The North-Carolina standard., 1850-04-17
A Days Excursion.

One day last summer took my place in Graves-
watching the various characters Two persons in
particular attracted my notice and one was gentle
man, stout, rather surly and tacturn who naid no
attention to any living being board, except huge
Newfoundland dog, that was painting or lollng out
his tongue, roaming among the passengers, showing
them out of his way OF frightening the children, BY
suddenly covering their faces with one lick of his
great tongue, and convincing ladies' that he
was going mad, by the vigor with which he stuck
out his legs while rolling upon the deck. His mas
ter eyed these pranks with q sly smile, and seemed
quietly to enjoy the occasoned by the antics
| of his buriy friend. The other person whom spe-
clay noticed was very pretty and welldressed lady,
y Young lady she no doubt would have been called,
but that she had with her little girl, about seven
years old, who called her mamma. She was evident
~ possessed OF nerves; indeed. she seemed to be
possessed by them, and their name is legion. End
less were the petty annoyances in which they nvol-
we'd her, But her keenest suerings in the small way
were caused by the unwieldy gambols of Lion, the
excamatlons OF terror, indignation, and spite against
the good natured brute, kept up the sly, malicious
smile upon the lip of his apparently unnotcing mast
er. The little girl, on the contrary, had, to the in
creased alarm OF the weak mother, made friends with
the monster, and for long time amused herself by
throwing bits of biscuits at him catch, which feat
notwithstanding the incoectness of her aim, he man
aged to accomplish, by making boisterous plunge,
M
idly offered him piece out of her hand, he ac-
knowledged the compliment by licking her face and
rubbing his side against her until the little creature
fairly screamed with delight. Her mother screamed
too. but in one of the small hysterca! screams in
which she fond of indulgng, and which was fol-
lowed by an outburst of anger at Lions audacity.
'Good gracous' she exclaimed, if that horrid crea
ture should be mad, he'll have killed my child How
dirty he is, too Look at your pelisse kdene see
what State it is in! How dare you play with that
This transition from hydrophobia to soed dress,
was too much for Lions master, and he burst into
loud and long laugh.
II wish sir said the lady, snaPpshly, that you
would carry away that nasty dog, instead of setting
him on to annoy everybody, who is not accustomed
to have such dirty animals about them!'
The gentleman said nothing, but bowed and walk
ed forward and soon after saw him enjoying ci-
gar, while Lion played the agreeable, in his own
rough fashion, to people who knew how to read the
expression of his honest and intelligent ysiognomy
Little Adeline, deprived of the attraction which
had fixed her attention to the inside of the boat be-
gan to see amusement in watching the foaming wa
ter, as 1t rushed from the paddle Wheels and danced
which fellow passenger had lent, as cushion for
her little knees, and leaned quietly the side
watching the roaring water; so her mother for
time relieved from thousand mosquito-winged vex-
atoms which had hitherto beset her.
We were within few miles of Grayesend The
tide was just at the FULL and the broad expanse of the
river lay around Us in all its majesty; and 10 those
who have never beheld the Hudson or the Mississp
pi, old Father Thames is majestic, ay, and if we
place in the balance the historic, political and COM
mercial importance of the transactions of which his
broad breast is and has been the highway our time
honored river will not lose in dignity when COM
pared with those giant floods of the west.
Such thoughts as these, however, did not come in
AdeIines pretty head, which began. could see, to
grow giddy with the continual whirl beneath her.
large sea-weed, that washed from the paddle Wheel
caught her attention. 1t sank, then rose, it turned
around in short eddy, and then darted out in the
long wake that was left behind the steamer She
leaned forward to watch its progress further still
her neck was stretched-she lost her balance, and
tumbed into the roaring food. In moment all was
confusion aboard. Men We're shouting for ropes and
boats, to stop the steamer; cries of child over
board y! no can swim % and thousand other
mothers heart-ending shrieks, painfully in earn
est now, and she also, in the fond instructive devo
ton OF maternal love, needless that even should she
reach her child she could only sink with her, endea
vorlng to leap into the water to save her.
Suddenly, Lion followed closely by his MASTER
came tearing along the deck, knocking the people to
the right and left like ninepns. They sprang into
the boat that hung on the stern, everybody giving
way before the determined energy of both and
dog. Lion looked anxiously in his masters face, and
uttersd sharp low bark.
WATT said the latter, in reply where was she
seen last o.
"There, sir,'' replied sailor promptly there,
beside that piece of plank"
"How often has she risen?"
"rwice." "
The gentleman drew long breath, and said to his
dog, in low tone, Look out -
And Lion did look out, with wild flashing eyes,
and limbs that trelnbled with anxiety. What mo-
ment that was Every one else was passive every
other attempt was laid aside, and all stood in mute
expectation. Those who were near enough watched
the rising of the poor child and those who could not
sec the water, kept their eyes fixed upon Lion.
In another instant cry raised, as golden |
tressed head was seen to emerge from the water The
noble dog had seen her first, though; and, the
warning cry had reached his ears, he had dashed from
the boat with wonderful rapidi,y, and was swimming
towards the little sufferer as though he knew that life
and death depended on his efforts.
His master marked his progress anxiously. His
face was pale as death, and it only by ngidIy
COMPRISING them that he could control the nervous
quivering Of his lips.
IS He has her, he exclaimed, as Lion rose to the
surface, after long dive, holding the little AdeIine
by the hair of the head in such that her face
out of water. " He has her, and she is saved 80
Down went the steps, and on them stood couple
of active Sailors encouraging the brave dog by shouts
and gestures, and ready to receive his precious bur-
den when he approached them.
Slowly he came on, wistfaly eying the steps, and
now and then looking up at his master, who was
leaning the side, encouraging him with his we'll
known voice. e' "sz<4'
Here you are!' cried the sailors, sezing the little
girl. She was handed from one to another, and at
last deposited in the arms of active looking gem
tIeman whom every seemed instiDctively to rec
ognize as surgeon, and by him carried below.
sailor, returning to make way for Lion to climb up
the steps. But the poor creature whined piteousy,
and, after one or two ffutless attempts raise hi
self out of the water, he remained quite passive.