Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-08-18
MISCELLANY
From the Missouri Republican.
A Man Overheard.
BY MRS. f. DANA GAGE.

,
easy chair, luxurious with crimson and
gold. and on one of the large, grand steam
packets, so like palace, as palaces are
described in eastern tales. Hundreds of
persons thronged the long, glitering sa.
loon. There stood a group of lofty
statesmen, discussing, for ausht know,
the plausibllity or probability of annex
ing Europe to America. One would
think it was some such wonderful mat
ter, by the pomposi,y with which the
main speaker held his thumbs in the
arm holes of his white, aristocralic vest,
and raised himself upon his toes and
boot-heels, to give elevation to his sub
ject. But, perhaps. Judging from The
'onne, they were only saving The glori-
Gus Union.
A little further on was bridal party,
all hope, all joy. Near them was
strange group, criminal with his guards
about him, at the door Of his state room
mot TENT fine, noble looking man
was he, handsomely dressed, and with
The front and bearing of innocence and
home. BY his side sat his young wife,
sharing his late, and biaving the scorn
that might fail upon The chosen one OF
her heart; and yet, he was there, branded
r" ith crime, the thought of which makes
the life blood start with horror-the
burning of steamer and the loss of
scores of lives, for pallry gain. Oh, the
love Of woman!
Near me was a mother hurrying home
from The South with dying child. Oh!
what woe, what agony rested upon that
pale, furrowed brow, that one SO oung
must die. What triumphant hope light
ed up the countenanee Of the fading one
as she turned her eye heayenwarG.
On the other hand was sister weep.
ing and disconsolate, that she must lay
down, in the cold grave, the sister play
male Of her childhood, who had died a.
mong strangers ere she could reach her.
took in all this much quicker than
have recOunted it, and was moIalzing
on lhe vicisstudes of life, when the start
ling cry of "a man overheard" came up
from below. In an instant was on my
feet, and in another, gazing through the
window in the stern of the boat, my eye
caught glimpse Of the struggle, in the
waters far behind. Our gallant bark had
already left him, aud black spot upon
the bounding wave, in the wake of the
boat, was all we could discern. The
crowd rushed to the windows. Save
him, save him." was the cry. The
statesman forgot his harangue; the bride
and groom their love. Even the prison
er and his guard were startled. The
mother deserted her charge, and the
weeping one paused in her grief. All
rushed TO The windows and the guards to
watch the fate of the struggling man.
The great wheels were stayed in their
onward course and made TO roll back
III rough the dashing whirlpool they had
crealed. "Man the life boat" was the
order.
How manlully he breasts the waves,
said bystander. oh, will they reach
him ere he sinks! exclaimed the voice
of woman, and her cheek paled with
fear. See, said another how the hands
oil thess strong men tremble as they strive
? to undo The rope-oh, how long they
5 are! he will go down. Thus. remark
after remark was made, while the man
struggled and beat the waves, and the
boaImen struck out with their strong
hands TO the rescue. OH it is fearful
thing TO stand by, powerless, and watch
the conflict Of fellow mortal, between
life and death; TO watch strong, stalwarl
arms graphing with the dread monster.
9 And health and strength and reason. and
9 all of noble manhood crying out, as il
were, mot now, not now, we are too
: strong TO die
The cold, the selfish and The harden
ed will feel the pulse quicken-will
stretch the hand and send up an involun-
J tary prayer of save him, oh, save him.
! Thus stood the crowd, as The life. boat
F neared the almost exhausted man.
There. he's safe,' .No!' 'Yes!' sNo!'
Hes gone down--one pull more and
they'll reach him. No! he's gone
gone forever'
For moment the liie-boat remained
5 fixed above the place in which he sank
J, but he rose no more 10 the light, and
t the rowers dropped their oars into The
. tuEDlu WdfeE anu TetuTUeu 10 tnd DOat.--
! The men scattered away, but the wo,
men, with pale faces and tear dimmet
eyes, could not so soon forget. And one
said, Il wonder who he was! another
Cor if he has wite!' third, how ter
>. rible TO have him die thus. Should he
, have mother, her heart will break &c
/ And then passenger came up from be
low and reported lie was only drunk.
ard who had staggered overheard hi
: had come TO cold water at last. Ii wa:
no natter
Only drunkardr who should care
, And the color came to the pale lips, eyes
y y frightened and the merry laugh was re
sumed.
i Only drunkard. Can j, be that hu
manity can become. by its own acts, 81
lost, so low. SO despicable, that when lif,
: goes out, when The dark waters of deali
close over the sinking form; ere yet the
. heart culver has ceased and the warn
blood grown colo--that a fellow mar
shall turn awav with roiI anath,, ,nr