Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-01-29
From the Boston Journal.
oALLAH Is j u > t."
"A SKETCH FROM REAL LIFE.

Not long ago, while looking over a
collection OF books in the library of
friend, my eye fell upon .he declaration
which stands at the head of this little
sketch, aud as il was embraced IN SEN
tence of an Oriental tale. i read i, throu',
not on account of the story, but because
i.broughi to mind circumstances which
serves as the foundation of what follows:
In about the yesf ls40. ! had occasion
one day to go from Springfield toward
Albany. and arrived al the railroad sta
.ion Just in time TO be too late. The cars
we're moving out at one end of the bull.
ding as l entered at the other. What
was to be done! A detention of twenty
four hours would seriously interfere with
my plans, and no passenger train would
leave until the following day. Chagrin-
ed al my disappointment. | applied 10
the landlord OF the hotel where | had
been stopping, for advice. From him !
leaned that a baggage train, destined up
the road. would soon leave, and that |
nigh. perhaps get place in one Of The
cars used for carrying cattle. as they were
empty. Anything was better than de-
teliion; so procuring an order from the
Superintendent, car was placed at my
disposal. An empty cask served me tor
a seat, aud as should be obliged TO pass
.he nigh, on the road, mat,rass had
been procured for bed. Thus provi-
ded, lighted q cigar, entered my car,
and leaving the door open for the pur.
pose Of ventilation. seated myself upon
The cask. In the early part OF the even
ing, as we were ascending the lower OF
the Hoosae mountains, the train stopped
a, station; and just before starting, the
conductor came to my car and handed
in a boy. He was q slightly formed lad.
not more than dozen years OF age, We.
nv thinly dressed, but he had beautiful
hazel eye that beamed with intelligence
as he thanked the kind hearted conductor
70, taking him up. Seeing mel had
then laid down upon my mattrass-he
appeared frightened, and shrunk into a
corner. as if he had been hare and a
hound. was little annoyed al FIRST,
a, whatl considered an intrusion into
nv private cow-care. but as the moon
shone brightly through the open door
upon the face Of the boy, ana revealed
the presence Of sadness upon his youth
ful and pretty face. repen,ed and ad-
dressed him kindly:
..Cone here, my lad" said l. "you
are cold" Il. was chilly night in
spring.
coat, which had been spread over me, |
bade him get under il, and then drawing
MIN close 70 n y side, felt the trembling
OF his chilled limbs. held his hands
between my own and carefully wrapped
his bare feet in the folls OF the cloak.
He said nothing, but lay there trembling
4 like frightened deer. After the cars
had again got in motion. and my little
companion had become warm, | inqui.
red where he was going. g4lll
ITO Albany" he replied.
"Do yonr parents live in Albany!
mo. sir. have no paren.s-my ia
ther and mother are both dead.
sand what will you do in Albany
"Oh. / shall 60 10 driving on the tow
path" aa a
'.But the boys on the scw-Path are
bad boys. and hope you are not like
Them"
.'They are not all bad boys, sir.
drove on the canal last summer, and cal
ge, another chance on it. lt is the only
shing lean 90, sir, for am poor boy.
.Bui how came you to be SO farawa,
from the canal as al the place where yo'
got into this car! am afraid you are
bad boy, and that YOU ran away. 94I
'sOh, no. sir. i didn'.run away"
As he said this saw . tear gather il
his eye and rpn down his cheek, ! sav
that I hsd vepaded his feelings, and =