Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-05-14

poor boy to deprivation and The most arduous
tolls, but proved a traitor to the condition OF
the indentures by which be was bound. These
included the privilege of receiving general
school education, instead of which he was not
| taught its merest Tudiments. Will, owing in
great part to his capacity aud ineliuation for
study, combined doubtless, with the COM
parative impulse often accompanying 1t, resolved
| nevertheless to become scholar. Happily,
to aid bis good intention, he found an in
structreSs whose amiability and skill rendered
| the task of learning rather pleasure than
toll
This was Matte Saunders, the farmers
daughter. Often Will's eyes would un-
| consciously wander from the page to her earnest
blue eyes, and then would come such sweet,
gentle tones of remoGstrance, that he really
could scarcely be sorry for offence. In this
studious companionshp as time went on, more
than letters were learned, though little did
either Matte or Will Imagine how important
an influence would be exercised on their
destinies by the hours which giided so swiftly
aud careltssly by. They loved unconsciously,
and the sweet secret of their breasts was first
made known to them by the father of Matte,
was revealed to their mutual mystery. From
the time OF its discovery, the most dire tyranny
not to say atroeity, was practiced by Saunders
towards the poor boy.
Deprived OF the very uecesssries of existence,
he was driven in tie midst of winter, to sleep
with but single thread bare covering, on some
hay in barrel.
Such was the endurance to which be bravely
submitted for bis dear coInpAnion's sake. -
Ills sole consolation was the sympathy ex-
pressed by Matte during his stolen interviews
with her. She, no longer able to seq poor
Will, had her gentle heart larceratcd by the
knowledge OF the persecution he suffered,
without the ability OF alleyiatng the misery Of
which she knew herself TO be the innocent
cause. Meek-Spirited and tender, she Was but
little fitted to oppose the unrelentng spiri: Of
her father, who, having amasaed IA considers
bic fortune, imagined he did sufficient ior he.
happiness by zealously guarding it, His
daughter, even to the approach OF wolnauhood,
was vigorously watched, for tbc idea OF I
moneyless suitor was distracting to him.
HIS nalgnity awakened by the affection sub
slstlng between Matte aud Win, was ner-
cllessly visited upon the forlorn orphan bow
The patient herosln Of love alone could have
induced Viii, naturally OF bold aud defant
temper, to yield to the degrading servitude he
owned. But 10 break from it was TO part
from Matte that thought was mere srievous
than all. So be endured aud hoped for long,
till the increasing severity Of bondage became
uubearable. Iucited by burning iudigna-
ton, be resolved to escape, and steallug to
Matue's room one night, he told her his in-
tentiOn. Tue child lovers had little time to
indulge their gref-one burst of tears-one
clasped embrace, aud they parted. Matte 5
only CONSOLATION, the last words of her lover.
that "wheu he was d great man, he would
come back aad make her his little wife,
With few crusts aud some scraps of cloth
ing, viii set forth ou his journey to the Amer
ican Capitol. Curious ycisstudes awaited him.
His store was soon exhausted, aud he was cou.-
PEELED to beg his bread, aud seek some wretch
ed shelter at night. Ga one occasion, he was
discovered by the excellent Judge Campbell,
who, an early riser for the charitable purpose
of looking to the welfare of his cattle, as we'll
as of his household, on visiting his stables, vas
amazed to find there pale, miserable looking
boy, emacialed with deprivation and hunger.-o
The good old man could not restrain his tears,
as he said: "Never, while / have crust must
this be-" Removed to the Judges dwelling,
for days the poor orphan vacillated between life
aud death, unable 10 explain his unhappy sit
uatou, or express his gratitude to his deliver
ers.
From the time that VIII Smith Was received
into the Judges family, he was treated as one
of It's members. Through strange coincidence
the very first case met with by the Judge, on
setting out ON the Circuit, was that of the Com
mouwealth VS.. Samuel Saunders, unlawfully
making away with the nGentured Guild known
as VIII Smith. Campbell, delighted with the
idea of retrlbution on the prosecutor of his
pyotege, whom he loved as bis sou, gave it bis
immediate attention, and compelled minute iu-
vostigatlon OF every particular iu the affair."
The trial was singular and terrible scene.--
Campbell, severe and iIDplacable, sat like
another Brutus, resolved for the sentence
Matte, TOO, the timid Matte, was present, pale,
heart-sck, and agonized by conflicting feelings.
The novelty OF her situation, and its publicity,
we're sufficient alone to overwhelm her gentle
nature, in addition to which she had the misery
to witness her parents disgrace, and was ais
tracted with tue conviction that Will, her sole
hope aud only friend, was lost to her forever.
Saunders, trembling and conscious, await
ed the verdict, which came as deathknell On
his ears, as the solemn tone of denunciation
s. Guilty ~ sounded through the uubroken
hush OF the court. At thai instant the noise
of'carriage wheels told au arrival, aud sent a
murmuring agitation through the crowd. The
excitement was told by.the eager excitement OF
the peoples gazs, to learn the cause. Even
Matte was r1nsed irom iae ssup5g ot Despair
into which sue vas sank. 3 ,laage ssspe
hope arose IN her breast, aud scarcely oaald
sho conceive tie marvellous fetiiy IS 4c be-
held one enter gleM she eou.d not uIstake,
but SO pale, aud atteruaied MS ~ seem, indeed,
rather spectre than human beiug. But it
was her lost one, her well remembered COM