The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-02-07


ing abused he at once purchased it, and gave
il to some more human farmer, stipulating
for its kindly treatment. The severe labOrs
incident to a rough frontier lie often maim-
ed or disabled horses, which, otherwise
burden to their owners, were turned loose
10 die Wherever Johnny heard Of such an
animal he Immediately made diligeut search
for it, and, bargaining for its proper care
during the winter, led it away to some rich
pasture which he had found in his wander
ing. In this way he often collected CON
siderable drove of animals, the convalescent
members of which he persistcntly refused TO
sell, but readily gave away to such persons
as bound themselves solemnly TO treat them
well.
Upon the same principle lie regarded the
inhietion Of pain or death upon any creature
as almost objectionable sin. His con-
ception Of the Nervousness Of this sin, too
was not limited to the higher forms of life,
but extended to the minutest insect, and 10
its mere disturbance oriuconveuieuce. One
autumnal night, while lying by his camp
fire in the woods, he observed that Tie mo-
squitoes blew into the flame and were barn
ed. Taking the huge tin dipper, which
answered the double purpose of cup and
! mush pot, from his head, he filed il with
water and quenched the fire, rcmarsing
afterward; Good forbid that should build
a fire for my comfort which should be the
i means Of destroying any Of his creatures -
i At another time he made his camp fire at
! the end of hollow log in which he intend
cd to pass the night, but finding IL occupied
/ by a bear and her cubs, he moved the fire 20
the other end and slept in the snow rather
than disturb the bears. Walking one morn
/ ing over n small prairie, he was bitten by a
. rattlesnake. Some time afjerward friend
inquired Of him about the matter He drew
n long sigh and replied "P0or fellow he
only just touched me, when /, in an uugodly
passion, put the heel Of my scythe ia him,
and went home. y gain, while assisting
in the construction of 4 road through The
woods, a hornet whose nest had been Go
strOyed in the operation found lOdgment
underneath johnny shirt. NotwithStand-
ing the fact that he was repeatedly stung by
the enrnged insect, he removed IL with tho
greatest gentleness. His companions laugh
ingly asked him why he did net kill it, re-
ceiving in reply, "It would not he right 20
kill the poor thing, for it did not intend TO
hurt me"
apple trees in what he termed the proper
way, that is from tae seed-DruainE and
grating being an absolute sin in his eyes
was the zeal with which he advocated the
pc culiar doctrines os the SweGeu6orgi=u
faith. II the purchase OF books and tracts
tre ating on The system CT religion he eZ-
pended much OF his revenue, and il was bis
custom always to carry few old volumes
IL. 81 D. d
upon entering a settlers house, wearied
with his long tramp, was to- lie down Oh the
floor, with Eis kuapsack for pillow, and
: inquire if his auditors would hear 'some
: news right fresh from heaven" Drawing
forth his few tattcred books, he would en-
. large upon the beauties of his faith uutii hiz
hearers caught the glow Of his enthusiasm,
while scarcely comprehending his words.
SO anxious Was he that every one should
read his books, and limited was thoh
number, that lie divised an original method
] by which one book was converted into q
I serial. Dividing volume into many pieces
( each containing a single chapter, he left one
p at a log house, and on = subsequent visi
4 furnished another fragment, continuing thi,
5 process until the whole book had been read
In this way he was enabled to furnish read
ing matter 20 several families ut the sam,
! time, the only drawback to the process lying
in the fact that the first installment given
to some illiterate backwoodsmau sometimes
happened to be the last fraction Of The
volume, and the unfortunate recipient wa
g thus compelled TO read the book throuQl
{ backward.
d The personal appearance of Chapman va
= as singular as his character. He was n small
. wiry man, quick and restless in his motion
and conversation his beard, though no
I, long, was uushaven his hair was long an,
dark and his eyes black and sparkling. IL
u lived the roughest life, camping out in Ia
3 woods, or il sleeping in house, occupyiu,
d the floor. His dress was an indescribaJl
u medley, composed of the cast-off clothin
+ he had taken in exchange for apple trees
IS In later years he seemed TO think even thi
n kind of second hand ra:ment too luxurious
ir and wore as his principal garment an oil
~ / coffee sack which he had bought and IN Ia
-, bottom and sides of which he cut holes {
thrust his head and arms through. This /.
pronounced "a very serviceable cloak an
> as good clothing any man need wear.
. He scarcely ever wore shoes except in win
3 ter but, if travelling in the summer tim,
j., make himself rude pair Of sandals H
le never purchased any covering for his fee
lie When H. used anything in the form of boot
o. OF shoes they were cast-off things, general
ss minated, which he would gather up, hov
q ever dilapidated they might be, always il
- sisting that il was a sin TO throw aside
u boot or shoe so .ong as il wOuld adhere to
: human foot. His hcadgear was constructe
- on like economical principle. For n Ion
time he wUre the large tin dipper in whic
u he cooked his mush while travelling. Z,
}" as it failed sufficiently to protect his cy,
10 from the sun, he constructed n hat of past
es board with an immense peak in front, AT
If bent down At the sides to shade his IA
Sc from the heat, thus securing an article tn
ot combined usefulness with economy, NJ
n which became his permanent fashion. Ii
H. same close economy Johnny carried into =
IA the phases of his life, extending il TO IA
- diet, which was meagre as his clothiu
!, He believed it to be a sin TO kill any crcatu
= for food, holding that the soil produc,
''s everything requisite for human subs:sieuc
" Among his other eccentriUities was tina.
ne bearing pain with more than Indian for
he tude. Very often he would thrust pins n
y needles into his flesh without tremor II
an nervous sensibility seems 10 have been le
ng acute than that of ordinary mortals for
ed he had a cut or sore, his method OF tire;
IN ment was first 70 scar il with red hot III
- and then cure il as a burn. This fortitud
:. together with Iis strange appearance Al
eccentric actions led the Indians arnoi