Indiana State sentinel., 1851-06-19
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL.
The Orphan Boy.
a TOUCHING STORY.

TOUCHING STORY.
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 mIdnight,s
quiet repOse. | sought my hammock and socn fell
asleep. But my slumbers disturbed by wild
dreams, which, like visions of fever, agitated and
unnerved me- The last strife the hardships OF my
early life, and a thousand other things, mingled
together as figures in a phantasmagoria Suddenly
hand was laid on my shoulder and starting up De-
held the surgeons mate.
''Lttle Dick, sir, is dying" said he, 49,,
At once sprung from my hammock-htle Dick
was a sort of protege of mine. He was pale, dell
cate child said to be orphan, and oil gentle ma
ture and from the first hour joined the schooner
NV heart yearned towards him; for ], too had once
been riendless and alone in the world He had often
talked to me in confidence of his mother, whose
memory he regarded with holy reverence, while to
the other BOYS OF the ship he had little to say: Tor
they ere rude and coarse-he delicate and sensitive
Often when they eered him for his melancholy, he
would go apart by himself 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 parent
/ took a strong 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 just as
sabre stroke was levelled at and by interpoSing
his feeble cuilaSs he adverted deadly blow. In The
hurry and confusion since, had quite forgotten to
inquire whether he was hurt, though at the time /
procure him midshipmans warrant In requilal for
his service 1t with pang of reproachul agony,
therefore, leapt TO my feet.
''NIy God ~ exclaimed; ''you don't mean 1t !
He is not dying?"
81 fear sir,'' said the surgeon shaking his head
sadly, 'sthat he cannot live till morning"
'And have been lying idle here, - exclaimed with
remOrse. "Lead me TO him."
ssHe is delrious 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 Law in his hammock, it was
hung in the very midst of the crew, and the close
air around it was so sitting that he had been carried
under the open hatchway, and laid there IN tll e
open space of about four feet square From The
sound of the rippeS Judged the vessel was in mo-
ton while the clear calm blue sky, throug the
opening overhead and dotted with myrads OF stars,
betokened the fog had broken away. How calm had
it smiled down the wan face Of the dying boy
Occasionally light current OF wind-oh! how dell
ciously cool in that pent-up- p-hOle-eddied down the
hatchway, and lifted the dark chesnut locks of the
sufferer as with his head reposing the lap OF an
old veteran he lay in unquet Sumber. His shirt
collar was unbutOned and his childish bosom white
as that of a girl, was opened and exposed lie
breathed quick and heavily. The wound of which
he was dying intensely painful; but within the
last half hour had somewhat luled, though even now
his thin fingers tightly grasped the bed clothes, as II
he suffered the greatest agony.
A battled-stained and grey haired seaman stood
beside him, holding a dull lantern in his hand and
gazed sorrowfuy down upon the sufferer The sur
geon knelt with his finger the boys pulse. As |
approached they all looked up-the veteran who held
him shook his head and would have spoken, but the
tears gathered too chOkingly in his eyes.
The surgeon said
'sHe is going fast-poor little fellow. Do you
this?'' And as he spoke, he lifted up a rich golden
locket which laid on the boys breast "He has seen
better days"
/ could not answer, for my heart was full. Here
a., hi, 10 hon bafO /
my life poor, slight, unprotected child-lying be-
fore me with death already written upon his brow
and vet 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-the
seamen who held his head, said sadly
'Poor little Dick! you'll never see the shore you
have wished for so long. But there'll 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 vacanty around.
elias he come yet!'' he asked in low voice
"Why don't he Gomez"
''I am here,'' said 1, taking the little fellows
hand. ''Don't you know me, Dck?''
He smiled family in my face. He then said
''You have been kind to me, sir-kinder TO me
me than most people are to poor orphan boy |
have no way 10 show my gratitude unless you will
take the Bible you will find in my trunk. It's a
small offering, / know, but its all have"
burst into tears; he resumed
''Doctor, Pm dying, aint I:' said the little fellow
''for my sight grows dim. God bless you, Mr..
WORTH
''Can do nothing for you, Dick?" said |. "You
saved my life. would coin my blood TO save
yours"
'I have nothing to ask don't want to live on
ly if ii is possible let me be buried by my mother
you'll find the of the place and all about it in
my trunks
Anything, everything, my poor lad, answered
chokingly.
The little fellow smiled faintly-it was an angels
sme-but he did not answer His eyes were fixed
the stars Pickering in that patch of the blue sky
overhead His mind wandered.
''It's long, long way up there, but there are
bright angels among them. Mother used to say we
should meet there. How near they Gomez and ] see
sweet faces smiling me from among them. HarK! I!
is that music?" and lifting his finger he seemed lis
tening for a moment He fell back, and the old
veteran burst into tears-the child dead. Did
he indeed hear angels voices? God grant it.