The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-07-25
THE PATRIOT FUGITIVE.
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.

A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.
Comcly Mistress Sally Suydam sat on
low bench beneath the apple-tree in her
back yard, shelling peas. Delicate petals
from the fragrant blossoms overhead
dropped upon her; the blucbird perched
upon the hollow stump hard by sang to
her song of spring and sunshine; the
fresh morning breeze that made ripples
all across the golden surface of Flushing
Bay to mark its progress, came to lift
carelessly the soft, brown curls on her
temples. Before her, on an upturned
pail, rested gaunt old man, with white
hair, and long, bony fingers that were
interlocked over his knobby knee.
: "Indeed, spoke Mistress Suydam, con.
tinuing her conversation, ''it is hard that
Abner should be so long away from his
home and in peril of his life, but he
would be no true American did he lag at
his wife's apron string when his country
has need of him. And, of truth, in
stead of repining l should rejoice daily
that he is still alive and at liberty. l
think would rather hear that he had
fallen on the field than that he was a
prisoner in the cruel hands of the Brit
ish--"
''In that Jersey prison ship. Verify,
it is wondrous that men endure to live in
that hell upon earth If the half that is
told of it be true"
1.-THE half of its horrors hath not been
toldl' exclaimed suppressed but dis
tinct voice, from the clump of lilac bushes
behind Mistress Suydam. The good dame
gave little jump and an exclamation of
alarm, while the gaunt man sprang to his
feet. Peering in the direction Of the
voice, they saw under the bushes. close
to the ground, the haggard, yellow face
of man with great wild eyes and tangled
hair and beard.
'Who are you, and what want you
here2" demanded Mistress Suydam,
stoutly.
"Robert Jameson; fugitive from the
Jersey prison-ship am I, and sore in need
of all that man may need to live"
"Come forth, man; come forth. You
shall need no longer here" responded
the old man earnestly, going toward
him,
"Back-back! Keep your distance,
man! There is death in my garments
the poison of the prison-fever. Stand
aloof; but I pray you lay some food where
[ may get it without coming anigh you. >
While he spoke Mistres Suydam re.
Aected, and when he had ceased, quickly
took the ordering of affairs in her hands
Giving to the old man-who was none
other than the patriot-parson Egbert Ell
lis-a suit of her soldier husbands cloth
ing, she instructed him to see that the
fugitive, after casting away his infected
garments, bathed in the creek at the foo
of the garden, and then put on the clear
raiment, by which time she would have
good breakfast ready for him.
When Jameson's hunger had been ap.
peased, he told his story:
81 was taken prisoner through the
running down of the boat was in on the
Hudson, and was put aboard the prison.
ship three months ago. The night be.
fore last I sprang overheard, being will
ing rather to die than live longer there
but coming ashore a little below the tide
mill, I managed to make my way into thu
country, and since then, hiding when
could, and running when dared, I have
fed thus far, eating nothing until now
How anxiously listened to your speech
to learn if ye were friends or foes!"
els life on the prison-ship indeed 81
terrible as men say9" asked Mistress Suy
dam.
"Only the dead have learned all it
horrors, but the living there know
enough to madden them Twelve hun
dred men are crowded In space tina
would not suffice for the healthful keep
ing of one-fourth so many. They ar,
scantily fed upon tainted meat and yer
min-infested bread, so that violent ant
fatal disorders are rife among them
The dreaded fever hath broken out, ant
so RACES that at times as many as tw,
hundred die of it in a night Through
sheer malignity the British officers refus
water even to those parched with th
fever, and find sport in seeing their burn
ing thirst drive them mad Often in tn
inky darkness of the lower gun-deck
where they are confined at night, tn
startling cry is heard: Look to your
selves! One here hath gone mad and h
hath knife And the mailman, know
ing not what he does, slashes right ant
left with his weapon, until in self-defens
hor OF L h Ill 4lot 4
dark And that much amuses the Britisl
officers.
Lord, let death seize upon them, an,
let them go down quick into hell,
calculated the pastor, in fervent quota
ton of the psalmist.
"Amen!' responded Jameson between
his clinched teeth, continuing his nara
tive. 'tIt is common sport with then
to cast apples among the prisoner
to set them fighting. The wretched men
whose minds are weakened by their suf
ferings, seem maddened, at sight of tn
tempting fruit, and will beat and tea
each other, with claws and teeth. lik
starving, ravenous beasts, to get posses
sion of it-whereat the British officer
laugh heartily and enjoy themselve
nightly"
"Lord, let burning Goals fall upo
them; let them be cast into the fire, int
deep pits, that they rise not up again,
broke forth the parson.
''Men are shot down like dogs by tn
sentries, who act under orders, excus
therefor being found in the slightes
breach of discipline"
''Woe unto the wicked! 1t shall b
i'll with him, for the reward of his hasd
shall be given him."
again and again cartel hath com
f2E an exchange of prisoners, and thos