The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-01-19

uiHeIoHI soHS through WHICH IL was VII
Quoted. Having mentioned to him bog
gy piece of ground it passed through, he
observed, 81 that was the only place he had
doubts concerning; and that he was appre-
hensive they had, contrary to his directions,
been too sparng Of their materials.
Lib Ent. Knowledge.
THE GUILTY PHANTOM. (By Walter
Scott.) Icannot forbear giving you an in
stance of a guit-formed phantom which
made considerable noise about twenty years
ago or more. / ain, think, tolerably cor
rect in the details, though have lost the
account of the trial. jarvis Matcham-such,
Iif am not mistaken, was the name of my
hero-was pay sergeant in a regiment,
where he was so highly esteemed as
stea5y and accurate man, that he was per-
mtted opportunity to embezzle consider
able part Of the money lodged in his hands
( for pay of soldiers, bounty of recruits, then
lage sum, and other charges which fell
within his duty. He was summoned to join
! his regiment from town where he had
been on 4 recruiting service, and this per-
( haps under some shade of suspicion. Mat
cham perceived that discovery was at hand,
and would have then deserted, had it not
! been for the presence of little drummer
! lad, who was the only one Of his party APP
pointed to attend him. In the desperation
of his crime, he resolved to murder the poor
boy, and make his escape. He meditated
I this wirkedness the more readily, that the
drummer, he thought, had been put as spy
on him. He perpetrated his crime, and
changing his dress after the deed was done,
made long walk across the country to an
inn on the Portsmouth road, where he halt
I ed, md went to bed, desiring to be called
when the first Portsmouth coach came.
The waiter summoned him accordingly but
long after remembered, that when he shook
the guest by the shoulder, his first words as
he awoke were, my God did not kill
him."
/ Matcham went to the seaport by the
coach, and instantly,entered as an able-bod-
led landsman or marine, know not which
His sobriety and attention to duty gained
him the same good opinion Of the officers in
his new service which he had enjoyed in
the army. He was afoat for several years,
and behaved remarkably we'll in some &C
tions. At length the vessel came into
, Plymouth, was paid off, and some of the
crew, amongst whom was Jarvis Matcham,
, were discharged as being too old for SER
vice. He and another seaman resolved to
walk to town, and took the route by Sails
bury. 1t was when within two or three
miles of this celebrated city, that they were
, overtaken by a tempest so sudden. and ac-
: companied with such vivid lightning, and
, thunder so dreadful loud, that the ohdurate
, conscience Of the old sinner began to he
. awakened. He expressed more terror than
e seemed natural for one who was familiar
\ with the war of elements, and began to look
q and talk so wildly, that his companion be-
o came aware that something more than usu-
n a! was the matter. At length Matchnm
;, complained to his usual companion that the
stone rose from the road and flew after him.
:, He desired the man TO walk on the other
:, side of the highway to see if they would
follow him when he was alone. The sailor
= complied and Matcham complained that the
y stones still few after him, and did not pur-
= sue the other. "But what is WORSE" he
4 added, coming up to his companion, and
- whispering, with tone ofmystery and fear
. "who is that little drummer boy, and what
- business has he to follow us so closely" 81
can see no one," answered the seaman, IN
af fected by the superstition of his associate
:; "What not see that little boy with thu
- bloody pantaloons !" exclaimed the secre
IA murderer, SO much to the terror of his com
- rade, that he coniured him, if he had an,
- thing on his mind, 10 make clear con
lei science as far as his confession could do il
. The criminal fetched deep groan, and tie
=, clared that he was unable longer 10 endnr
- the life which he had led for years. II
;, then confessed the murder Of the drumme
and added, that as considerable rewar
70 had been offered, he wished his comrade
ar deliver him up to the magistrates of Sails
ra bury, as he would desire a shipmate to prot
in by his fate, which he was now convince
H. was inevitable.
~ Having overcome his friends objection
r., to this mode of proceeding, Jarvis Mattel
h. am was surrendered TO justice accordingi
No and made full confession of guilt. b
~ before the trial the love Of life returne
ac- The prisoner denied his confession, al
% pleaded Not Guilty. BY this time, howe
his err, full evidence had been procured fro
other quarters. Witnesses appeared fro
~ his former regiment to prove his identl
-, with the murderer and deserter, and II
w. waiter remembered the ominons wore
Nv which he had spoken when he awoke him
- :. ioin the Portsmouth coach. Jarvis Mate
Is am was found guilty, and executed. VIII
his last chance of life was over, he return
on. to his confession, and with his dying brea
vi avcrred, and truly, as he thought, the yisi
o n on Salisbury Plain.
;nn BEHIND HAND. An idle fellow the oil
raj, day complaining of his hard lot, said he "
M born the last day ofthe year, the last day
the the month, and the last day Of the we
ms, and he had always been behind hand.
\ y believed it would have heen fifty dollars
he his pocket if he had not been born at all
prs This man belonged TO the same school
he. wits no doubt with him who hired him'
ov- out to labor fer life at eight dollars nor
in with an agreement that he should have
&c his pay at the end of every month, and
of rest when his time uas out
ing Taunton Reporiei
ton,
the RHYME READING. Ben Johnson, pas
ged along Fleet-street, London, observed a &C
dds tryman staring at grocer's sign; he tar
ten. him on the shoulder, and asked him wha
the engaged his attention. Why, master
, oil replied, " j be admiring that nice piece of