Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1832-08-30


Offices Of humanity 10 their suffering neighboFs
j. Amongst the first of those who left the
city of Philadelphia, on the breaking out
Of the yellow fever there, in the year 1898,
was the family of Mr.. -. - He was
not naturally a man of timid disposition
he had done his duty. as an officer, in the
latter part IF the war of therevolution, and
had faced death and the enemies Of his
country with an unshrinking heart; but
when the sword of the invisible angel Of
destruction commenced its work in the city,
his 6urage, or his principles were, alas
found sadly wanting; and he. was, as we
have said, among the first Of those who
fed. His family, at home, consisted Of a
wife and two children; besides these, they
had son, about eighteen years of age, Of
whom they were doatingly fond, and who,
atihat time, was out on voyage to En-
rope, as mate ola vessel. g}ea 5ifa
With the most pfecipitate haste, Mr..
shut up his shop, and dismissed all
in bis employ, packed up the greater part
Of his rhoveables, and had them taken to a
small house, hired for the purpose at = :,
a little village about IA miles from the city
on the banks fine Delaware. Here he
determined to remain till the plague should
have entirely subsidized; and resolved to
have no communication whatever with the
city, or with any one coming from it. He
had been in his new place of residence a.
bout week, when he was one night arous-
ed by a loud knocking at the door of his
cottage. He rose from his bed, and OPEN
ing. nm upper window, inquired who was
knocking there at 30 late an hour { The
person, whose voice assured him that it
was man Of color, and in years, replied,
that lie came to ask shelter for poor man
taken sick on the road, who was lying in
very bad state, not above two hundred
yards from the house. Mr.. --- -. Of
course, very prudenily refused to receive
the man, as il might possibly be. a case Of
the lever. The poor black fellow, rem
dered importunate by his humane feelings,
Notwithstanding the decisive and prompt
denial of Mr.. .-A, renewed his plead
ings yet more earnestly. He had, he said,
brought the young man above two miles;
ne found him by the road side nearly III a
dying state. In relating the story 10 me,
the narrator dwelt with the most painful
particularly on the conduct end language
ofthe poor negro. Nothing, he said, could
surpass the earnest eloquence of the old
man. He had denied bis request more
than once or twice; yet, still he would urge
ms prayer by every argument he would
think might tOuclrthe feelings. " Though
me be berry old man, massa, me no see
fellow-crea.ure die like dog in de ditch /;
me carry him dis two mile on my back !;
for Gods sake, dear massa, glib de poor
fellow shelter to die in, If it be but some
straw in de old barn; oh nlassa, Gods
| sake let me bring him up de lane, to de
old barn. no trouble you, dear massa,
bot my poor place two farther miles off ;;
and me too much old TO carry de poor fell
low dat toder two miie.' %tsrss #~'
Mr.. H was, Of course, memorable.
His heart, indeed, acted, and his con-
science gave him pretty sharp twinge or
two, as, after listening 10 the simple yet
eloquent pleading of tho old negro, he
shut down the window; but prudence for-
babe himto be humane and with tone
Of assumed anger, more than he really felt,
he dismissed the importunate beggar. whose
wailings Of distress, as he went back down
the lane, rnng in the ears Of Mr.. --,
some time after he had retired to his bed.
| Tho morning came, and Mr.. ------
rose carly, as was his custom, and with his
wife and children, s,rolled out across the
meadow fronting The house. eeg.f
I 81 wonder what became Of that poor
fellow for whom the negro was asking
shelter for last night" said Mrs, H,
as they walked onward. eaN
Y Dead, I doubt not, my DEAR" replied
the husband - and let US hope il may not
bring upon Us the evil we fed from |; for.
to tell the truth, / do not much like the
occurrence" sa} y,as ag4 as,4 syns
They walked on along path of the
meadow which led out into the lane, at
some distance further on than that by
which the black man came to their house
in tho night. Mr.. HI. bad proposed at
this point to end their walk and return
home but, how shall ] describe their
horror, when, close by the end of the path
in The lane, they beheld a corpse 1.-The
corpse Of him TO whom they had, in his
dying state, refused admiitance TO whom
they would no, grant even the poor re-
quest Of the negro, u little straw in the
old barn." A chill ran through their eve
~ vein at the sight !; bot the dead man
was dressed in the garb of a sailor, and as
he lay on his back Mrs. H. perceived
something in the distinguished features