Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-12-09

too, was fully satisfied, and acknowledged
that there was no longer a shadow Of doubt
about his being the long lost brothcr.--
Every doubter, after examining the matter
thoroughly, gave up his doubts, and IL is no
matter Of speculation In that neigborhood,
but fixed fact, that the "IDdian Captive"
is one and the same with the lost boy Mat.
thew Brayton.
WHAT he Is LIKE.
Matthew Brayton is man about 8 Fl. 8
in. high, light complexion, hazel eyes, and
moderately dark hair. Like most Of the
family, he is beardless. After his change
from Indian to civilized costume, he took
cold which settled in bis eyes, and caused
a serious inflammation, necessitating his
now being under surgical treatment
When we first met him, about three months
ago, he spoke English tolerably well, and
now has improved very much in his speech.
As long as we supposed him to have been
stolen at three years old, his good English
was a difficulty in the way Of believing bis
story, but medical gentleman Of great ex-
perience 10 such matters informed us short
y afterwards that be might be mistaken in
his age when stolen, for it is not uncommon
for child of six or seven years of age to
forget its native tongue during long stay
among people Of another language, and
when he hears it generally spoken again TO
learn il as rapidly as il he had never known
another language; in fact il seems TO como
to him naturally, which is exactly the proc
ess described bv the "Indian Captive"
when he first explained it to us.
On his breast he has some devices tat
tooed by the tribe when they feared his be-
ing rescued by the whites. On one thigh
he bears some large scars from a deep cash
inflicted by tomahawk and stitched up
with buckskin strips and a large thorn
He has now but two Indian curiosities with
him. One is his pipe of solid flint, weigh
ing nine ounces, which he said it took him
month to drill out with piece of steel,
bears oil and water The other is an In
dian dog, Nemi, of partly wolf breed, and
which is very obedient TO commands given
him in the Indian language. Matthew is
much attached to this dog, which once saved
his life. He generally sleeps on the floor
with his dog strapped by belt to bis
waist.
Matthew, at first, would cat nothing but
raw meat, aud now cannot eat it if more
than just warmed. He can eat nothing
that has salt in it. He speaks five differ
ent Indian languages, viz: Snake, Copper
head, Grow, Utah, and Flat Head.
Besides the marks on his person, and
other means Of identification, Matthew Bray
ton has an unmistakaabIe resemblance to
the rest of the family, particularly 10 the
youngest brother 1t is said that in some
parts or his countenance he also strongly re-
sembles the deceased Mrs. Brayton.
At first he was determined to 60 back to
his tribe, but now he begins to think of
staying where he is. Whether the old
restlessness will come back to him after
while cannot be told, but every inducement
is held out to him to remain with his kin
dred. If he should again leave 1t would be
a crushing blow to the now happy family.
THE UNITED FAMILY.
We paid visit to the scene of the loss
and the return, and spent some hours with
the reunited family. 1t was a day never to
be forgotten. Every person seen after ia
, king the Sandusky, Dayton d Cincinnati
cars from Clyde, was excited by the story.
At Adrian and Carey it was the general
theme of conversation. Old men from ad-
joining counties had come up to see the re-
turned one, and satisfy themselves. All
were convinced, and all were excited. We
. found the Braytons to be farmers in easy
circumstances, and much respected by the
: community. They were open hearted, but
shrewd and thorough going people, of New
, England extraction. 1t was a touching
;. sight TO see the family together and wit
ness the happiness, too deep for expression
! which reigned among the family. The
: aged patriarch, of seventy-three years, could
not contain his delight. The oldest broth,
. er, William, rejoiced in the thought that il
- was by has efforts that the missing brother
had been restored. The hearts Of the sis.
= " ters, as one of them said, 'jumped to him
:. at the first sight of the recovered lost one
y " As they remarked. the whole family accep
'. ted their new positions at once, and it ap
y Ipeared that the separation of so many
i years was but a dream.
= The remarkable youthful look of the
= whole family struck us with surprise. All
: of them looked at least ten years younge
y than the actual fact.
1t was Thanksgiving Day when we were
- with that family. And what Thanksgiv
7 ing Day for them! There was q SAL
y y thought for the one whose presence woulc
- have crowned the happiness of the day
~ ~ There was none TO murmur but all {,
~ ~ unite in the old patriaich's realization o
le the text: at was meet that we SHOULD
~ . make merry and be glad; for this tn,
u brother was dead, and is alive again; anC
was lost, and is found"
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