Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-07-22
NJ | S C L l. J. A n Y
FROM THE NATioSAL MrELIIGENcER.
THE ORPHAN BOY.
"Fie faded, yet so calm and meek,
So gently wan, 50 sweetly weak"


The hustle of the fight was over the pris.
oners had been secured, the decks washed
down, the watch piped, and the schooner had
once more relapsed into midnight and quiet
repose. ] sought my hammock and soon fell
asleep. But my SAUNDERS were disturbed by
wild dreams, which, like the visions OF fever,
agitated and unneryed me; the late strife, the
hardshes of my early life and thousand 9th.
er things mingled together as figures in a
phantasmagoria. Suddenly hand was laid
on my shoulder, and starting up beheld the
surgeons mate.
.sLitde Dick, sir, is DIVING" he said.
htonce ! sprsng s1m nv hammock Lit
tie Dick was sort OF protege of mine. He
was pale delicate child SAID to be an orphan.
and used to gentle nurture; and from the first
hour Joined the schooner, my heart yearned
towards him, for too had once been friend
less and alone in the world. He had often
talked TO me In confidence of his mother,
whose memory he regarded with holy reye-
renee while TO the other boys of the ship he
had little to say for they were rude and course,
he delicate and sensitive. Often when they
jeered him for his melancholy, he would go
apart by himself and weep. He never COM
planned Of his lot, though his companions i'm
posed on him continually. Poor lad his
heart was in the grave with his lost parents
took strange interest in him. and had
lightened his task as much as possible. Du-
ring the late fight had owed my HE to him,
for he rushed in Just as a sabre stroke was
levelled at me, and by interposng his feeble
cutlass had averted the deadly blow In the
hurry and confusion since | had quite for
gotten to inquire If he was hurt, though at
the time, inwardy resolved to exert my little
influence TO procure him midshipman's
warrant in requiial for his service. II was
with pang Of reproachful agony, therefore,
that leaped 10 my feet
''My Godr' exclaimed, ''you don't mean
n2 He is not dying 7"
81 fear, SIR" said the messenger shaking
his head sadly, ''that he cannot live Till morn
ing"
''And have been lying idle here! ex-
claimed with remorse. "Lead me to him !"
''He is dehrious, but in the intervals of lu-
macy he asks for you sir" and as the man
spoke we stood beside the bed of the dying boy.
The sufferer did not lie in his usual ham
mock, for twas hung IN the very midst of the
crew, and the close air around il was too STU
fling; but he had been carried under the open
hatchway, and laid here in little open space
o. about four feet square. From the sound of
the ripples, judged the schooner was in mo
ton, while the clear, calm blue sky seen
through the opening overhead, and dotted
with myrads of stars, betokened that the fog
had broken away. How calm il smiled down
on the wan face Of the dying boy. Occasion
ally light current of wind-oh how deli
clously cool is that pent up hold--eddied down
the hatchway, and lifted the dark chestnut
locks of the sufferer as, with his head repoSlng
=. II. l.. g Il 4 Il.
quiet slumber. Hi shirt collar was unbutton-
ed, and his childish bosom, as white as that of
girl, was opened and exposed. He breath
ed quick and heavily. The wound of which
he was diving had been intensely painful, but
within the last halhour had somewhat lulled,
though even nssw his thin fingers tightly gras-
ped the bed clothes, as if suffering the greatest
agony.
A battle stained aud gray haired seaman
stood beside him, holding dull lantern in his
hand, and gazing sorrowfully down upon the
sufferer. The surgeon knelt with his finger
on the boys pulse. As | approached they
all looked up. The veteran who held him
shook his head, and would have spoken, but
the tears gathered too chokingly in his eyes.
The surgeon said
Gle is going iast-poor little fellow--do
you see tins ~ As he spoks he lifted up
rich gold iocket. which had lain upon the
boys breast "He has seen better days"
could not answer, for my heart was full
here was the being 10 whom, but a few hours
before, | had owed my life poor, slight,
unprotected child--lying before me, with death
already written on his brow-and vet had
never known his danger, and never sought
him out after the contlct# How utterly my
heart reproached me 10 that hour. They no
ticed my agitation. and his old friend-,he sea
man that held his head--said sadly
"Poor liule Dick-you'll never see the shore
you have wished FOR so long, But there'll be
more than one---when your logs out''-he
spoke with emolion---''to mourn over you"