The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-10-23
Jnhumanity IHebukcd.

" There is something good IN human nature aiter all
-BULwER.
The Blair County Wing says that few
years ago, while passing over the Pennsyl-
vania State improvements, the writer was
a witness of one of these scenes of genuine
kind-heartedness which made the heart
thrill with an unutterable blessing, and fills
the mind with the involuntary conscious
ness that there is something of the angel
stl' in our common nature.
At a point this side of the mountains,
where occurred the transshipment Of pas
sengers from the West, was moorcd a canal
boat, waiting the arrival Of the train ere
starting on its way through the East.
The captain of the boat, tall, rough,
sun-browned man, stood by his craft su-
perintending the labors Of his men, when
the cars rolled up, and few moments af-
ter, a party Of about half dozen gentle
men came out, and deliberately walking
up to the captain, addressed him something
after this WISE Sir, We wish to 90 on
East,-but our farther progress to-day
will depend on you. In the cars we have
Just left is a sick man, whose presence is
disagrceable. We are appointed a COM
mitee by the passengers, to ask that you
will deny this man passage in your boat.
If he goes we remain-what say you =
Gentlemen replied the captain L have
heard the passengers through their commit
tee. Has the sick man a representative
here =
TO this interrogatory there was no an
swer, when without moments pause, the
captain crossed over to the car, ana enter
ing, beheld in one corner poor, cmaclated,
worn-out creature, whose life was nearly
eaten up by that canker-worm consump-
ton The mans head was bowed in his
hands, and he was weeping, The captain
advanced, and spoke to him kindly.
ooh, sir = said the shivering invalid, look
inc up, his face now lit with trembling ex-
pectation, are you the captain, and will
you take me? God help me the passen-
gers LOOK upon me as a breathing postilence
and are so unkind. You see, sir, am
dying-but, on! if 1 am spared to reach
nay mother, l shall die happy. She lives
in Burlington, sir, and my journey is more
than half performed. am poor printer,
and the only child of her in whose arms |
wish to die y
You shall co. replied the captain, il
lose every passenger for the trip
BY this time the whole crowd Of passea-
goss were grouped around the boot, with
their baggage piled up on the path, and
they themselves awaiting the decision OF
the captain before engaging their passage
A moment more and that decision was
made, as they bcheld him coming from the
cars, with the sick man cradled in hl
stout arms. Pushing directly through tLC
throng with his dying burden, he ordered {
mattress to be spread on the choicest spo
of the boat, where he laid the invalid wit,
all the care Of parent. That done, the
captain directed the boat to be prepared
for starting.
But new feeling seemed to possess the
astOnished passcngers-that Of shame anC
contrition at their inhumanity. With one
common impulse they walked aboard the
boat, and IN a few hours after another COM
mittee was sent to the captain, entreating
his presence among the passengers in the
cabin. He went, and from their mids
arose an aged, white-hcircd man, who with
the tear-drops starting in his eyes, tolC
that rough, sun Drowned man, that he hao
taught them all lesson-that they felt
humbled before him, and that they asked
his forgiveness. 1t was a touching scene
The fountain of true sympathy was broker
up in the heart Of nature, and its waters
welled up, choking the uttcrance and fllinq
the eyes of all present. On the instant ;
purse was made up for the sick man, witt
a God speed on his way home, to die il
the arms of his mother
The true-hearted captain of that boa
was General Samuel d. Harms, and tn.
above incident is worth remembering. ,
A ScH-sick COckncy.
Al. Al. q