ABSTRACT
The spring began at last rapidly to advance, and promise a speedy end to their sorrows and exile. By perseverance in a course of medicine and diet, Dr. Sourby had hopes that the malignity of his malady was subdued, and that at least some fragments of the distinguished feature ‘of the human face divine,’ would be preserved, as a sad memento of the effects of marriage by the law of nature. His chief solicitude was the converting his estate and effects into ready cash, and beating a march back again into the heart of civilized society. But fate had other trials in store for them. One night, after they had settled their future plan of conduct, and were retired to rest full of pleasing anticipation, they were alarmed by / violent rappings at the door, and the noise of a considerable body of men; whom, indeed, to their great consternation, they soon saw through the windows, and heard demanding admittance, threatening, if refused, to burn the house about their ears. They were therefore under the necessity of opening the doors to a gang of armed freebooters, who soon filled and plundered every apartment of its contents, and bound our adventurers as prisoners. They questioned Dr. Sourby by what grant or title he held his house and lands; and on his answering, a deed under the province of Pennsylvania, they pronounced it a piece of waste paper, an infringement of the rights and usurpation of territory belonging to New Hampshire. 451 Our hero told them they were strangers, and had purchased it as conveyed by the legal owner, not being apprized of any dispute about the title, and he hoped they would be treated with humanity, and not deprived / of any property which did not fall within the question.
