The Wetmores fancied they were now on the track of their child.  He was traced down to a period within a twelvemonth of that of the search, and was probably to be found in England, still wearing the livery of the king.  After a long consultation between the disconsolate parents, it was determined that George Wetmore should sail for England in the hope of recovering their son.  But, by this time, money was scarce.  These worthy people were enabled to live in comfort on their little farm, but they were not rich in cash.  All the loose coin was gone in the previous search, and even a small debt had been contracted to enable them to proceed as far as they had.  No alternative remained but to mortgage their home.  This was done with great reluctance; but what will not a parent do for his child?  A country lawyer, of the name of Van Tassel, was ready enough to advance five hundred on a place that was worth quite three thousand dollars.  This man was one of the odious class of country usurers, a set of cormorants that is so much worse than their town counterparts, because their victims are usually objects of real, and not speculative distress, and as ignorant and unpractised as they are necessitous.  It is wonderful with what far-sighted patience one of these wretches will bide his time, in order to effect a favourite acquisition.  Mrs. Wetmore’s little farm was very desirable to this ’Squire Van Tassel, for reasons in addition to its intrinsic value; and for years nothing could be kinder and more neighbourly than his indulgence.  Interest was allowed to accumulate, until the whole debt amounted to the sum of a thousand dollars.  In the mean time the father went to England, found the soldier after much trouble and expense, ascertained that Stone knew his parents, one of whom had died in the alms-house, and spent all his money.

Years of debt and anxiety succeeded, until the father sunk under his misfortunes.  An only daughter also died, leaving Kitty a legacy to her widowed mother, the other parent having died even before her birth.  Thus was Katharine Van Duzer, our old hostess, left to struggle on nearly alone, at the decline of life, with a poverty that was daily increasing, years, and this infant grand-daughter.  Just before his death, however, George Wetmore had succeeded in selling a portion of his farm, that which was least valuable to himself, and with the money he paid off Van Tassel’s mortgage.  This was his own account of the matter, and he showed to his wife Van Tassel’s receipt, the money having been paid at the county town, where the bond and mortgage could not be then produced.  This was shortly before Wetmore’s last illness.  A twelvemonth after his death, the widow was advised to demand the bond, and to take the mortgage off record.  But the receipt was not to be found.  With a woman’s ignorance of such matters, the widow let this fact leak out; and her subsequent demand for the release was met with a counter one for evidence of payment.  This was the commencement of Van Tassel’s hostile attitude; and things had gone as far as a foreclosure, and an advertisement for a sale, when the good woman thus opportunely discovered her son!