The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-02-12


We'll, sir'--wiping bis eyes with th,
back Of his hand-'wIen tho canal CLOSED
up, had nothing more to do, and couIdn'
get ANYTHING TO do 10 Albany. I stait
there till my money was almost gone, ant
one day thought il could get into tn,
country, somebody might give me work
| went over TO Greenbush in boat will
another boy, and seeing ! baggage trair
ready to start, got into one Of the cars, ant
they didn't see me till the car left the trair
where you first saw me-
'Yes, and what have you been doing
there?' ef
1--we been living with Mr.. II.
gave me my board to look after bis horse
aud COW, and chop wood
Did not Mr.. treat you kindly
whv did you leave him?' 's'
Yes, sir he treated me we'll, bui would'n,
lot me 60 to scbool--I want 10 earn enough
to keep me to school awhile, and so LEFT
Mr.-. When | left him he gave me
twenty fiye cents, and said he hoped I
should do WE'LL I've got the twenty five
cents now, all of it,
As be said this he pulled from bis pocket
a Spanish quarter Of dollar, and held il
up in tho moonlight with an air Of satisfac.
tion at his economy and business tact in
preserving his capital.
Curiosity had prompted me TO make the
enquiries that brought out the boys history,
and now | began to feel real in,eres, in
him. ] pitied the lad, that he should thus
early in life be thrown upon the world,
and forced to buffet the current that expe
ricnce had taught me was The full work Of
more mature years. | felt satisfied he was
no. bad boy, and that with proper train
ing he might be made worthy man. But
he was obliged, in order to carry out his
plans--nnd ] could not have better plan
ned course for bim-to mix with set Of
Youths Of the wors, cIass-the drivers on
the tow path Of the Erie Canal. Our din-
logue ceased, and in a short time ! feel
asleep. Toward midnight the trnin stop
ped At watering station. The lad moved
from my side, and awakened me in 50 do
ing. He wished to leave the COR for a
short time, and al his request | assisted
him TO the ground. In few minutes he
returned, bringing with him two apples
and two .doughnuts." lie had judged
rightly, that al a watering station some one
would be kept up ., night, and that then
lie could procure food. Insisted him back
into tho car, and went again 10 my mnt-
trass, but he would not allow me 10 lie
down until had accepted unr apple ann
one adoughnut.' lie, perhups, thought !
was hungry, and like himself not over rich,
and saw that 10 refuse bis hospitality
would nortfy him. Before accepting the
food, however, told tho lad he would need
il al himself, and reminded him Of his
slender finances. But he oyerrode my ar
pumeut by the exhibition Of twenty-one
cents, and declared the amount was quite
enough for his necessities until be should
be able to earn more. After our lunch
both of us slept until the train arrived at
the station where I was to leave--some
miles east Of Albany. Both Of US were
awake, however, when the conductor came
to inform me that had arrived at the
place engaged apasssgc for, and as LEFT
the car, ] put into the boys hand some
small coins that found in one Of my pock.
cts. He seemed surprised ut the present,
and feared / might be srobbing myself,'
but | assured him that could spare the
amount without Inconvenience, and insist
ed that he accept it. shook him by the
hand and left the car ns the train started
on its way, inwardly sorrowing that i was
not in my power TO afford him more sub
stantial protection.
At about the time Of the circumstance
related above occurred, was on terms OF
intimacy with young man who, though
poor and unknown tothe world, was a per-
son Of brilliant wit and great attaIent. Had
he lived he might have shown brightly al
this day, in the galaxy Of fame. Bot be
died in growth like an unrpe apple, that
falls from the tree when worm gnaws i
al its core, aud the qualify Of The fruit i'
never known. One evening, as we were
walking arm 10 arm on Boston Common,
something drew from him, half jokingly
half seriously, his favori,e expression, al
lah is JUST In order to provoke . little
pleasant discussion, ! ridiclled bis Mabom,
etan quotation, and finally the debate be.
coming somewhat more serious, related
what have written above. The story o.
Tho orphans hardship put him into seri
Gus mood, for he knew from experience
Ihow 10 sympathise with youthful sorrow
md we finished our walk in silence. y.
| Years passed on, and the busy scenes O
| life sunk into my memory the recollection
Of the orphan boy, and i might never have
been revived but for circumstance tha
happened within the last year. One day
while my residence was among the noun
Itains Of the Sierra Nevada, business D
pleasure, don't recollect which, called M
to distant part Of the mining country.
mounted my horse, and taking trail .ha
lied to the valleys, was on the way in tim
to meet the smiling sun face to face, as h
Ipassed over the hill tops. Towards even
ling came to beautiful valley, walled i
Inv hirh red hills, capped with gia al pine
and fringed By sturdy oaks. The vale
Itself was covered with tall grass, intermis
ed with gay wild flowers, and through sh
Icen,rc ran a brook Of sparkling water
4 By the side Of the brook stood large an
well made log cabin, from tho rough ston
lchimney of which ascended 70 tho azur
lsky, column Of smoke. ! rode towar
liz, a.h;n fcr Erew Il w. Al a road side inr