The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-07-08
A Tale of NeWburvport.

Towards the close of the last century, a
stranger came into the good old town of New
) buryport, Mass, and took up his residence
among its citizens Ia stature he was about
six feet two, athletic form, quick military
gait, and presenting rather the appearance Of
a dccayed gentleman. He rented humble
Shanty near the corner Of Prospect and Fruit
streets. Curiosity was on tiptoe to ascertain
his nativity-and all the ladies in town were
extremely anxious on the matter of his occu-
patton. What could such nce-looking man
be going to do? Our hero made his arrange
ments very leisurey, and some weeks elapsed
before the sign was displayed from the door
of the shanty that revealed to the worthy citi-
zens the vocation of the military gentleman.
Mr.. Foster makes Sausagcs Here" was en-
blazoned in very large letters on the shop
door. Here was a wet blanket thrown over
a laudable curiosity PSha nothing but a
sausage-maker Yet our military friend did
not sink into insignifcancc. His gentleman
ly address, his colloquial powers, together
with an intimate knowledge of all the men
and scenes of the Revolution, commended him
to some consideration.
His vocation had forfeited him the respect
of the greater part of the community in which
he resided, but there were some very candid
and worthy people willing to listen to and
converse with Mr. Foster, aud some were so
audacious as to invite him to their houses, and
to convivial parties, and to all those places
where social talents are appreciated. All
were interested in his descriptions of the bat
ties Of the Revolution-then a more common
topic Of onveTsation than in this progressive
day, and though he seldom alluded to himself
in any of his anecdotes, yet it was evident
that if his stories were true, he bore no hum
BILE part in that great struggle He seemed
/ to have been on the best terms with some of
/ the officers, and to have been engaged in
some of the most important scenes of that
eventful period.
In worldly goods our hero was prosperous
every year that added to his age added al
so to his store-the seedy attire Of the decay
ed gentleman had been long since exchanged
for raiment BETTING his daily toll, His lease
had been succeeded by deed, and his hum
bic shanty had been followed by " two-story
house" Of medium size, with a commodious
warehouse attached, where Mr. Foster still
sold sausages to all the region round about.
With an increase of wealth came also an
increase of enemies He had become odous-
ly popular-his birth was involved in the most
plebian obscurity-it was very uncertain who
ti'io NIl' L OolCI was IHCO DCHdu W SHGCI dG
his anecdotes his stories of Revolution were
said to be falsifcations He had hitherto re-
fused to tell where he came from, or where
his friends or relatives resided. That was
very suspicious. IF he was an honest man,
he must have come from somewhere. |
Even boys are not generally very slow in !
understanding when a man is cut by the old !
er ones-they hooted at him in the street
some Of his best stories were caricatured-hs |
vocation and sign were made to contribute to
his own ridicule and downfall. They dubbed |
him " Sword Cannon and any narration that
would now receive the appellation of "fsh
story" was there passed by the remark that |
it was one of Sword Cannon's biggest
The ladies, who had shrewdly suspected |
something was wrong since they first learned |
his vocation, now deserted him almost entire |
ly. They always knew he was an impostor
they had told their husbands so over and over |
again, and even the younger maidens with |
whom he had been universal favorite, were
obliged to abandon him, They had known
him from their infancy to be a kind-hearted |
and sociable man, and as they all loved him
they could not understand why they were not
to associate with him. But the decision had !
gone forth from that great tribunal from which
there is no appeal.
This was the unkindest stroke of adversely
with which that old man could have been
smitten. He loved those girls he loved to
have them stop at his door as they hoped to
their school, and chat with him he loved to
talk with them of an afternoon-thcy always
listened to his stories, and always had sim
cere laugh ready for his jokes, and his sim
plest anecdotes we're always anticipated by a
general giggle. They passed him coldy by {
now and knew him not. His morning visit {
to the BARRIERS shop had for years been the
occasion of repeating his most interesting in ;
while wa,ing his turn to be s
shaved, he had often fought his battles over
again--hare had the people listened and APP |
they now jeered and frowned {
1t was nobody but " General Cannon" e
In silent sorrow our hero shranl1 from all i
contact with his enemies-he avoided all CD. t
portunites to receive insults, and never re- {
sented one when he did receive it, He made !
no effort to regain his standing with his neigh |
bors-he confined himself closely to his shop, c
add was soon almost forgotten by his old as t
sociates, or remembered only to be execrat- T
ed. =
Years Of toll and sorrow rolled away Il
There was no longer any doubt but that the t
was an impostor, because every c
body said so. Il
At length the newspapers came freighted '
with the rejoicings of great nation at the t
arrival of the "Nation's Guest" In all d
parts of the Union, wherever he travelled, all e
we're eager to testify their affection for Lafay. q
,tte. d
1t was soon ascertained that he would pass d
through Newburyport on his eastern tour
The whole town was in a blaze. Meetings 0
we're held, committees appointed and all ne Il
,essary preparations were made to receive that Il
great man in a manner becoming his great |,
services. He came. Guns were fred-pro- 9
LESSONS were formcd-addresse Delivered Il
he town was Illuminated, and every demon il
tration Of joy was INDUCED in. Our inform c