Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-11-10
INCID ENTS
INA DAYS EXCURSION.
AN ENGLISH SKETCH.

One dav last summer | took my place in a
Gravesend steamer, and found considerable a.
musement in watching the various characters.
Two persons in particular attracted my notice
one was middle aged gentleman, stout, rather
surlv, tacturn, who paid no attention to any liv-
ing being on board. except hugh Newfound.
land dog, that was painting or lolling out his
tongue, roamed among the passengers. showing
them ont of his way, or frightening children by
Suddenly covering their faces with one lick Of
his great tongue, convincing nervous young n
dies that he was going mad by the vigor with
which lie stuck ont his legs wnie rolling upon
his back upon the deck. II : master eyed these
prankS with slv smile. aud seemed quietly TO
ENJOY the terror occasluned by the antics Of his
bury friend
The other person whom especially noticed
was a very pretty and well dressed lady. Young
lady she no dorb, would have been called, but
that she had little girl. about seven years old,
who called her mamma She WAS evidently
possessed of nerves. Indeed she seemed to be
possessed by them, and their name was legion.
Endless were the petty annoyances in which
they involved her BIT her keenest sntferings
in this small way were caused by the unwleldIy
rambols of Lion, the Newfoundland dog; and
her incessant and puerle EXPLANATIONS of ter
ror, Indignation and spite against the good ma
tured brute, kept up the sly, malicious smile up
on the lips Of his apparent unnolicing master.
The little girl, on the contrary, had, 10 the in
creased alarm of the weak mo- her, made friends
with the monster; and for long time amused
herself by throwing bits Of bnlscuit for him to
catch, which feat, notwithstanding the incor-
rectness Of her aim, he managed to accomplish
by making boisterous plunge to one side OF
the other and when at last she tim,dly off red
him piece out Of her hand, and he acknowl-
edged the compliment by licking her face and
rubbing his side against her till he almost push
ed her down, the little creature fairly screamed
with delight Her mother screamed too, but in
one Of the small hysterical screams in which she
was FOND Of indulging, and was followed by al
outburst Of anger at Lions audacty.
Good gracious!' she exclaimed. if tina, hor
rid creature should be mad, he II have killed my
child And how dirty he is too. Look al
your pelise, Adeline see what state it is in
How dare You play with that animal !
This transmission from hydrophobia to soil
ed dress was too much for Lions master, anl
he burst into long and loud laugh.
Il wish, sir, said the lady appishly, that you
would call away that nasty dog, instead of set.
ting him on to every body who is not accustom.
ed 10 have such dirty animals about them
The gentleman said nothing, but bowed, and
walked forward; and soon alter saw him en-.
joying cigar, while Lion played the agreeable
in his own rough fashion, to people who knew
how to read the expression OF his honest and
intelligent physiognomy.
Little Adeline, deprived of the attraction which
had fixed her attention to the inside Of the boa,
began to see amusement in watching the foam
ing water as it rushed from the water wheels
and danced in long lines behind them. She
knet on a shawl which fellow passenger had
lent as cushion for her little knees, and lean.
ed quietly over the side, watching the roaring
water so her mother was for a time relieved
from the musquitowinged veXations which hac
hitherto beset her.
| We were within few miles of Gravesend. -
The tide was just at the fall, and the broad ex
panse of the river lay around us in all its ma
jesty; and 10 those who have never behcd the
Hudson or the NJ ssissippi, old Father Thame,
is majestic aye, and if we place in the balanc,
the historic, political and commercial importanc,
of the transactions Of which his broad breast i
and has been the highway, our 'time.honored
river will not lose in dignity even when com
pared with those isnt foods of the West.
Such thoughts as these, however, did no
trouble Adenes pretty head, which began,
could see, to grow giddy with the contnua
whirl beneath her A large seaweed that wa
dashed from the padde-wheel caught her atter
ton. II sank then rose, turned round in a shoi
eddy, and then dsrted out in the long wake tina
was left behind the steamer. She leaned 70,
ward to watch its progress farther; still he
neck was stretched she lost her balance, an
toppled over into the roaring flood. In inc
ment all was confusion on board. Men wer
shouting for ropes and boats, to stop the steam
er; cries of "a child Overboard!' who can swim
and thousand other cries and 9uestonngs
but above ALL were the poor mothers heart rene
: ing shreks, too painfully in earnest now an
sh alone, in the fond, instructive devotion
maternal love, that even should she reach he
CHI d she should only sink with her, endeavur.n
. TO leap into the water to save her.
Suddenly Lion, followed closely by his ma
ter, came tearing along the deck, knocking III
people to the right and left like nincpins. The
sprang into the boat that hung at the stern, e
cry body giving way 10 the determined energ
OF bplI mtn and dog Icon looked anxious
in his masters face, and uttered sharp. 10
bari.
- Wait said the latter in reply; where WI
she seen last 2
There. SIR replied a sailor promptly !; . the
I, beside that piece Of plank.
}, How often has she rIsenY
Twice
. The gentleman drew long breath, and sa
4 to dis dog in a low tone, lookout
And Lion did lookout, with wild, flashr
eyes, and limbs that trcmblcd with anxiety
What moment that was Every one else W
passive every other attempt was laid aside, al
all stood in mute expectation; those who we
; near enough watching the third rising OF Il