LANCASTER COUNTY. 209 



their sufferings and died. Dieffenderffer's sufferings 

 were mitigated by the kindness of a Mr. Miller, Hessian 

 commissary in the English service; having been at 

 Lancaster, he had taken lodging at the public house of 

 Michael Dieffenderffer, and who, in a conversation, told 

 Miller he had a son, a suffering prisoner, at New York, 

 and if he had an opportunity, would send him some 

 money. Miller informed him he would shortly return to 

 New York, and would be pleased to have it in his power 

 to befriend him or his suffering son ; the opportunity was 

 improved, and four half-johannes, placed in the hands of 

 the commissary, who, with the characteristic fidelity of 

 an honest Hessian, on his arrival, delivered the gold to 

 David.* He received, he said, with gratitude, and in. 

 tears, the money, a kind father had sent him. His condi- 

 tion was greatly ameliorated. 



Notwithstanding the economy he used, his money, as 

 his imprisonment was protracted, was reduced to a few 

 cents; and while, as a prisoner of hope, he was meditat- 

 ing how his future sufferings should be mitigated, Capt. 

 Michael Smyser,t of York county, on his retui-n from 

 Long Island, by way of New York, to his home, handed 

 him an English guinea. After five months' suffering, 

 in the latter part of October, he went to Long Island 

 where he was, on parole, laboring for his board and 

 clothing for some time ; he returned to New York ; was 



*This statement we have from the old father himself; v/hile 

 relating to us the incidents of liis eventful life, at this particu- 

 lar, we saw steal down his cheeks, in hurried succession, tears 

 from his sightless organs ; he added, "I had a kind father." 



fCaptain Michael Smyser was one of the virtuous band of 

 th£ gloomy period of '76. At the unfortunate capture of Fort 

 Wcishington, he vvas made prisoner, and could appreciate the 

 sufferings of his fellow-citizens. 



18* 



