Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-11-18
'oTTUNIWA, IOWA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1852,

- 49, "o "e"ioo Vim. lie was ban
ished in mid-win,er, TO the barn to sleer
on the hay, with only single thin and
tattered blanket to cover his sbiyerinp
body. B.. -.'aa a-aaaa
The heroic boy bore all th,s for eight.
cen months without murmur, and all
for the sake of his little mistress, with
whom, in spite of the vigilance OF me ia.
Their, he managed 10 obtain occasional in.
terviews, in which, with many tears on
both sides, the testimonials of their pure
and innocent affection were hurrledly in
teIchanged. +'' ~s
Old Saunders had but the one child
and having amased considerable f.r
lune by the most parsimonious and usu
rlous practices, he was constantly
ed by The apprehension, even III he
childhood, that every one who oapproach
ed little Matte did 50 with an eye 10 he
money. The child was tender-aearted
meek, and confidlng, as her poor mother
had been before her; and the wretch re
mcmbered how even he had wrought up
on the isolation OF ,ha; poor woman, anc
/
all, as well as lie, and he very properly
| concluded that NJ such creature as him.
sell could thus win upon the confidence
Of the mother--even though it had only
lasted for few days after marriage
WHO might not aspire 10 win that of The
chlli. that resembled her SO closely?
Hetheretore watched her most Jealous.
ly, and cut her off as much as possible
from all intercourse with the outward
world. Even in The distant perspective
OF womanhood, the idea of her marriage
and dover was almost death 10 him. -
10 part with any portion of his precious
and ili-gotten gold was like wringlhg the
drops of his heart blood upon the thirsty
sands Tie at once became furious the
moment he discovered the intimacy and
childish sympathy between the boy
Smith and his child. There was no
knowing what such thing nigh: come
TO; and the starvellng, whnm he ha:,ered
himself he had apprenliced out of chari.
ty, might prove the yiver upon his hearth.
Such were the barbarIties pracnsed
upon the helpless orphan. that, although
too manly himself ever to complain, they
became the talk of the ;and
while some persons openly asserted that
old Saunders was trying To kill the boy
by inches, others had determined to have
ham presented by the next grand inquest
that sat- In the county, for barbarity and
neglect of duty.
Before, however, this very necessary
aad proper step could be taken, these
prosecutions had grown beyond any fur
lher possibility OF endurance, and in fit
OF ungovernabe despair, The miserab e
child made up his rags into little bun.
die, IN which he also secreted a few
scraps of food, which little Matte, to
whom he had made known his purpose
had obtained for him. L. then crept in
10 her little room by Z ldow It night;
and after weeping laes Jas if their llltle
hearts would burst, ln each Others arms,
for each felt that this parting was from
the only friend they had in the world
the poor boy comforled the tender
mourner by assuring her. in tone of
singular confidence, that when he got to
be great man he was going to come
back for her and make her his little wife.
Even at the early age of thirteen The
remarkable magnetic power which after.
wards distinguished the man, was ,ievel-
oped-ioi, Il. relating this occurrence
hlmseli in aiierhie, he said that when he
spoke tins IL bold, confident tone, the
little trembler ceased 10 weep. and look
ing up into his face with smile, said
Wen, then, you may run along, 3il-
ly-Ill wait Tor y you!"
tie was of In ar instant, and with her
last pure kiss upon his lips, he piled his
liille legs as fast as they could carry him
on the road which he had learned led 10
the capital of the State. His heart was
light, his spirit bold, and the great world
before HIM shrouded mystery. He
reached Raleigh in about a week, beg
glng his way after his own little store
gave out. lie must have exhibited a
great deal of audacly and address, for a
child OF his age, TO have succeeded in
gelting through such a journey without
being stopped by the authorities some
where on his way. However. it is no,
more remarkable than many other of the
events OF his life. -.s.
After reaching Raleigh, his life was OF
course wre,chedly precarious for some
tine. lie prowled about the kitchens OF
the gentry at meal times, and lived upon
such OF The scraps of The tables as the ne
groes chose 10 throw to him in compas
sIon-at night, he crawled into some
shed or stable TO shelter in the straw I'LL
morning.
IL happened that kind hearted old
Judge Of the Circuit Cour,-Campbell
by name, e,who was very early riser,an
always went, the frs, thing, 10 see how
The cattle and horses came on, found one
morning feeble looking child, with fea-
lures ghasdy and sharpened by hunger,
lying In the trough OF his cow-house,
which was, close shed around three
sides of the stable. He stopped, aston
lshed, to gaze upon him. The lillle fel-
low had not enough rags upon hi,n TO
cover his nakedness, and had drawn down
some OF The hay from the manger above
TO cover him, and the whole pile shooS
as he shuddPred with the cold.