Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-08-25
A FORGOTTEN TRANSLATOR OF THE
BIBLE.

~ ntdI lHc IlluuIc VI lHt tleu-
teenth century, an emigrant from the
County of Derry, Ireland, widower
with four children, sailed for America.
Dreadful sea-sickness prostrated him,
and he died when in sight of the
Capes of the Delaware The little
property he had brought with him the
captain of the vessel appropriated to
his own use, and the four destitute or
phans, two boys and two girls, we're
landed at New Castle, Delaware.
One Of these children was n bright,
blue.eyed boy, eleven years Of age.
The captain placed him in the family
of blacksmith. One night he heard
the artisan tell his wife that the child
was to be bound to him the next day
as an apprentice. The boy resolved
not to be chained to forge. He was
studious and thoughtful, and had
dreamed of life other than that of
mere physical drudgery for which his
delicate frame was inadequate. So,
packing his scanty clothing in little
bundle, he departed before the dawn
on journey he knew not whittier.
While trudging along n dusty road,
hungry and weary, he was ovcrtaken
by wealthy woman in her carriage
and invited to ride. She was charmed
by the boys bright conversation, and
asked him what he would like 10 be
when he become man. He prompt
ly replied I'D like 10 be n scholar,
and make n living by writing"
Pleased with this answer, the good
woman took the boy home with her
aud sent him to school. Meanwhile
his brother, older than he had found
business and prospered, and he fur
nished the aspiring lad with means for
acquiring a classical education under
the instruction of the eminent DIR. Al.
lison, who was the schoolmaster of so
many distinguished Revolutionary pa.
triots. The boy grew to be a tall,
slender and wcll-educatcd young man.
He became Il teacher in the Friends
academy at New Castle, and learned
to love aud revere that society because
of the abounding virtues of its mem
80 He finally went tn Philadel-
khere he had the good fortune to
win the esteem aud abiding friendship
of DR.. Franklin. There he establish.
ed Friends academy, and was distin.
guished a. willing aud industrious
helper in every good work. His
truthfulness was So conspicuous that
it was proverbial Among the Indian
tribes of Pennsylvania, whom he fire.
quently assisted in their helplcssncss.
he was known as, "Thc man who tell.
the truth" On all occasions he was
their trusted anchor Of hope for justice
from the white men.
In the autumn Of 1856. n council
was held ut Easton, on the Delaware
river, in which representatives of the
Indian tribes-the Delawares. Shaw.
nees and the Six Nations-appeared.
They were met by Denny, the Cover.
nor of Pennsylvania, with his council
and secretary, and n large number of
persons from Philadelphia, most of
whom were Friends or Quakers.
Among the latter was our young emf.
grant from Derry. Teedyuscung.
great Delaware chief, was the princi-
pal speaker among the barbarians.
He was chatting under the thrall of
the more powerful Six Nations, and
was irritated by trick of the Pro.
prietory of Pennsylvania. by which
his people had been wrongfully de-
prived of much valuable territory.
He was, nevertheless, anxious TO have
the Delawares remain at peace. The
Friends sympathized with him. and
were at the council to give him as
sistance in maintaing his rights. They
requested our young emigrant, who
was an expert shorthand writer, to
keep an unofficial record of the pro.
ceedings. Rev. Richard Peters was
the secretary of the Proprietary. His
minutes were continually disputed by
Teedyuscung and his associates. while
those of this scribe OF the Friends
were always truthful in the estimation
Of the barbarians. They felt n most
profound respect for him, and the
Delawares adopted him rs a son of
the nation, with the significant name
above mentioned.
The young mans thirst for exact
knowledge was intense and unceasine.
One day he found at a street book
stall a portion of the Septuagint, the
first and purest translation Of the
Hebrew Scriptures into the Greek Ian.
guage, made nearly three hundred
years before the birth of Christ. He
earnestly sought for the remainder of
the precious book and soon found Il.
Wishing to thoroughly master It's con-