Southern reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1851-185?, 1852-06-09

he approved, or disapproved, Of the actor
lie was poor. as a philosopher should be- anl
had a pretty loving young wife. as a philoso
phcr should have Thus was his life.
just as the ferryman and bis passenger
were about to embark, little boy ran up in
great haste-for he was in danger Of being toe
late His desire also was TO be conveyed
over
The boy was the son Of farmer near at
hand He had ruddy careless countenance,
and frank fearless manners. Meditation had
not yet troubled him. lie was very happy
himself and for aught he knew, everybody
else was happy too. lie had heard Of poor
people starving for hunger, and rich people
dining off gold. but had never seen either,
and rather doubted it, lie had been told Of
wicked men. who, if they escaped in this
world, were sure 10 be punished in another,
but they had never hurt him. lie had dim
idea that illness was something painful; but
he had been i'll only once, and that long, long
ago He liked books and story.books most
Of all. His own private philosophy was that
blessings Of life are fruit. bonfres, and crick-
ct; and the evils hard dumplings, rainy days.
and words in five syllables
The rich proprietor and the farmers son
now stepped into the boat. The boatman set
the sails, and they stood over to the opposite
shore. The wind was blowing freshly, and
the water dashed merily from the PROV
And now that these three are travelling let
me tell what object has brought each into the
ferryboat
The boy, the farmers son, is going to spend
week at the house Of a playfellow. lie
anticipates much delight from the visit. There
is a large smooth field, the very thing for
cricket or trap-ball, or anything Of that sort
and a real painted target for bows and arrows
and Dash to get out with them walking.
SO if the week do not pass pleasantly, it
will be rather strange.
The old man, the landed proprietor, is
going to dun a tenant who owes him three
quarters rent The last harvest was very
bad, and the tenant was laid up with fever,
and the cattle died, and altogether matters
went very closely-whch is the reason why
the tenant owes three quarters rent His
landlord intends now to apply to him in per-
son, and, if this last resource fail to serve
him with an cjectment at once
The young man. the ferryman. is merely
going to the opposite shore and back again
lie will demand sixpcnce from each passen-
ger, and will hasten home to his wife Kate,
who is now broiling beefsteak for dinner.
The boat dashed on. The rich proprietor
sat rapt in thought, without speaking; the
boatman was watching the sails, rudder in
hand; the boy was dipping his hands into the
water, wettiug the sleeves Of his jacket, laugh
ing and talking to the boatman. They had
nearly reached The shore.
Suddenly there came blast Of wind, 50
violent and so unexpected, thai before the
sheet could possibly be let 60, the sail was
oyersirained and in an instant the little boat
was capsized. Passengers and boatman were
thrown into the water and left to struggle for
their lives.
The ferryman had been accustomed to The
river from infancy, and was an expert swim
mer. lie foated at his case the proprietor
md young farmer sank like stones
This man was the judge Of life and death
His two passengers had been thrown in OPP
oosite directions, far from each other, they
lad struggled even farther. He feared that
le could save but one--and which should it
,e?
Calmly and firmly he tested these two hu-
nan beings by his creed. The one more de-
erying Of existence was he whose actions ad- !
led more to- or took less from, the sum Of |
human happiness; all other considerations |
must be set aside, and this alone must be the
lain to preference. The deliberation and '
he decision we're the work Of an instant be :
wan towards the boy. I
lie seized him as he rose for the third time {
o the surface, and. by keeping his head un- t
Ter water for few moments, rendered him !
enseless, SO that he might not drown them
both BY his struggles. Then be contriycd. by
great strength and dexterity, to righh the 4
small, light boat, and in this he placed the boy.
The unhappy, tyrannical landlord had disap- ,
)eared forever.
He perished, the greatest Of three.-Had
ie been good, instead Of great, or not had q /
philosopher for a boatman, he might have !
cen saved but be was sacrificed BY CON- .
ination Of circumstances.
So, after all, the boy went to see his play (
GLOW, and the young man went home to his i
rife Kate but the old man did not eject his /