Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-21
VARIETY.
The Orphan Roy.

washed down and the schooner had one,
more relapscd into midnights quiet repose
sought my hammock and soon fell asleep
But my slumbers were disturbed by wild
dreams, which, like visions ola fever, agi
tased aud unncrvcd me. The last strife
the hardslips Of my early life, and thous-
and other things, mingled together as fg.
urcs ina phantasmagoria. Suddenly band
was laid on my shoulder, and starting up
beheld the surgeons mate.
little Dick, sir, is dying said he.
At once sprung from my hammock
little Dick was sort of pro,ege Of mine
lie was pale, delicate child, said TO be
an orphan. and Of gentle nature; and from
the frs, hour | joined the schooner my
heart ycarned towards him; for /, too. had
once been fiiendlcss and alone in the world.
He had often talked 10 me in confidence Of
his mother, whose memory hc regarded
J with holy reverence. while TO the other boys
Of the ship he had little 10 say; for they
were rude and colrsc-he delicate and sen
sitive. Often when they jecred him for
bis melancholy, be would 60 apart by
himself and weep. lie never complained
OF his lot, though his companions imposed
on him continually. Poor lad his heart
was in the grave with his lost parent,
Z took strong interes, IN linn, and had
hghscned his task as much as possible
During the late fight, had owed my life
to his, for he rushed jus, as eabre-stroke
was leyelled at me; and by intcrposing his
feeble cutlas he averted deadly blow
In the hurry and confusion since. had
quite forgotten to inquire whether he was
hurt, though. at the time. had inwardly
resolved 10 exert all my influence to pro.
cure him midsbipman's warrant in re-
qiital for his service. 1t was with pang
Of reproachful agony, therefore, leap, to
my feet.
My Cod ! exclaimed; you don't mean
i'll Heis not dyingl"
4 fear sir, seid the surgeon, sinking hi:
head sadly, that he cannot i've til morn
ing"
And have been lying Idle here, ! 81.
claimcd with rornorse. Lead me to him.
He is dclirious, but at intervals of lu
macy he asks for you, sir, and as the mar
spoke, we stood beside the bed Of the boy
The sufferer did not lie in lis hammock
as 1t 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 a little
open space of about four feot square,
From the sound ofthe riPplcs Judged the
vessel was in mutton. while the clear, calm
blue sky, seen through the opening over.
head, and dotted with myraids of stars, be
,okeucd the fog had broken away. How
; calm had it smiled down on the wan face
Of tho dying boy. Occasionally hgh,
current Of wind-oh! how dcliciously COO
in that pen,-up hole-eddicd down the
hatchway, and lifted the dark chestnut locks
ofthc sufferer, as with his head rcposing or
the lap ofan old veteran, he lay in an I'M
quiet slumbcr. His shirt-c,llar was un
but,oned, and his childish bosom, white a.
that Of. a girl was opened and exposed
He breathed quick and heavily. The
wosld ofwhich he was dying was Intense
" painful; but within the last half hour had
somewhat lullcd, though even now his
thin fingers tightly grasped the bed clothes.
asst he suffered the greatest agony.
A battle-gtained and grey hairod-seanan
stood beside him, holding dull lantern in
lns hand and gazed sorrowiully down up
on the sufferer. The surgeon knelt with
his finger on the boys pulse. As | APP
preached they all looked up--thg veteran
who held him shook hiShead. and would
have spoken but the gathered too
chokingly in his eyes.
The surgeon sind
pes going fast--poor little fellow
DO you see this I" 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
i'll, here was the being to whom a few
hours before | owed my life. poor. slight
Unprotected chld-lying before me with
death already written upon his brow--and
.~ct had never sought him out after the
conflict. HowItitterly my heart reproach-
81 me at that hour. They noticed my agi-
zion, and his old friend--thc seaman who
held his head. said sadly
"Poor little Dick you'll never sec the
.hore you have wished for SO long. But
'''ere'll DO moro than one when your logs
'''t'-ho spoke with cnotion--''to mourn
iw you"
Suddenly the little fellow opened his
c''os and looked vacantly around.
Has he come yet :" he asked in low
V re-" why don'the comet
L am here" said |, taking the little fcl-
'shand. Don't you know me. Dickl'
fe smiled family in my face. He then
-
You have been kind to me sir-kinder
= ne than most people are to poor or
IN boy. have no way TO show my
ltitude-unlcss you will take the Bible
II will find in my trunk. 1t is small
ring. i know, but it's all have
burst into tears; he resumed
Doctor. I'm dying. amt l I" said the
'ilc fellow, for my sight grows dim. God
res you, Mr.. Worth.
Can do nothing for you. Dickl" said
]. You saved my life. would coin my
God to save yours"
"lhave nothing to ask--I don't want to
only if it's possible, let me be bu-
I'D by my mcther-you'll find the name
:. the place and all about it in my trunk.
Anything, everything, my poor lad, l
',swered ohokingly."
The little fellow smiled faintly-;t was
\ angels smilc-but be did not answer
Ills eyes were fixed on the stars hickerins
!, tha, patch of the blue sky overhead
Ills mind wandered.
ITS a long, long wayuP there, Blu, there
IRE bright angels among them. Mother
Used to say that we should meet there
How near they come and see sweet
faces smiling on me f om among them.
llark ! is that musicl" and lifting his
finger he seemed listening for mo-
lnent. He fell back, and the old veteran