Judson, Adoniram, 1788-1850; Missionaries -- Burma -- Biography; Missionaries -- United States -- Biography
“The prison was a gloomy-looking, massive structure, and the apartment
into which they were conveyed was underground, dark and dismal. In the
centre was a sort of column, on which burned a solitary lamp, though
without it was still broad day. Around the walls a quantity of straw
had been spread, on which his companions soon made themselves at home;
but Mr. Judson could not divest himself of the idea that the straw was
probably not fresh, and busied his imagination with images of those
who had last occupied it. The weather had seemed almost oppressively
hot above-ground; but now he shivered with the chilling dampness of
the place, while the confined air and mouldy smell rendered him sick
and giddy. He paced up and down the cell, he could not tell how long,
but it seemed many hours, wondering if his new friend would really
come; and again, if he did not, whether he could keep upon his feet
all night; and in case of failure, which part of the straw he should
select as the least loathsome. And then his thoughts would wander off
again to Plymouth, and to Bradford, and to the ‘biggest church in
Boston,’ but not with the feeling that he had before. On the contrary,
he wondered that he ever could have been discouraged. He knew that at
most his imprisonment could not last long. If he only had a chair, or
the meanest stool, that was all he would ask. But he could not hope to
walk or stand long.
“While leaning against the column for a moment’s rest, the door of the
cell opened, and he instantly recognized the American he had seen in
the street. He suppressed a cry of joy, and seeing that the stranger
did not look at him, though he stood close by the lamp, tried himself
to affect indifference. The American making some remark in French,
took up the lamp, and then adding (or perhaps translating) in English,
‘Let me see if I know any of these poor fellows,’ passed around the
room, examining them carelessly. ‘No; no friend of mine,’ said he,
replacing the lamp, and swinging his great military cloak around Mr.
Judson, whose slight figure was almost lost in its ample folds.
Comprehending the plan, Mr. Judson drew himself into as small a
compass as possible, thinking that he would make the best of the
affair, though having little confidence in the clumsy artifice. His
protector, too, seemed to have his doubts, for, as he passed out, he
slid some money into the jailer’s hand, and again, at the gate, made
another disbursement, and as soon as they were outside, released his
protégé, with the expressive words, ‘Now run!’ Mr. Judson quite forgot
his fatigue from walking in the cell, as he fleetly followed his tall
conductor through the streets to the wharf, where he was placed on
board an American merchantman for the night. The next evening his
friend returned, informing him that his place of refuge had been only
temporarily chosen, and as the papers necessary to his release could
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