The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-05-26

v~v~hsA Tor BY "Essht Reliable stti.
s~..v ~f Er.e. Penny WANNA How
.sss.s Tear" became "dh~rles Fear"

se.s" 81 IRE. rs" =: rssss. re.r""
The Buffalo Courier publishes the
following remarkable story sent by
correspondent at Erie. Pa:
Tie following remarkable story Is
vouched for by eight reliable citizens OF
this city: William +. Baxter Is
farmer, and has for many years owned a
large farm situated between North East.
Pa, and Ripley, N. Y. He is frequently
in this city, where he is well known.
Near to the Baxter farm there lives
family by the name of Fear, highly re-
spected by their neighbors. About
twenty-five years ago there was born in
this family q girl, sweet little cherub
that became the pet of the neighbor-
hood. They named her Rosa, and she
grew up a lovely child, and in due time
was sent to school Here she distin-
guished herself by most extraordinary
precocity. Her aptitude exceeded that
of scholars ten years older than herself,
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 hon
ors competed for. At the age OF four
! teen she entered the service of Mrs. Bax-
| ter. the first wife of the farmer referred
to- Rosa proved to be as good girl Tor
| farm house duties as she had been stu
dent. and the Baxter family liked her so
well that she was treated In every respect
as though she was one of the family.
| She continued to live there, and when
she had attained the age Of eighteen her
hand was sought in marriage by young
farmer from a neighboring village. For
some reason. unaccountable ut 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 efleml-
nate contour of her hitherto symmetrl-
cal form was vanishing, and giving place
to masculine angularity. Her hands that
were once so we'll shaped began to grow
large and coarse, and down appeared
on her upper lip. The presence Of the
latter greatly distressed her, and as it
continued to grow in spite of all her eff
forts to prevent it, she became 60
ashamed that she refused to accompany
the Baxters to the family pew in the vii
lage church, or to mingle in any OF the
socals or parties in which she had once
been a courted belle. The family while
deeply regretting the loss of Rosa's per-
sonal attractions, tried to laugh her out
of her sensitiveness. But the girl APP
peared to be consumed with a secret.
About six months after this, Rosa did
not appear as usual one morning. No
answer came from her room, and when
it was broken open it was found to have
been unoccupied that night. All Rosas
clothes were hanging up, even to those
she was accustomed to wear about the
house. Mr.. Baxter sent his son Charles
to look in the barn, dreading to enter it
himself, for dreadful suspicion of sui
eide was uppermost in his thought. But
Rosa was not in the barn, neither was
she in any part of the farm. AT last the
searchers found two letters in her trunk,
one addressed to Mrs. Baxter, the other
to her parents. The contents of Mrs.
Baxter's letter created the utmost con-
sternation. 1t said that the writer had
gone away; that it would be useless to
follow her; that her life had become un-
bearable because within year nature
had worked q complete metamorphosis,
unsexing her and making it necessary to
change her home and raiment. The as
tonished Baxters discovered that she had
left all her female clothing down to the
minutest article, and that she had attired
herself in suit of clothes belonging to
DIR. A. A. Freeman, now an alderman
from the First Ward in this city. DIR.
Freeman was yearly visitor at the Bax-
ter farm, and he frequently spends day
there still. he was well acquainted with
Misc Fear when she was little Rosa, and
l.
Baxters. He had been visiting there
week before the girl disappeared, and
had left suit of clothes behind him by
mistake.
Two months passed and letter came
in Rosa's fine hand writing. 1t informed
the family that the writer was well and
was working as farm hand in Ohio, but
that the stamp of the letter would give
no clue to her address.
Two years elapsed, and one morning
fine-looking young man with sun-burned
face, 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 ascer-
tain his business.
The tones were deep and manly and
there was familiar ring In the strangers
voice. "It is Rosa" said the girl. and
the next moment the spectators were re-
called with sight of Miss Mary Fear
clasped in the arms of young fellow.
giving back as many kisses on his mus
tache as he showered upon her uplifted
face.
"Not Rosa. but Charles Fear now"
said the whilom housemaid, and then he
told them how, after that wonderful
change, he had hired ms male help; that
he had made little money and had
come home to work the farm.
Mr.. Charles Fear runs that farm to-
day, and Ripley has no citizen held in
higher estimation than he. Since his
return he has twice been appointed q
teacher IL the public schools, and he can
be seen on the Fear farm every day of
the week.
Such is the remarkable story told to
the Courier correspondent The refer
ences given were hunted up, and al
though there was n relilptapca to sppak