Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-06-04
Misceiiapeops.
THE SILENT HUNTER.

THE SILENT HUNTER.
The narrative ensuing is strictly histori
cal and truthful. We are indebted 10 tht
pen of the hunternaturalist- -Webber-fo
it;
Shortly before the American War of In
dependence, there arrived in New England
an orphan boy called Bill Smith. Some
friends of his parents took an interest in
him, and apprenticed him-tboagh only
EIGHT years of age-to an old farmer IN
North Carolina. The indentures stipula-
ted that he was to have, besides sufficient
food and clothing, reasonable opportuni-
ties for education; but Saunders, the yeo-
man, thought this folly, and all that Bill
learned was in spite of his prejudices.-
There was little daughter of tho old
farmers, however Matte, a blue-eyed
child, with gold ringlets and dimpled face
who took fancy to instruct the Young
alien that had come under her fathers roof
He learned 10 read and write, and soon be-
came so proficient in both, that he 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 girl, unconsciously
betrothed in the spring time of her life to
the orphan youth who had been perpetual
ly by her side. The farmer discovered
this, and Immediately began to punish
Smith by series of petty aud abominable
prosecutions. He made him sleep in a
barn, on pile of hay, and cut him off
from all consultations of little Mattie's love-
He was rich, and hated any one who ap-
peared to aim at the heir of his fortune
He jealousy watched his daughter, and
tortured poor Bill by every kind of cruelty
till his behaviour became notorious, and
some humane persons resolved to summon
him before court Of justice for barbarity
and neglect of duty:
Before this was known, however the Or
phan boy had formed plan of running
away. He made up his little bundle, and
one night creeping into Mattie's room
through the window, bade her a gentle
good-by. He embraced her and kissed
her, and told her he would come back
great man, and make her his wife; and she
said "I'H wait for YOU" He ran all night
along the highway, and came the next
morning to the sediment of Raleigh
There be lived for some time. He prowl-
ed about the kitchens of the gentry by day,
subsisting on scraps which some kind-heart-
ed slaves would give 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 circuit court. He found Bill Smith one
morning among his cattle and horses. half
dead with hunger and cold. He took him
into his house, fed him, clothed him,
learned his story, and began to consider
how his inhuman master might be punish
ed. Great, therefore, was his delight
when on looking over the list of cases 10 be
tried before him in that circuit, the very
first was commonwealth versus Samuel
Saunders, for abducting, numbering, or 9th
wise unlawfully making away with an in
dentured male child, known as William
Smith"
The trial came on. Judge Campbell
compelled the strictest scrutiny into the
facts. HIS charge to the jury was stern
and dead against the accused. 1t sound
ed like sentence of death. The prisoner
stood pale and shivering. His counsel was
startled, cowed, almost hopeless. The wind
ing up was near. All felt the verdict
must be "guilty."
Suddenly there was commotion in the
court. Carriage wheels were heard rapid
ly nearing the place. The Sheriff came in,
and with him was the boy, still attenuated
from suffering, but neatly clothed, and
with the bloom of life reviving on his
cheek. Old Saunders was carried from the
dock IN convulsions- shrieks being
heard TIL the prison doors were closed up
on him: lie was acquitted, but compell-
ed to give security for the maintenance and
education of Bill Smith till the age of
eighteen.
That was the first public scene in Bill
Smiths career. The next was when. as an
eloquent, yiyacious, bold young lawyer, he
pleaded his first cause at the bar. He
gained it, and gained many after it, and
gradually rose to great honors, wealth, and
prosperity. Matte became his wife, and
their home WAS blessed by sons and
daughters, till, when the Declaration of In
dependence 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 opulent
An in the province, for however, the war