The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-07-20
THE ENT HUNTER

The ensuing narratlNe Is SIIlc0iy Hlstol
ical and truthful. We are indebtedto the
pcn of the hunter Observation-Disclosures
for it. 0fs
Shortly before the American war OF In
dependence, there arrived in New Eng
land an orphan boy called Billy Smith
Some friends of his parents took an active
interest in him, and apprenticed him.
though only eight years of age-.-to an old
farmer in North Carolina. The linden
lures stipulated that he was to have, be-
sides sufficient food and clothing, reason
able opportunities of education; but saun,
ders, the yeoman, thoughtit folly; and all
Bill learned was in spite OF his preIudices,
There was a little daughter of the old
farmers however, Matte, blue eyed
child with gold ringlets and dimpled face
---who took a fancy to instruct the young
alien who had come under her father
roof He learned to read and write, and
soon became so proficient in both, that he
began, in turn to teach his tutor.
This pleasant exchange of natural kind
ness went on till tho children grew up
and Matte was unconsciously betrothed
in the spring time of her life to the or
nhan youth who had been perpetually by
her side. The farmer discovered this and
Immediately began to punish Smith by
series of petty abomniable prosecutions.
He made him sleep in barn, on pile OF
hay, with only one tattered blanket to Gov
er him, and cut him off from all consola-
tions of little Mattie's love. He was rich,
and hated any one who appeared to aim
at being the heir to his fortune. He Jeal-
ously watched his daughter and tortured
poor Bill by every kind of cruelty, till his
behaviour became notorious, and some
human persons resolved to summon him
before cour. of Justice for barbarity and
neglect of duty.
Before this was known, however, the or
phan boy had formed a plan of running
away. He made up his little bundle, and
ore night creeping into Mattie's room
through the window, bid her a gentle
good bye. He embraced her and kissed
her, and told her he would come back a
great man, and make her his wife; and she
said, ''I'll wait for you" He ran all
night along the highway, and came next
morning to Raleigh. There he lived for
some time. He prowled about the kitch-
ems of the gentry by day, subslsting on
the scraps which some kind hearted slaves
bestowed on him, and when it was night
he crawled into some shed to sleep.
1t happened that Judge Campbell, a
very human man, then was presiding in
the circuit court He found Bill Smith
one morning among his horses and cattle,
half dead with hunger and cold. He took
him into his house, fed him, learned his
story, and began to consider how his in
human master might be punished. Great,
therefore, was his delight when looking
over the list of causes to be tried before
him in that circuit the very first was
Commonwealth VS.. Samuel Saunders fol
abducting, numbering or otherwise unlaw
fully making away with an indenturec
male child, known as William Smith,
The trial came on. Judge Campbell
compelled the strictest scrutiny into the
facts. His counsel was startled, coweo
and almost hopeless. The winding w
was near. All felt the verdict must b,
guilty
Suddenly there was commotion il
Court. Carriage wheels were heard rap
idly nearing the place. The sheriff cam
in and with him was the boy, still attenu
ated from suffering, but neatly clothed
and with the bloom of life reviving on hi
cheek. Old Saunders was carried from
the dock in convulsions-the shrieks be
ing heard till the prison doors were close
upon him. He was acquitted, but com
PEELED to give security for the mainten
ance and education of Bill Smith till tn
age of eighteen.
That was the first public scene in Bi
Smiths career. The next was when, a
AN eloquent, vivacious, bold yonng law
yer he pleaded his first cause at the bal
He gained many after it, and gradual
rose to great honors, wealth and prosper
,ity. Matte became his wife, and thei
home was blessed with sons and daugh
tiers, till when the Declaration of Inde
,pendence was made, men knew no hap
pier family than that Of William Smith
He was generous, and he was charitable
but nevertheless one of the most opuler
men in the province, for he was pruder
and economical.
When, however, the war Of llbert
broke cut, his treasures flowed like ws
ter to support Washington in his tremer
!dous campaigns Matte did not repin
when she saw their riches melting ava
in the fever of that glorious cause. "L'
the gold CO." she said; and the gold di
go. and when America was free it was a
gone, and William Smith found himsc