The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-09-13
InhumanitV Rsbuked.

There's something good in human nature after
all
The Blair County Wing says few years ago,
while passing over the Pennsylvania State I'm.
proyenents, the writer was witness Of one OF
those scenes OF genuine kind heartedness which
makes the heart thrill with an unutterable bles.
sing, and fill the mind with the involuntary con
.Cousness that there ia something Vi the angel
still In our common nature.
At a point this side of tie mountains, where
occurred the transhpment of passengers from the
west, was moored canal boat waiting the arrir.
al Of the tram ere starting on its way through
to the East The captain Of the boat, tall
Rough, sun.embrowed man, stood by his craft su
perlntendng the labors of his men, when the cars
rolled up, and few moments after party o.
nbOut halt dozen gentlemen came out, ana de.
liberately walked up to the Captain addressed
him something after this wise--"Sr, we wish To
90 On East-but our progress to-day will depend
on you. III the cars We have just left a sick man
whose presence Is disagreeable. We have been
| appointed committee by the passengers to ask
that you vii deny this man passage on your
boat II he goes. We reman-what say YOU &
| Gentlemen" replied the Captain, 81 have heard
the passengers through their committee. Has the
sick man a representative heTeP To this unex
pec,ed inerrogatory there was no answer, when
without moments pause, the Captain crossed
over to the car, and entering, beheld in one cor
ner, poor. cmaciated worn out creature, whose
life was nearly eaten up by that canker-worin
consumption The mans head was bowed in his
hand and he was weeping. The Captain advanc
ed and spoke to him kndy"Oh, sir t. said the
sliverirg individual, looking up, his faco row lii
up with trembling expectation, Are you tho
Captain-and WILL you take mel God help me
The passengers look upon me as breathing pes
thence; and are YOU so unkindf You see, sir
l am dymg-but oh if am spared to reach my
mother, | shall die happy. Size lives in Burlng
ton sir. and my journey is more than half pertor
med am poor printer, and the only child oi
her in whose arms wish to dic ~
"You shall 60" replied the captain, IF los'
every passenger for the trip"
By this time the whole crowd Of passenger:
were grouped around the boat, with their bog
gage piled up on the path and they theusclve.
awaiting the decision of the captain before enga
ging their passage. A moment more and that
decieon was made, rs they beheld him coming
from the cars with the sick man Graded in his
stout arms. Pushing directly through the thronl
with his dying burden, he ordered nattrNss Il
bc spread in the choicest spot OF the boat where
he laid the invalid with the care of Il parent
That done the captain directed the boat to bC
prepared for starting.
hut new feeling seemed to possess the aston
shed spectators--thAt Of shame and coutrtion a
their inhumanity. With one common impulse
they walked aboard the boat, and iu few hour:
after, another committee was sent to the captnin
entreating his presence among the passengers ii
the cabin. He went aHa from their midst arose
an aged, white haired man, who, with tear drops
starting in his eyes, told that rough sunembrow
ell man that be had taught them all q lesson
that they felt humbled before him, and tley ask
ed his forgiveness. II was touching scene
The fountain Of true sympathy was broken up il
the heart Of nature, and its waters welied up
choking tho utteranse and filling the eyes of al
present. On the instant purse was made ur
for the sick man, with God speed on his way
home, to die in the arms OF his mother
The true hearted captain of that boat was Gen
Samuel d. KRrue, and the above inciden, is worth
remembering