Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-08-04
THE ORPHAN BOY.
"He faded, yet so calm and meek:
So gently wan. so sWeetly weak"

watch piped, and the schooner had once more
elapsed into midnight quiet and repose.
sought my hammock and soon fell asleep.
But my sumbers were disturbed with dreams
which, like the vision of fever agitated and
unnerved me the late strife, the hardships Of
my early life, and thousand other things min-
ged together as figures in phantasmagoria.-
Suddenly a hand was laid upon my shoulder,
and starting up beheld the surgeons mate.
Little Dick, sir, is dying" he said.
Isprang from my hammock. Little Dick
was a sort of protege of mine. He was
pale delicate child, said to be an orphan, and
used to gentle nurture; and from the fist hour
joined the schooner,my heart yearned towards
him, for too had once been friendess and
alone in the world He had often talked to me
in confidence of his mother, whose memory he
regarded with holy reverence, while to the 9TH
er boys of the ship he had little to say; for they
were rude and coarse; he delicate and sensa-
tive. Often when they jeered him for his mel
ancholy, he would go apart by himself and
weep He never complained of his lot, though
his companions imposed on him continually
Poor lad his heart was in the grave with his
lost parents.
took a strange interest in him, and tighten
ed his task as much as possible. During the
late fight, had owed my life to him, for he had
rushed in just as sabre stroke was levelled at
me, and by interposing his cutlass had averted
the blow In the hurry and confusion, | had
forgotten to inquire if he was hurt, though at
the time inwardly resolved to exert all my
little influence to procure him midshipmans
warrant in requital for his service. 1t was with
a pang of reproachfu agony, therefore, that l
leapt to my feet and exclaimed.
"You don't mean it ? he is not dyingr'
81 fear sir" said she messenger, "that he
cannot live till morning"
"And have been lying here," exclaimed |,
with remorse. "Lead me to him."
He is delirious, but an intervals Of reason
he asks for you, sir " and as the man spoke,
we stood by the bedside of the dying boy.
The sufferer did not lie on his usual ham,
mock, for it was hung in the very midst of the
crew, and the close air around it was too sti-
fling; but he had been carried under an open
hatchway, and laid there in little open space
about four feet square. From the sound of the
rpples, judged the schooner was in motion,
while the clear calm sky, dotted with myriads of
stars, betokened that the fog had broken away.
How calm it smiled down upon the wan face of
the dying boy. Occasionally light current of
wind-oh how deliciously cool in that pent-up
nOlC-CuuiCu uOWN tuc anu iitCu tuO
dark, chestnut locks of the sufferer, as with his
head reposing in the lap of an old veteran, he
lay in an unquet slumber. His shirt collar
was unbuttoned, and his childish bosom as white
as that of GIRL was opened and exposed
The wound of which he was dying had been
extremely painful, but within the last half hour
had somewhat lulled, though even now his thin
fingers tightly grasped the bed clothes, as if he
suffered the greatest agony.
A bottle-stained and haired seaman stood be-
side him, holding lantern in his hand, and
gazing sorrowfully upon the sufferer. The
surgeon knelt with his finger on the boys pull
se AS / approached they all looked up. The
veteran who held him shook his head, and
would have spoken, but the tears gathered in
his eyes. The surgeon said:
He is going fast, poor little fellow, do you
see this :" and he lifted up rich gold locket
which had lain upon the boys breast. "He
has seen better days"
| could not answer, for my heart was full !;
here was the being to whom but few hours
before, had owed my life; a poor, slight, un-
protected, child, lying before me with death al
ready written on his brow, and yet had never
known his danger, and never sought him out
after the conflict. How bitterly my heart re-
preached me at that hour. They noticed my
agitation, and his old freind-the seaman that
held his head--said sadly:
"Poor little Dick; you'll never see the shore
you wished for so long. But there'll be more
than one Che spoke with some emotion) to
mourn over you"
Suddenly the little fellow opened his eyes,
and looked vacanty around.
Has he come yet" he asked in low voice.
Why won't he come g
81 am here" said |, taking the little fellows
hand don't your know me Dick"
He smiled family and said
"You have been kind to me, sir kinder than
most people are to poor orphan boy. have
no way to show my gratitude, unless you will
take the Bible which you will find in my trunk.
It's small offering, know, but it's all
have.
| burst into tears.
doctor, l am dying amt | ?" said the little
fellow, "my sight grows dim.-God bless you
Mr.. Danford"
"Can do nothing for you, Dck?" said l j:
"you saved my life. l would give my blood
to buy yours"
81 have nothing to ask: don't want to live;
only, if it's possible, let me be buried by my
mother; you'll find the name of the place, and
all about it in my trunk"
Anything, everything, my poor lad" | an
swered chokingly.
The little fellow smiled family; it was like