Washington telegraph., 1854-08-09
VOL. XIV.
The Silent Hunter,

The narrative ensuing Is strictly hlStor-
ical and truthful We are indebted to the
pen of the hunter-naturalist- ebber-for
IT,
Shortly before the American war of In
dependence there arrived in New England
au orphan boy named Bill Smith Some
friends of his parents took him, though only
eight years of age. to an old farmer in North
Carolina. The indentures stipulated that
be was to have. besides sufficient food and
clothing, reasonable opportunities for educa-
ton: but Saunders, the yeoman, thought
this folly, and all Bill learned was in spite
of his prcjudices. There was little daugh-
ter of the old farmers, however,-Mattie. a
blue eyed child with golden ringlets and dim.
ple6 face,-who took a fancy to instruct the
Young alien that had come under her faith
er's roof He learned to read and to write,
and soon became so proficient in both that
be began, in turn, to teach his tutor
This pleasant exchange of mutual kind
ness went on till the children grew up. and
Matte was blooming g'rl, unconSciou>Iy
betrothed in the spring time of her life to
the orphan youth who had been perpetually
BY her side. The farmer discovered this,
and Immediately began to punish Smith by
series of petty and abominable persccu-
tons. He made him sleep in barn, ON a
pile of hay, with only one tattered blanket
to cover him and cut him off from all the
consultations of Mattie's love. He was rich
and hated any one who appeared to aim at
being the heir to his fortune. He jealou>ly
watched his daughter and tortured poor
Bill by every kind of cruelty till his be-
havior became notorious, and some humane
persons resolved to summon him before a
court of Justice for barbarity and neglect of
duty.
Before this was known, however. the or
rhan boy had formed a plan of running
away. He made up his little bundle, and
one night creeping into Mattie's Ioom thru'
the window, hade her gentle good bye
He embraced her and kissed her, aud told
her he would come hack great man, and
make her his wife and she said. "Ill wait
for YOU" He ran all nj ght along the hi oh
way, and came to the settlement of Raleigh
There he lived for some time-he prowled
about the kitchens of the gentry by day,
subsiSting on the scraps which some kind
hearted slaves bestowed on him. and when it
was dark crawled into some shed to sleep.
1t happened that Judge Campbell very
humane man, was then presiding in the cir
cuit court. He found Bill Smith one morn
ing among his horses and cattle, half dead
with hunger and cold He took him into
his house, fed him, and learned his story,
and began to consider how bis inhuman
master might be punished Great, there
fore, was his delight, on looking over the
list of causes to be tried before him in that
circuit the very first was the Commonwealth
vs. Samuel Saunders, for ahducting mur-
dpring or other wise mlawfullv making
away with an indentured male child, known
as VIM. Smith"
The trial came on. Judge Campbell
compelled the strictcst scrutiny into the
facts. His counsel was startled, cowed, al
most helpless The winding up was near
All felt the verdict must be guilty"
Suddenly there was commotion in court
Carriage wheels were heard rapidly nearing
the place. The sheriff came in, and with
him the hoy, still attenuated from suffering,
but neatly clothed and with the bloom of
reviving life on his cheek. Old Saunders
was carried from the dock in convulsions-
his shrieks being heard till the prison doors
we're closed upon him. He was acquitted,
but compelled to give security for the man-
tenance and education of Bill Smith till the
age of Is.
That was the first public scene in Bill
Smiths career The next was when as an
eloquent. vivacious, bold young LAWYER he
ed many after it and gradually rose tp great
honors wealth and prosperity Matte be-
came his wife and their home was blessed
with sons and daughters. till, when the De-
claration Of Independence was made. men
knew no happier family than William
Smiths He was generous and was chari-
table, hui nevertheless one of the most opu-
lent men in the province. for he was pru-
dent and economical When, however. the
war of liberty broke out his treasures flow
ed like water to support Washington in his
tremendous campaigns. Matte did not re-
pine when she saw their riches melting
away in the fervor of that glorious cause
Let the gold 60" she said and the gold
did GO and when America was free. it was
all gone, and William Smith found himscl!
beegar. But he was not sorrowful for
over the Allegheny mountains was the CONN.,
try of Kentucky beautiful soil and timber
and water and game ahounding. There
they nirht eattlo and fhither vere MANY
goinr who had lost their possessions in the
terrible but sacred war
In the spring of 1884 fifty emigran', as
semhled at Powell's on the frontiers IF the
colony. They were TO Journey in company
over the mountains. for mutual defence, for
the swarrhy tribes of Indians still hovered
over the regions reveneing ION the white