The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-12-01
The Leather Man.

For many years peculiar person
known as the Leather Man, has trav-
eled through Connecticut and Massa-
chusetts. Whence he comes and
whittier he goes, nobody knows. vet
for at least a generation he has kent nm
his neutrality-suspicious., appearing
regularly every spring and fall. He IS
held in awe by some of the older peo
pie, many of whom remember him as
appearing exactly the same when they
were young, and children are afraid Of
him. His apparel is of leather throuoh-
out, new patches being added from time
to time About all the figures known
in trigonometry appear upon the coat
and trousers, while his moccasins are
decorated with triangles stitched with
red string, trapezoids fringed with
green yarn, and semicircles done in
cardinal A slouched hat covers his
head. Out from under this escape
few long gray hairs, which are never
any grayer, but are materially longer
than when he first made his appear
ance Upon his furrowed face is ALWAYS
coarse stubble beard. never anv
smoother, never any rougher, and his
finger nails always preserve the same
uncanny length. As he passes through
village, staff in hand, the school CHI
dren shrink from him and older peopb
wonder.
81 remember well when 1 was
boy" said well-known resident O
this town, ''meeting the Leather NJ,
in the road as was driving home my
fathers cows. Although forbidden by
my mother ever to 90 near him, | did
venture to address him. He gave me
the only response he ever gives any
body-a stolid glance Not discour-
aged, however, l asked him if he was
hungry, a NATURAL suggestion to q
country lad no reply. Still doubling,
| beckoned him into the corn-crib.
Then | fastened to the pantry and re-
turned with half dozen doughnuts.
Without word he stretched his hand
toward me, and placed the doughnuts
beside him. He mumbled something
which L could not understand Since
then have endeavored to follow him,
but l could never see that he stopped
anywhere for rest until this fall, when a
days journey was rewarded by seeing
him steal into an clubhouse at night.
Pretending that it was an accidental
meeting, [ joined him. He was en-
gagged in coming the well-thumbed
pages of small book by the light of a
candle which he carried with him.
"Well, old man, how are you ?''
said.
Calmly he put up his book and start
ed to leave. | put my hand upon his
shoulder and stopped him
Whom have [ the pleasure of adj
dressing?' | asked, with all due rever-
ence.
Ugh
"'Will you not come into the house
to sleep?'
ugh, and the old man shook like
a leaf.
"'Are you deaf q
There was an almost imperceptible
shake of the head and heavy SIGH.
Tell me who you are.
SAT this he started to take a yellow
paper from his pocket, but suddenly
thrust it back as though recollectinc
himself. | offered him silver dollar
but he would not put out his hand fot
1t. Baf1ied in every way, | had one re-
course. would trace him from day to
day. | sent word Immediately through
the valley where his customary route
lay to have intelligence sent me of his
progress. For weeks | traced him
through Milford, Woodbury., Morris,
Lltchiield, and up into the Berkshires,
and back again to the vicinity of Nor,
Wich, where all traces of him were lost
in n piece of dense woods. - Cor. N. Y
SIN.