Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-07-14
INTERESTING MISCELLANY.
From tic National Intelligencer.
THE ORPHAN BOY.

washed down, the watch piped, and the
schooner had once more elapsed into mid
night quiet and repOse. | sought my ham
mock, and soon fell asleep. But my SUM
bers were disturbed by wild dreams, which,
Ike the visions Of a fever, agitated and I'M
nerved me; the last strife, the hardships of
my early life, and a thousand other things,
mingled together as figures in phantasma-
goria. Suddenly hand was laid upon my
shoulder, and starting up, beheld the sur
geon's mate.
Little Dick, sir, is dying he said.
At once | sprang from the bed. Little
Dick was a sort of protege of mine. He was
a pale, delicate child, said to be an orp ian,
and used to gentle nurture; and from the first
hour Joined the schooner, my heart yearn-
ed towards him, for ! too had once been
iriendlcss and alone in the world He had
often talked to me in confidence of his mo-
Their, whose memory he regarded with the
most holy reverence, while to the other BOYS
of the ship he had little to say; for they
were rude and coarse, he delicate and sensi-
tive. Often when they leered him for his
melancholy, he would 90 apart and weep.
He never complained of his lot, though his
companions imposed on him continually.
Poor lad +! his heart was in the grave with
his lost parents.
took a strange interest in him, and had
lightened his task as much as possible
During the late fight had owed my life to
him, for he rushed in Just as a sabre stroke
was levclled at me; and by interposing his
feeble cutlass, had averted the deadly blow.
In the hurry and confusion since, ! had
quite forgotten to inquire if he was hurt,
though, at the time, | inwardly resolved to
exert all my little influence to procure him
a midshipmans warrant in requital for his
service
Ny GodrI exclaimed, you don'tmean
it, lie is not dying!
. fear said thc messenger. sha ing his
head sadly, that he cannot live till morn
lng.'
And have been idle here = cXclaim-
ed with rcmorse. Lead me to him..
He is dehrious, but at the intervals of
lunacy he asks for You, sir and as yhe man
spoke we stood beside the bed Of the dying
bow.
The sufferer did not lay in his usual ham
mock, for it was hung in the very midst OF
the crew, and the close air around twas toe
sitting; but he had been carried under the
open hatchway, and laid there in a litie
open space about four feet square. From
the sound OF tha ripPlaS Judged the schoon-
er was IN motion, Whde the clear calm' bIu'
sky, seen through the opening overhead.
and dotted with myria Is Of stars, bc.ohcncd
ala, b.,gi INV P1I Inn
it smiled down on the wan face OF the dying
boy. Orras'ona.iya LIGHT current ot Wnj-
ON how dchcioUsIy cool IN thai pent np
hold-cddcd down the ha'ch"aY, and r.
ed the dark chcsnut locks of the sufferer. as
with his head reposng in the lap OF an old
veteran, he lay IN an unqWet sIdm5er. lis
shirt collar was unhuuontd' auJ ms childish
bosom, as white as that of gr, was open
ed and exposed. lie hrraihed qucN and
heavily. The wound OF Whlcp ne was uy-
ING had been intensely PAINFUL out W..'IA
the last half hour had somewhat Iuued'
though even now his thin fingers tightly
grasped the bcd-cIothes, as # he suffered the
greatest agony.
battle stained ana gral-har'u se'l'u'l
stood beside him, holding dull lantern IN
ms hand and gazing sorroWiuIly down "Po"
the sufferer the surgeon hucII win ms
hand on the boy pulse. As approaches
they all looked up. The veteran who hcIJ
him shook his head, and would have sPo-
ken, but The tears gathered too choAingIy IN
his eyes.
The surgeon said
He is going tast-poor little tellow-do
YOU see this : as he spoke he lifted up a
rich gold locket which had laid upon the
boys breast. He has seen better days.
could not answer, for my heart was tuIl
here was the being to whom, but few
hours before | had owed my lite-a poor
slight, unprotected child-lyng before me,
with death already written ON his brow
and vet had never sought him after the
conflict. How bitterly my heart reproach-
ed me at that hour. They noticed my agi-
taton, and his old friend-the seaman that
held his head-said sadly
Poor little Dick-you'll never see the
shore you have wished for SO long but
thcre'u be more than one when your log
out he spoke with emotion, to mourn
over YOU
Suddenly the little fellow opened his eyes
,l I..I..i ,.,..,,,,I,. about