the confusion of the moment
the circumstance was forgotten. He ex-
amined it and found everything as he left
it.
The discovery nearly restored him to
health, but he resolved at present to con-
fine the secret to his own bosom. 1t was
gratifying to him to witness the entire
they reposed in the honor and
of a stranger. and the pleasure
with which thoy hacfo,yaI co.,o.