"I am," said James.
"What country did you come from?"
"Ireland."
"We are from Ireland ourselves," said one of the strange men. "What
part of Ireland are you from?"
"From the county of Wexford."
"We are from that county. What is your name?"
"James Annesley."
"I never heard that name there," said the traveler.
"Did you know Lord Altham?" asked the boy.
"Yes."
"Well, I am his son."
"What!" cried the stranger, "you the son of Lord Altham! Impossible!"
But the young man insisted that he was Lord Altham's son.
"Tell me how Lord Altham's house stands," said the stranger.
The young man told him enough to show that he knew all about the
place. Then the stranger said, that, if James ever came to Ireland to
claim his estate, he would do what he could to help him.
James Annesley was badly treated by his master. At length he ran away,
but he was retaken, and put into a jail in Lancaster. He was kept in
prison a good while. He had a fine voice, and he amused himself by
singing. The people used to stand outside of the jail to hear him
sing.
For running away he was obliged to serve a still longer time. He spent
thirteen years in slavery.
When he got free at last, he told Mr. Ellis of Philadelphia about his
case. This kind-hearted man gave him a passage on a ship going to the
West Indies. An English fleet was then in the West Indies. It was
commanded by the famous Admiral Vernon. When the brave admiral heard
James Annesley's story, he took him to England. In England James found
friends ready to help him.
There was a long lawsuit, but James's old friends and schoolmates came
to court as witnesses for him. One of the men who had talked with him
while he was a servant in Pennsylvania told the Court about it. Two of
the policemen that had helped to put little Jemmy on shipboard
confessed the dreadful act they had done.
Then the jury gave a verdict that James Annesley was the true Lord
Altham. There was great joy among the people, and everybody detested
the cruel uncle. The people made songs about him, and sang them under
his windows. James Annesley was now called Lord Altham. But before the
young lord came into possession of his title and his property, he was
taken ill and died.
I am glad that we live in better times. Children are not kidnapped and
sold now.