The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-08-09


up before him the American captives.-
The stranger was none other than Joel
Barlow, Comm IsSiOner Of the United States
to procure the liberation of slaves belong
ing to that Cover ument He took the
men by the band, as they came up, and
:hey were free. As you might expect. the
poor fellows were very grateful: some
laughed, some wept for JOY, some shouted
and sang, and tbI ew up their caps, while
others, with David Matson among them.
knelt down on the chips, and thanked God
for the great deiverauce
Ibis is very affecting scene," said
the Commissioner, wipiug his eyes. Il
must keep the impI ession Of it for my
Columbaid - and drawing out his tablets,
be proceeded TO write ON the spot an apos-
trophe to freedom, which afteIHard
found place in his great epic
David MatsOn bad saved little money
during his captivity, by odd jobs and work
on holidays. He got passage to Malaga,
whele he bought nice shawl for his wife,
and watch for each Of his bows He
then went 20 the quay, where an Amer-
can ship WAS lying, just ready to sail for
Boston.
Almost the first man he saw on board
was Pelatiah CuI tbs, who had rowed him
down 10 the port seven years before. Ye
found that his old ueieiIbor dId not know
him, SO changed was he with his long
beard and Moorish dress, whereupou, with
out telling his name. he began to nut
questions about his old home, and finally
asked if he knew Mrs. Maison
Il rather think l do,'' said Felatiah !;
"she is my wife,
Your wife - cried the other '.She is
mine before God and man. am David Mat
son, and sue is the nlo5her Of my children
And mine too, said Pelatah. II left
her with babe in her arms. If you are
David Matson, your right to her is outlaw
ed at any rate, she is mine, and | am not
the man to give her up
God is great ~ said poor David Mat
son, uncOnSciouSly repeating the familiar
words of MOSem submission. ellis will
be done. | loved her, but | shall never
see her again give these, with my bless
ing, to the good woman aud the boys -
and he handed over, with sigh the bun
die containing the gifts of his wife and
children.
He shook hands with his rival. 'Pela-
tiah, lie said, looking back he left the
ship, 'De kind to Anna aud my boys"
''Ay, ay, sir, responded the sailor, in
careless tone. He watched the poor man
passing slowly up the uaIoS street, until
out of sight. Its Il hard case for old
David he said, helping himself to a fresh
cud of tobacco but I'm glad I've seen
the last of him"
Pelatiah Cunts reached home. He told
Anna The story of her husband, and laid
his ifls in her lap. She did not shIiuk
nor faint. for she was "A healthy woman,
with sttong nerves; but she stole away by
herself aud wepL bitterly. She lived many
yeas after, but could never be peI suaded
to wear the pretty shawl which the hus-
baud of her youth had sent as his farewell
gift. There is, however, a tradition that
in accordance with her dying wish, it was
wrapped about her poor old shoulders IN
the coffin, and Unried with her.
The little bulls eye watch. which is still
in ;he possession Of one of her grand chIl-
dTeu, is nov all that remains 10 tell the
tale of David NatSon, the lost man.
~--
4 CONvICT's STRANGE STORY.--"Twelve
years for stealing meal to keep Lis family
from starving - This statement is made
by an official of tie Eastern Pentenriary
as veIitabie fact. At he present time
there is confiued in the Eastern Peniten
tiaTy man who is serving out a sentence
for he larceny of food, which was 10 feed
his starving wife and children. The mans
story is this, and Il is vouched for by
fellow prisoner. who was concerned in the
robberieS, and to whom the Count gave
two years Is: Il was coal miner. residing
at Scranton, aud duI Ing he suspension of
work last wUter like many others / was on
the verge of sta vatiun. | looked over my
larder, aud found Iudian meal and meat
enough TO last foi a week. After that was
gone [ knew not where the next was to
come from. TbeIe weIe my wife and
three childI en- 10 ue locked afteI, no pros
pect of woik, because he big men of .he
coal companies were fgiD ing among them
selves, and he poor miuSrs were starving.
In the same house with me lived a Dutch
man, who was also nicer. Seeing that
things we've becomming desperate, one day
! proposed TO the other fellow that we
should 90 into the country aud get us
enough meal to keep us for a month. We
took another fellow with us (there he is,
said the man, pointing to the two year
fellow. We went into six barns and stole
as much Indian meal as we could carry.
/ Then the Du, Gilman went Into a kitchen
and took two cans of fruit. When we
we've nearly back to town, this man here
found spring house open and a piece oi
meat followed him out Of there. We
were arrested alterwaid and tried. j he
Dutchmau tuned SAFES evidence, aud
the judge gave me twelve yea two years
for each barn / went iuto), while my com
uanion got two years foI tina: piece OF meat.
| tell you what, it's rough 20 lock - man
up that long for So tIfiIng crime, when
he does r to keep the wolf from the door.
An effort will be made at an early meet
ing of the Board of Pardons to have the
convict released, provided, after inves' iga-
siou, his story is found to be JrIe.-ibttd-
Record.