Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-12-20

in my very heart ; and felt that :. could hsvs
better spared a better man." have said fra-
ly. that Kit was no hero. rs his complaint ON
a former occasion had proyed ; yet he had sp-
parently no fear Of death. lie stood in his
place : had a pouch full of bnll-cartridges sud
hired them away in the battle /; whether guilty
or innoceat Of blood, hc could not on that &C.
casion know, and lille needed. 81
A. the conclusion Of the wsT, sHA
upon the return Of the regiment home, ths bdt-
talon was recognised, Kit was no longer in
The same company with me, and. except being
occasionally thrown on my duty near him, I
aImo't lost sight of the man.. At length. ct
Tor a lapse Of years, he fell again under my
notice in india. observed about him q very
remarkable change-an evident Improvements.
he was far cleverer than he was ever wont 10
be; his awkward gait remained, but his look
was no longer tire same. HIS eye onees-so
restless, that used TO be looking on every sde,
as IT constantly expecting either reproof or
ridicule, was now still and placid, and a bcssh
OF conteniment shone in il. He always sAIu.
ted me with a look of kind and familiar recog-
milton; and if occasionally stopped and saA
a word 10 him, replied as If pleased with iifs
notice.
was much puzzled and rerplcxed at first
about tins change IN a man, whose limbs ciIity
OF mind ! once regarded AS alike painfSi ard
hopeless. Upon making a more psriscpiss IN.
quiry, | found that, in the company to which
lie belonged. he had become attached 10 tile
little child Of one nf Lis comrades, Of wLom
he took as much c,re as # il had been his owns
that he spent all his spare pay upon II; that
he did his duty quietly. was regular, and nell
ther troubled his scl!ow soldiers, nor was trou-
bled by them: and that he never nssogiaied
with the men, but was always with ihis ltiic
child who was exceedingly fond Of him.
Here was the secret. I more particularly
observed him ever after IL often met hnA
with the child in his hand a little common
looking child just old enough to trot BY hs
side. aud stanlmer out its IkinE-with syss
that to HIM had beatty for they lor,kod up tc
him with atle ction. Here was tie secret : hA
bad never hitherto found IN the cold world any
thing TO lore him, any thing ne could love
here was a Heaven-senl object exc city suited
to hrs hearts want "a little stranger in this
earth, too young 10 know, and 10 take part
with those no ~despised him.. A little thing
which perhaps had trst attracted his notice
when, m the chance absence of it's parents, Il
stood terrified and re !pless. crying IN q ,umul-
tuous barra OK room. Poor Kit, who had been
buffetted with roughness from his very cradle
had been frightened or laughed out OF his wits,
and then scorned for having none had been
the sport Of the lane or alley in which be wa.
born, and then been driven from the haunts of
home first to be the butt of fellow-w o~rknen,
and next of those amongst whom he had cnN
in his lot to mend his fate or be rid onq ~
had now found something TO lope him.
Ofentimes now, as ! met him and the child
together, and unused upon this sweet mystery
OF mercy. did l repent IN my heart for the
many sharp words | had once given him; and
for my many thoughi.css and unfceling smiles
at his folly. saw, however, by the very ex-
preston of his complacent eye, that I was full
ly forgiven. lie had no hate, no malice, no
memory for wrong; he was peaceful and gen.
tie; and passed whole days, playing mnha
child. Kit too was now elevated 10 the dx~
nifty Of an instructor. He was still simple, bva
he was no longer silly. He could not read,
yes hc could = one of Gods books; for he could
see; could see the High Heavens, and the
starry armament; the sun by day, and tho
moon by night. [ have seen him with his liz.
tie comfort, walking on The ramparts at Fort
81. George in the cool evening, and calmly
looking up at the bright sky. and out upon no
entering ocean; and pointing 10 the white
sail, 10 the anc! ortd vessel, and teaching lIe
child 10 stu'tor out The naa.cs Of these Oh.
jects.
The suetring Of those, who are looked upon
as half crazcd or fools. has in il this Nest bit
ter Ingredient; they have no mate in their scr.
row. They suffer Lone, apart: with u rom
seriousness that they aie degraded. Kt's s,f
fering was now all at an end: he was no ION.
ger alone in the world. But knew not az
this time that he had gotten a higher cohsola-
ton. I will, some day, said l TO myself, speak
to him about his immortal soul, and his ropes
Of an hereafter. II CHANGED a few weeks nC-
forwards. thai, as was visiting Sc IN men az
my own company in The hospital, IN passing
down tho ward, 1 obseried poor Kit, lying in
bed sick. l sat down by hnn-took his hand,
and spoke 10 MIN with tenderness, he was
very I'll. | named the R~edeemer; he knew
tho sound-kncw. II, not perhaps as some that
had already touched a chord IN his hGmble
heart. He had heard that ell his sins " ouid
be forgiven, and how; he had simply believed
the message. and gratefully accepted TIE par
don. He had gotten wisdom, not know ledge.
There was peace, hope, and The joy of a sur
pie c%onfding trust in his RsLeeu.r.-
visited him again; again the same was his
cnviable state Of mind. The next, and Inst
time | saw him, he was dying and spcechiess.
I whispered in his dulling ear, he opened his
eyes = he knew me he looked pleased aud
happy; he tried 10 return the pressure Of my
hand. ] placed it on his forehead, The death
damps were already on his brow. ''He is
pleased said the Orderly. ''to zee yon, saj
he knows YOU" 'He was the rather pleased
Friend said 1, "to hear tho word of promise
in his ear-to hear the sound Of his Redeemer's
name - TO hear tho word Christ"