The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-22
DAILY CRESCENT.


AN INC ENT = - Il n a . -
The hustle of the fight was over; the prisoners
had been secured, and the decks washed down, and
| the schooner had once more relapsed into mid
nights quiet repose. sought my hammock and
soon fell asleep, But my sluIabers were disturbed
| bv wild Dreams which, ike the visions OF fever,
| aeitated and unneryed me. The last strife, the
| hardshps of my early life, and thousand other
things, mingled together as figures in phantas-
magorie suddenly hand was laid on my shout
der. an Starting up beheld the surgeons mate
: - Little Dick, sir, is dying" said he.
At once | sprung from my hummelshine,
Dick was sort Of protege Of mine lie was
/ pale, delicate child, said to be orphan, ana oil
gentle nature and from the first hour joined the
| schooner my heart yearned towards HIM Tor l,
| too had once been friendess and alone IN the
| world He had often talked to me in confidence OF
| his mother, whose memory he regarded with hoiy
reverence while 10 the other boys oil the snip ne
had little to saw for they were rude and coarse-he
| delicate and sensitive Often when they jeered
him for his melancholy, he would go apart by him
| self and weep. He never complained OF his lot,
| though his companions imposed on him contn-
| ualy. Poor lad his heart was in the grave with
/ his lost parent.
took a strong interest in him, and had lghtened
| his task as much as possible. During the late
| fight | lad owed my life to his, for he rushed in
Just as sabre stroke was levelled at me- and by
interposing his cutass he averted deadly blow.
In the hurry and confusion since, had quite for
gotten to inquire Wnetner ne was nurt, though,
the time, had inwardly resolved to exert all my
influence to procure him a midshipman's warrant
in requital for his service. II was with pang OIL
reproachful agony, therefore, | leapt to my feet
:" My God !" ! exclaimed, you don't mean it
He is not dying
sadly, " that he cannot live I'LL morning 70
:" And have been lying idle here - | exclaimed
with remorse. sc Lead me TO him.
:" He is delirious, but at intervals of lunacy he
asks for you, sir" and as the man spoke we stood
beside the bed Of the boy.
The sufferer did not lie in lis hammock as i
was hung in the very midst of the crew, and TIT
close air around it sitting that he had beer
carried under the open hatchway, and laid there il
little open space of about four feet square. Ffon
the sound of the ripples judged the vessel was il
motion, while the clear, calm, blue sky, seer
through the opening overhead, and dotted with my
RAIDS of stars betokened the fog had broken away
| How calm had it smiled down on the wan face o
| the dying boy. Occasionally light current o
wind-oh how delicousy cool in that pent Vi
| hole--eddied down the hatehway, and lifted thu
dark chestnut locks Of the sufferer as with his hea
reposing the lap of an old veteran he lay in al
unquiet slnmber. His shirt collar was unhultoned
and his childish bosom, white as that of girl, wa
opened and exposed. He breathed quick and heay
/ NV. The wound Of which be was diving was in
iensely painful but within the last half hour hal
| somewhat iulled, though even now his thin finger
tightly grasped the bedcothes if he suffered tn
greatest agony.
A battle-stained and gray-haired seaman stoo
beside him, holding dull lantern in his hand, AM
| gazing sorrowfully down upon the sufferer Til
surgeon knet with his finger on the boys pulse
As approached they all looked up-the vetera
who held him shook his head, aud would hav
spoken, but the tears gathered too chokingly i
| his eyes.
The surgeon said
" He is going fast-poor little fellow. Do yo
see this Z" As he spoke he lifted up rich gol
locket which lay on the boys breast. " He ha
seen better days"
could not answer, for my heart was full her
| was the being to whom few hours before | owe
/ my life, poor slight, unprotected child-lying be
fore me with death written upon his brow--and We
/ ! had never sought him out after the conflict
| How bitterly my heart reproached me at that hour
| They noticed my agitation, and his old friend tht
seaman who held his head, said sadly
| Poor little Dick you'll never the shore
| you have wished for so long. But therell be more
| than one when your logs out'-he spoke with
emotion" to mourn for YOU"
Suddenly the little fellow opened his eyes and
looked vacantly around.
Has he come yet?" he asked, in low voice
Why don't he come z"
" am heren said |, taking the little fellow,
hand. Don't you know me, Dick ?"
He smiled family in my face. He then said:
You have been kind to me, sir-knder to me
than most people are to poor orphan boy. | have
| no way to show my gratitude, unless you will take
the Bible you will lind in my trunk. It's small
| Offering, know, but it's all have'
| burst into tears. He resumed.
doctor, Pm dying, amt ?" said the little fe
low, for my sight grows dim. God bless yol
Mr.. Worth"
!" Can do nothing for you Dick 2'' said |. "Yo
saved my life. l would coin my blood to say
| yours"
have nothing to ask-I don't want to live
only if it's possible, let me be buried by my moth,
you'll find the name of the place and all about
in my,trunk."
Anything, everything, my poor lad," al
swered, chokingly.
The little fellow smiled family; it was an angel
smile; but he did not answer. His eyes were iixe
on the stars Pickering in that patch Of the blue 81
z | overheard. His mind wand red
! " It's long, long way up there, but there a
!. bright angels among them. Mother used to Sc
7 thai we should meet there. How near thew com,
1 and see sweet faces smiling on me from amor
j them. Hark! is that music and lifting his finge
: he seemed listening for a moment. He fell hac
and the old veteran burst into tears-the child W
. dead. Did he indeed hear angels voices9 G
o grant il.