Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-07-05

to spare herself. He read to her every
day two chapters in the bible One day
when she was very i'll, and two of her
neighbors had to come to take care of
her, she called the boy to her bedside,
and told him that when she was dead he
must go to Edinburgh, for he had friends
nowhere else. Her own friends were
there, but they were too poor to do much
for him; and his fathers friends were
there, but they were too grand to own
her. But she told him not to be afraid
by the way, for the good God knew all
about him. And then after a fond part
ing kiss and burst of sorrow she babe
him go to school.
When he came home he found her
lying with white cloth on her face, and
the bed all white The poor boy cried
all night; and now that she was buried
out of his sight, he was travelling to
Edinburgh as she told him to do; and
folks were kind to him, just as mother
said they would be. And he had letters
TO show him the way to his mother's
friends when he reached town; for he
could read writing
And God put it into the heart of Sandy
Wright to be kind to the poor orphan
He was like father to him during his
journey; he shared with him his bed,
and carried him on his back when the
lad was too tired to walk.
On reaching the Queens ferry, Sandy
Wright found that his money was almost
gone, and he intended to get the boy
across without paying the usual fare
when the boat reached the middle of the
ferry, the gruf looking ferryman began
to collect the fare--passing by the pas
sengers one by one until he stood in front
of the boy.
" Dinna stop before the boy" cried
Sandy Wright, che is puir orphan; here
is my great"
The ferryman still held out his hand
and Sandy told him that they had found
him in desolate glen, bewildered by the
storm and they were taking him to his
friends in Edinburgh, and that he ought
moi to grudge him his passage.
, The ferryman, without answering, took
off his cap; but Sandy Wright twisted il
out of his hand, telling him to take care
that they did not know what would be.
come of themselves or their own BARNS
, But the ferryman, saying he would have
the fare, or the fares worth, if it were
his jacket, laid hold of the boy who be.
gan to cry. Then rose up Sandy Wright
and Selling the ferryman in his powerful
grasp, told him not to touch the pull
thing; crying "shame on ye, mani" and
the cry of "shame! shame p was echoed
by the other passengers, and the surly
t ferryman gave up the point.
On landing, Sandy Wright told the
{ boy that he had some business to do al
the custom-house, and some money tc
get, but that he would first try to find
out his friends for him, and that he must
look into his letters and see in what
street they lived.
The boy united his bundle, which
contained few shirts and stockings, +;
parcel of papers and small box; ant
, said that his mother charged him to keeI
the papers safely, for they told of hei
marriage and in that box was her we'd
ding ring. "She could" he added
, "haye got money for it," when she wal
, sick and not able to work but she would
starve sooner than part with it; and ]
wouldn't like to part wi it to any bodi,
: but yourself but if you would take it
and opening the box, he gave it to the
boatman. 1t was valuable diamond
ring, and Sandy Wright, returning it tc
him, told him not TO part with it t.
anybody, on any account.
They found the direction in one of the
letters, and in few minutes they were
walking up Grass Market. Suddenl,
, the boy sprang to meet the young woman
who was passing, and in whom he recog.
Dized his mothers sister, She knew
him and warmly embraced him; and
having been introduced to the brave
kind friend ofthc boy, she told of his pa
rentage and prospect His father was 8
young man Of good family, but estrang-
ed from his friends by his vicious course
of life. lie married poor but virtuous
and industrious woman, who was worthy
of better husband. Giving himself VI
to incorporate habits, he sunk into pow
erty and contempt; and in the midst Of
wrctchedness, which would have been
greater but for the effort of his wife, he
was attacked by fever, Of which he
died. Two of his brothers, who were
lawyers, had recently inquired about the
child, and would probably interest them
selves in his behalf The good boatman
now babe farewell to the lad; slipping
him his groat, which he said was better
in his pocket than in that Of the grun
ferry-man.
Eighteen years passed away before
Sandy Wright again visited Edinburgh.
He had left it a strong, powerful man Of
forty-seven, he returned to it gray
haired old man Of sixty-fye. Troubles,
too, had come with his gray hairs. His
son, brave young fellow, who had risen
from the humblest post on deck till he
was lieutenant, had sailed upon an ex-
petition from which he had never re-
turned; and the poor old boatman, when
about TO retire on pension TO which be
was entitled for his long service at the
; custom-house, was dismissed without a
shilling. on charge Of having connived
at the escape Of smuggler. lie had
: travelled weary two hundred miles
| with the hope that an inferior clerk il
the custom house, with whom he hae