Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-22

receive another command; my sins are for
given" He was always grave and serious.
| never saw him smile. but he had no tinge OF
melancholy or depression. He never indicat-
ed a wish 10 be liberated. nor made a ccm-
plant of his treatment by the iailor. He
seemed perfectly satisfied with himself and
his condition. | was told that woman on
seeing him, burst into tears. He said TO her
Good woman don't cry for me. but for your
self and your children. | am better of than
you are" He had no anxiety for the present
or the future. He once said to me: Il am
as happy here in the arms of my Savior as an
infant child in the arms of its mother"
think he never had a doubt that burning the
church and killing the woman were meritori-
Gus acts. in obedience to an express command
! from- ieaven. and that his sins were thereby
expiated and forgiven.
He was 80 much an object of curiosity that
he had many visitors, from each of whom he
exacted tw , cents. We all stood outside the
iron door of his cell and saw and talked with
him through small, square hole near the
top. If, while convcrsing with one. another
appeared he would dodge ont of sight and re-
main there until the tribute was paid
asked him why he charged that sum and nci-
Their more or less. He said it was because
Scripture. the widow cast into the treasury
two mites ,-and he thought that il he charged
only the smallest sum mentioned he was do
ing right He learned to read while in prison
but never saw Il book in his cell except a BIZ
bic and prayer book. He generally asked
his visitors if he should make prayer; if the
answer was in the affirmative. he would re-
peat one of the prayers of the Episcopal
church. He was large man. above the aver
age height, with broad shoulders and other
indications of physical strength, In his
countenancc there was nothing remarkable
except his eyes, which were var piercing. He
wore gown or robe. covering his shoulders
and reaching TO his ankles. He was cleanly
and neat in his person, and when he stood
erect. with his long, abundant beard resting
upon his breast, his appearance was digniftd
and patriarChal. His cell was not large. and
was situated on the ground floor, near the en-
trance of the building. After being in the
! gloomy cell many years. think about TWEEN
| ty, he was on one occasion taken ont. 1t was
in order to measure him for some new cloth
ing. The jailor conducted him through II
covered way to his dwelling-house. He was
there met by taiorcss, who at once proceed
ed to take the necessary measurements.
| While she was doing this. which was but
short time, he stood perfectly still when she
turned away. he walked to the middle of the
room, looked about. and said, This seems to
me like palace then, going toward win
dow, he said "What large windows YOU
| have 1t a small dinng-room, with a
painted floor, an ordinary table and a few
common chairs. The windows were small
| There were four or five men present besides
| myself; they made some few remarks but
McCausland was silent. He seemed excited
walked tn and fro three or four minutes, and
! then said, ~ will go back" Mr.. Dillirg-
ham. the jalor said to him: ''You needn't
he in hurry, McCausland, sit down." and
offered him chair. He said "No I'll go
back" and then of his own accord he re-
turned to his cell. Some years after this
when was attending court at Augusta, Mr.
| Dillingham; came to me and said "McCaus-
land wants to see you" | was much sur
priscd, and went forthwith to the Jail As
soon as he learned was there he put ont his
hand with some bank bills in it, saying to me-
| Take this" | declined and asked him
what he wanted. He replied. ''You are go
ing to Washington soon. and want you to
go.and see General jackson, and get him to
order them to pay my pension he had been
a soldier in the war of the Revolution he
added "The county now take my pension
eral Jackson could not help him, that the law
directed how his pension should be disposed
Of. He replied: General Jackson is above
the law, and if you go to him he will order
them to pay me my pension" This was the
last interview | had with him. | soon after
wards removed from the State.