Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-08-25
InllRmanitY Rebnked

"S DidT Soulty uiS ""J"J 10"
years ago while passing over the Pennsyl-
vania State Improvements, the writer was
witness of one Of those scenes Of genuine
kind heartedness which makes the henri;
thrill with an unutterabie blessing. and fills
the mind with the involuntary conscious
ness that there is Something Of the angel
still" in our common nature.
At a point this side the mountains, where
occurred the transhipment of passengers
from the west, was monred a canal buat,
waiting the arrival OF the train ere starting
on its way Through TO the East. The
Captain OF the boat, tall rough sun EN-.
Drowned man, stood by his craft, sIpeIin>
tending the labors of his men, when The
cars rolled up, and few moments after, a
party Of about half dozen genlIemeB
came out, and deliberately walking up 10.
the Captain. addressed him something after
this wse--"Sir, weswish to go on East
but our further progress today will depend
on you. In the cars we have inst left, is
a sick an,whose presence is dlsagreeable.
We have been appointed committee by
the passengers, to ask lhat you will deny
this man passage in your boat. IL he
goes, ace remain-what say youp sGen-
lleman,' replied the Captain,i 4 have heard
the passengers through their Committee -
Has the sick man. representative herea =
10 this unexpected interregatory there was
no answer, when without moments
pause, the Captain crossed over to the car,
and entering, beheld in one corner, poor,
emaciated, WORKOUT creature, whose life
was nearly eaten up by thnt canker worm,
Consumption. The mans head was bow
ed in his hands, and he was weeping The
Captain advanced, and spoke to him, kindly.
Oh! sir! said the shiyering invalid, looking
up, his face now Lit with trembling expec-
tation. Are you the iCaptain--and apilt
you take mea God help me! The pas
sengers look upon me us breathing pesti-
lence; and are so unkind You see sir,
am dying oh! if lem spared to reach
my motherl shall die happy. She lives in
Burlington, sir, and my journey is more
than half pertormed. am poor printer,
and the only child of her in whose arms
wish to die!' e5 @ I'd
You shall gop replied the captain, sc
loose every passenger for the trip!'
BY this time the whole crowd of passen-
were grouped around the boat, with their
baggage piled up on the path, and they
themselves awalling the decision of the
Captain before engaging their passage
made, as they beheld him coming from The
cars, with the sick man Graded in his stout.
arms. Pushing directly through the throng
with his dying burden, he ordered mat
tress to be spread, in the choicest spot of the
hant-- where. .ha-l -lnaA III u
care OF a parent. That done, the Captain
directed the boat to be prepared tor start
ing. 7e}5 t7sss.1 81 -c7+a.s
But,a new feeling seemed to possess the
astoDshed passengers--th that of shame and
contrltion attheir inhuinanily. With one
common impulsesthe walked aboard the
boat, and, in few hours after, another
committee was sent TO the Captain, entreat
ing his presence among the passengers in
the cabin. He wentand from their midst
arose an aged, white haired man, who,
with the tear-drops starting inhis eyes, told
that rough, sun.embrdwned man, that he
had taught them all a lessoH- tha, they felt
humb!ed before him, and that they asked
his forgiveness. 1t was touching scene.
The fountain oftrue sympathy was broken
up in the heart Of nature,l and its waters
welled up, choaking the utlerance and fill
ing the eyes of all present. On the in
stan. n purse was made up Tor the sick man.
with sGod speed!' on his way home, tn
die in the arms of his mother! The true.
hearted Captain Of that boat was Gen
Samuel d. Harms, and the above incident
is worth s-ge yiIEs -