Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-07-30
From the National Intelligencer.
The Orphan Boy.
He faded, yet so calm and meek,
So gently wan, so swectly weak"

The hustle Of the fight was over; the prison.
crs had been secured, and the desks washed
down, the watch piped, and the schooner had
once more relapsed into midnight quiet and re-
pose. | sought my hammock and soon fell
asleep. But my slrmbers were disturbed BY
wild dreams, which, like the visions of a fever.
agitated and unncrved me the late strife. the
hardships of my early life and a thousand other
things mingled together as figures in a pbantas.
magoria. Suddenly hand was laid on nv
shoulder, and starting up behed the surgeons
mate.
"I.itt'c Dick. sir, is dying" he said.
At once sprang from my hammock. Little
Dick was sort of protcgH of mine. lie was
a pale, delicate child, said to be an orphan, and
used to gentle nature; and from the first hour
joined the schooner my heart ycarncd towards
him. for too had once been riendess and alone
in the world. lie had often talked to Inc in con-
tidcncc, of his mother, whose memory he re.
garded with holy reverence, while to the other
boys Of the ship he had little to saw; for thew
were rude and coarse, he delicate and sensitive.
Often when they jeered him for his melancholy,
he would 90 apart by himself and weep lie
never complained of his lot, though his com.
panions imposed on him continually Poor lad
his heart was in the grave with his lost parents
| took strange interest in him, and had light
eHed his task as much as possible During the
late fight had owed my lie to him, for he
had rushed in just as sabre stroke was leyeled
! at me: and bv interposing his feeble cutlass
had averted the deadly blow In the hurry and
confusion since, had quite forgotten to inquire
1t he was hurt, though, at the time, inwardly
resolved to exert all my little influence to pro.
cure INN mdsh'pman's warrant in requital for
his service. 1t was with a pang of reproachf
agony, therefore, that leaped to nv feet
"My God" exclaimed, "you don't mean
it? lie is not dying?"
81 fear, sir" said the messenger, shaking his
head sadly, :" that he cannot live TILL morning u
And ! have been lying idle here !" ! ex.
claimed with remorse. Lead me to him"
"lle is delirious, but ia the intervals of lu.
macy he asks for you, sir" and as the man
spoke we stood beside the bedside of the diving
boy.
! The sufferer did not lie in his usual hammock
for it was hung in the very midst of the crew
and the close air around it was too sitting; bul
he had been carried under the open hatchway,
and laid there in a little open space of about
four feet square. From the sound of the rip.
piles, judged the schooner was in motion, while
the clear, calm blue sky seen through the open.
ing overhead, and dotted with myriads of stars
betokencd that the fog had broken away. How
calm it smiled down on the wan face of the
dying boy. Occasionally light current Of
wind-oh how dcliciousy cool in that pent.up
hold-eddied down the hatchway, and lifted the
dark chcsnut locks Of the sufferer, as, with his
head reposing in the lap of an old veteran, he
Jay IN an unquet slumber His shirt collar was
nhou'toned, and his childish bosom, as white as
Una. OF girl was open and exposed lie
o'eathed quick and heavily The wound of
%''en ne was dying had been intensely painful
o"' within the last half hour had somewhat lull.