The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-04-29
A Wonderful Transformation

n N WONDERFUL VranBIOrm6tlOn.
8 The following remarkable story Is vouchet
for by eight reliable citizens of Erie, Pa:
William L. Baxter IS farmer, and has TO
many years owned large farm situated be
, tween North East, Pa, and Ripley, N. Y. HI
is frequently in Erie, where he Is well known
q Near to the Baxter farm there lives family
neighbors. About twenty-five years ago there
was born IN this family girl, sweet little
cherub that became the pet of the neighbor
hood. They named her Rosa and she grew
; up lovely child, and in due time was sent to
school. Here she distinguished herself by
most extraordinary percocity. Her aptitude
exceeded that of scholars 10 yrs. older than her
self, and in less than two years she had passed
every other pupil and stood at the head of her
, classes, the holder of all the honors competed
for. AT the age of IA she entered the service
of Mrs. Baxter, the first wife OF the farmer re-
ferred to. Rosa proved to be a good girl for
farmhouse duties as she had been student,
and the Baxter family liked her 40 well that
she was treated III every respect as though she
was one of the family. She continued to live
there, and when she had attained the age of
IL her hand was sought IN marriage by q
young farmer from u neighboring village. For
some reason, unaccountable at that time to her
friends, Miss fear declined the honorable offer,
alleging that she had no desire to quit the
roof of her kind friends. About this time it
began to be noticed that Rosa's features were
losing their feminine softness, and that the
etfeminite contour of her hitherto symmetrical
form was vanishing and giving place to mas
80 well shaped, began to grow large and
course, and down appeared on her upper lip
The presence of the latter greatly distressed
her, and as 1t continued to grow III spite of all
her efforts to prevent lt,she became SO ashamed
that she refused to accompany the Baxters to
the family pew in the village church, or to
ming e in any of the socals or parties IN
which she had once been a cOurted belle. The
family, while deeply regretting the loss of
Rosas personal attractions, tried to laugh herl
out OF her sensitiveness. Bat the girl seemed
to be consumed with secret.
About SIX months after this Rosa did not
appear as usual one morning. No answer
came from her rOOm and when 1t was broken
open it was found to have been unoccupied
that night. All Rosa's clothes we're hanging
up, even those she was accustomed to wear
about the house. Mr.. Baxter sent his snr
Charles too look IN the barn, droauinS W %.
ter it himself, for dreadful suspicion Oh sui
eide was uppermOst in his Thoughts. Du' hoo"
was not in the barn, neither was she oh an1
part of the farm. At last the searchers lounu
Baxter and the other to her parents. Incl
contents Of Mrs. BaXter's letter created the Ut
most CONSERVATION. IL said that the writer
had gone away; that it would be useless toI
follow her; that her life had become unbeara-
BILE, because within year nature had worked
a complete metamOrphoss, unseXlng her. ana
making it necessary to change her home and
raiment. The astonshed Baxters dis
covered that she had left all her female
al tn IA m article
she had attired herself IN a SUIT of clothes be.
longing to DR.. A. A. Freeman, now an alder
man from the first ward, IN Erie. DR.. Free
man was yearly visitor at the Baxter farm,
and ne frequently spends day or two there
still. He was well acquainted with Miss Fear
when she was little Rosa, and he often saw
her when she lived with the Baxters. lie had
been visiting there week before the girl dis
appeared, and left suit of clothes behind him
by mistake.
Two mouths passed and letter came in
Rosa's fine handwriting. 1t informed the
family that the writer was well and was work
ing as farm hand in Ohio, but that the
stamp of the letter would give no clcw to her
address.
Two years elapsed, and one morning nne-
looking young man, with sun-burned face, a.
magnificent beard and heavy dark mustache,
stood at the gate of the Fear homestead.
DO you know me, Mary" he SAID to the
young lady who came out to ascertain his
business
The tones were deep and manly, and there
was a familiar ring IN the strangers voice.
ut is Rosaw said the girl, and the next mo-
ment the spectators were RECALLED with sight
of Miss Mary Fear elapsed III the arms of a
young fellow, giving back as many kisses on
his mustache as he shOwered unOn her uplitt-
ed face.
"Not Rosa bu, Charles Fear, now" SAID the
whilom housemaid, and then he told them
how, after that wonderful change, he had hired
out as a male help, that he had made little
money and had come home to work the farm.
Mr. Charles Fear runs the farm today,
and Ripley has no citizen held in higher es-
tlmation than he. Since his return he has
twice been appointed teacher in the public
schools, and he can be seen on the Fear farm
every day of the week.
such is the remark able story told to cor
respondent of the Buffalo Courier. The ref
erences gwen were hunted up, and although
there was reuctancy to speak about it, all
confirmed the story.
Dr. Freeman was called upon regarding the
suit of clothes, and he confirmed the account,
stating also that he was well acquainted with
all the circumstances related. lie further
stated in his opinion nature was undecided as
to Fairs sex, and that at the age mentioned
Insecurity developed.
Artemus Wards Last Addresses To British
Audiences.
When Artemus arrived here in 1866, he was
dying man | can see HIM now as he came
on the narrow platform IN front of his inferior
panorama, and stole glance at the densely-
packed room and then at his panorama His
tall, gaunt, though slender figure; his curly,
| light hair and large aqulline nose, which al
ways reminded me of macaw; his thin face
flushed with consumption; his little cough,
which seemed TO shake him to pieces, and
which he SAID was wearing him out" at
which we all laughed lrresistibly, and then