Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-03-22

| pe kluu ~ you, poor stranger.
The man who stepped forth an
proifered IA home to the youth in tf
hour Of suffering was Simon Davis. a
elderly man who resided near Crosb,
and the latter was his deadly enemy :
Uncle Simon, as he was called, never II
taliaIed. and bore many prosecutions ],
his vindictive neighbor without con
plaint His family consisted of himseI
and daughter his only child, an affection
ate girl of seventeen.
The youth heard the &afersssef+ M
Davis, and heard no more, for overcom
by his feelings and extreme illness, h
sank jnsensible. He was conveyed t
the house of his benetactor and a ply
sician called. Long was the struggl
between life and death Though un
conscious, he called upon his mothc
and sister, almost constantly, to aid him
When the youth was laid upon her bed
and she heard him calling for his sister
Lucy Davis wept, and said to him, POO
young man, your sister is far distant
but will be to you sister. Wei
did this dark-eyed maiden keep he
promise Day and night she watched
over him, except during the short inter
walls when she yielded her post at hi
side to her father
At length the crisis Of the disorde
arrived-the day that was to decide til,
question of life or death Lucy ben
over him with intense anxiety, watchin.
every expression Of his features, hardl
daring to breathe, so fearful was she O
awaking him from the only sound sleeI
he had enjoyed for nine long days anc
nights. At length he awoke and gazec
up into the face of Lucy Davis, anc
family inquired, Where am I?"-
There was intelligence in that look
Youth and a good constitution had OBJ
tained the mastery. Lucy felt that he
was spared, and bursting into food Of
tears, rushed out of the room.
Itwas two weeks more before he could
sit up even for short time. He had
already acquainted them with his name
and residence, but they had no curiosity
to learn anything further, and forbade
him giving his story until he became
stronger. His name was Charles Viii
son, and his paternal home, Boston.
A few days aiterward, 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
wanted, opened it. The first thing he
saw was the Identical po>ket-book whose
loss had excited so many regrets. lie
recollected having placed it there the
morning before he reached Brents 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
confine the secret to his own bosom. 1t
was gratifying to him to witness the en-
tire confidence they reposed in the honor
and integrity of IL stranger, and the
pleasure with which they bestowed ia
,ors upon one who they supposed could
make 20 return but thanks.
Night came, and Mr. Davis did not
return. Lucy passed IA sleepless night.
In the murnin" she watched hour after
hour for his coming. and when sunset
approached he WAS still absent; terrified
about his long and unusual stay, she was
setting at TO procure Il nei"hbor to 60 ia
search OF him, when her parent came in
sight She ran to meet him, and was
bestowing upon him il thousand endear-
ing expressions of affection, when his
haggard, wo-bcgone countenance star
tied her.
He uttered not a word, and went into
his llouse aud seated himself in silence
1t WAS in vain that she attempted to
cheer him. After long pause, during
which there Was powerful struggle go
ing on in his feelings, he rose aud took
his daughter by the hand and led her
into the room where Wilson was seated
You must know all, he said, IL am
ruined: am Il beggar ina few days
must quit this house; the farm which l
have SO highly improved and thought
my oKn.' He proceeded to state that
a few days before, Crosby, in fit of un-
yovernabIe malice, taunted him with be-
ing IA beggar, and told him that he was
now in his power, and he would crush
him under his feet When Mr.. Davis
smiled atwhat he regarded as only an
impotent 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 expected il
deed in few days. Davis Immediately
went home for his patent, and during
his long absence had visited the land of
fee. Crosby was right. The patent,
beyond all dispute, WAS forged one,
and the claim Of Davis to the farm was
not worth Il iarthing.
1t may be proper to observe that
counterteiting soldiers patents was ii
regular business in some of the eastern
cities, and hundreds had been dup ed.
1T is not for myself" said the old man,
'that | grieve at this misfortune. lam
advanced in life, and it matters not
where or how l pass the remainder of
my existence. | have a little home be-
yond the stars, where your mother
has gone before me, and where [ would
have loved to protect 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. eve can be happy still, =" said
she, ''for l am young, and can easily
support us BOTH
A new scene followed in which
another individual was the principal ac-
tor. | 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 children,
| cheertully consent to your union
Though poor, with good conscience
you can be happy. | know, Charles.