Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-20
nlisfellanp.
STEPHEN BURROUGHS;
OR,
CRIME AND ITS RETRIBUTION.
Part 3.


Part 3.
We left our guilty and unfortunate prisoner
paying the penalty of his misdeeds in the cruel
Jail of Northampton, where he was absolutely
as the reader will have seen in the conclusion
of our last number, almost perishing with hum
ger. He tells us that he had grown sick of life,
and hated the very idea of ever again mixing
with the world. l longed' he says, with a
touching pathos, longed for death, with an
inpatient ardor; for there are situations. in
which life becomes burthen-when it is no
longer desirable. This was exactly my situa-
tion began to console myself with the hope
that my sorrow would soon have an end in the
arms of DEATH
Matters were in this situation, when one
morning Burroughs heard the outer door of
his Jail loosed from its bolts and bars. The
little square window-door looking into his cell
was opened, and his name called by the jailer.
Ho made no reply when another voice pro-
nounced his name STEPHEN =
1t was his uncle, his mothers brother, who
had heard of his sufferings, and had come to
ameliorate them They had long interview
during which the young forger's foolish at
tempts to break Jail were reproved, and much
good council impaired = together with some
money!, which secured him many comforts,
and brought about a better state of mind.
We have never read more forcible exposition
of the effects of Hunger than the following:
Immediately after this, the jailer's wife
came into the alley, and told me that if |
wanted any victuals she would supply me.
How this declaration sounded in my ears, you
will more readily conceive than can describe.
To have prospect of speedy supply of food,
again recalled the desire of life. My feelings
were in arms, and all the vigor of desire was
again re-kindled in my bosom. l told her
wished for something to eat Immediately and
on her informing me there was nothing ready
dressed, Ibesought her to fetch me some bread,
that I might be eating ,Ohile she Das maxi
ing ready something else She brought me
brown loaf, weighing about four pounds
With what pleasure did I view this preciou
morsels approaching half devoured it will
my eyes, before got hold of it ! How swee
was the taste How exquisite the pleasure
Warner laid hold of the loaf and tore ava,
about half the contents. Yes,' said l, thol
fellow-sufferer eat and be satisfied the da,
of bitterness is over we have the promise agail
of food sufficient to supply the calls of Ma
ture =
The bread was almost instantly gone, bu
the cries of hunger were not appeased. Soon
however, the wife of the jailer came witt
strong tea and toast was astonished sh
brought to little, but she understood my situa
tion better than did myself We eat up tn
recruit of food in moment. Ientreated TO
more, but could not obtain it, under near a
hour When had received my third portion
and we had eaten it, Warner began to ez
perience terrible pains in his bowels, and
thought, for some time, he must have expire
under the operation.
The same characters, who had made the
appearance when was bound in the manne
described, now entered the dungeon again, an
to work went hammers and files, and in abor
halfan-hour was freed from the terrible loa
of iron, under which I groaned for thirty-tw
days.
When was liberated from these irons
had almost lost the use of my limbs my fec
would hardly answer my desire for walking
for both of them had been touched with ii
frost, and the irons on one of my legs had bee
put on no tight as to cause swelling, whic
ended in sore about six inches long and whiC
has never yet gotten entirely well.
- was removed out of the dungeon into a
upper room, which was much more comfortab
than the one had first occupied. Here r
ceived food as often as once in three hour
through the next day. Yet could not be sa
is6ed, my appetite was keen as ever, even whit
was SO full as to prevent me from swallowir
more. This continued to be the case for Il
space of fortnight longer, when 1ound II
appetite regulated upon the common scale
eating
The uncle wrote to Burroughs father, te
ing him in what condition he had found his SO
and how he had left him, explaining that
was presently going as a member to the Gener
Assembly at Boston, and should no longer
able to look after him.
Upon the receipt of this letter, Burroug
Senior wrote to friend in Northampton
pay attention to Stephens needs, at his cost
but that friend thought or cished it to
thought, that the letter was forgery, and
paid no attention to it , so that saws Bu
roughs, the report was soon circulated, thai
had forged letter in my fathers name, a
sent it to one of his old and confding friends
What comment is this upon the influence Of
Bad Name ?
Burroughs little needed his uncle's reno
STRANGE against attempting to break jai
With the aid of a felow-prisoner named Pf
lips, an adroit prison-breaker and burglar,
begins to renew his operations for libert
which are, however, constantly frustrated
another prisoner named Kinds, who while p
tending to be their confident and friend, q
from whom he has received several importI
fayors, yet reports every thing he over-he
of their operations to the jailer Some
these attempts are not exceeded by anything
Baron Trenck. For example They have b
trying to escape through the pump into va
below, and SO through the foundation-wal
the outside but Kinds has reported them to
keeper when