The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1851-12-10

! correspondent of the Blair county (Pa
wing furnishes that paper with the particular
nt the following interesting incident, of whic
he was an eye witness. II occurred Il fe,
years ago, on the line of the great internal i'm
provcments of that State. 1t is one of ,hos
scenes Of genuine kind hearttdness which fill
the mind with the involuntary consciousness
that there Is something of the angel still in on
common nature -
A the point this side of the mountain, where
occurred the transhpment of passengers from
the West, was moored canal boat waiting the
arrival of the train ere starting its way
'fhrough" to the East. The captain Of the
boats tall, rough, sun-embrowned man stood
by his craft, experimenting the labors of his
men, when the cars rolled up, and few min
n.cs after party of about half adozen gentle
mon came out, and deliberately walking up to
the captain, addressed him something after this
wise
'Sir, VIC wish to go on East, but our further
progress depends on you. In the cars we have
Just lefl sick man, whose presence is disa-
grccable. We have been appointed commit
tee by The passengers TO ask that you will deny
this man passage in your boat. if he roe s,
we remains what say you ?"
''Gcntlemen, replied the captain, Il have
heard th' passengers through your committee
Has the sick man representative here ?,
To the unexpected interrogatory there was
no answer: when, without n moments pause
the captain crossed over the car, and entering,
heheld IN one corner, poor, emancipated,
worn-out creature, whose life was nearly eaten
up by that clnker wnrm--consumption The
mans head was bowed in his hands and he
was weeping. The captain advanced and spoke
TO him kindly.
ooh SIR said the shiverine invalid. look
f,o IL Il,
tions, care you the captain, and will you take
me' God help me! The passengers look
upon me as breathing pestllence and are un-
hind! You see, sir, am dying, but oh if
am spared 20 reach my mother shall die hap
py. She lives in Burlington, sir and my Jour
ney is more than half performed. | am poor
printer, and the only child of her in whose
arms wish to die -
':You shall co. replied the captain, ssif
loose every passenger for the trip
BY this time the whole crowd of passengers
grouped around the boat, with their baggage
piled up on the path, and they themselves
awaiting the decision of the captain before en-
gagng their passage
A moment more and the decision was made
known, as they behcld him coming from the
cars with the sick man cradled in his arms
Pushing directly through tho crowd with his
dying burden, he ordered a mattress to be spread
in the choicest part of the boat, where he laid
the invalid with all the care of parent. That
done the captain directed the boat to be prepar-
ed for starring.
Bnt new feeling seemed to possess the as
ton'sh ID passengers-that Of shame and con-
triton at their inhumanity. With one common
impulse they walked aboard the boat, and, in a |
few hours after, another committee was sent TO |
the captain, entreatng his presence among the
passengers in the cabin.
He went, and from the midst there arose a
white haired man, who, with tear-drops starting
in his eyes, told that rough sun cmbrowned man
that he had taught him lesson, that they felt
humbled before him, and they asked his forgive
ness 1t was touching scene. The fountain
OF true sympathy was broken up in the heart of
nature, and its waters swelled up checking the
utterance of all present.
On the instant purse was made up for the
sick man, with s'God speed on his way home
to die in the arms Of his mother
The trnc- hearted captain of the boat was
SAMUEL ID. CAIRNS, and the above incident is
worth remcn bering.