Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-12-26

burgh as she told him to do; and folks
were kind to him, just as his mother said
they would be- And he had letters toI
show him the way to his mothers friends
when ne reached town; for he could read
writing.
And God put it into the heart of San
dy Wrighttobe 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 toswalk.
On reaching the Queens Ferry, Sandy
Wright found that his money was almost
gone, and he intended to get the boy
across without the usual fare; when the
boat reached the middle of the ferry, the
gruf-looking ferryman began to collect
the fare-passing by the passengers one
/ by one until he stood in front of the
boy.
'Dinna stop before the boy cried
Sandy Wright he is puir orphan
here is my groat.'
The ferryman still held out his hand !;
and Sandy told him that they had found
him in q desolate glen, bewildered by
the storm and we are taking him to his
friends in Edinburg, and that he ought
not to grudge him his passage.
The ferryman without answering, took
off his cap, but Sandy Wright twisted
it out of his hand, telling him to take care
that they did not know what would
become of themselves or their own BARNS
But the ferryman, saying he would have
the fare or the fares worth, if it was his
jacket, laid hold of the boy, who began
to cry. Then rose up Sandy Wright,
and seizing the ferryman in his powerful
grasp, told him not to touch the puir
thing, crying shame on We, mani and
the cry of shame! shamep was echoed
by the other passengers, and the surly
ferryman gave up the point.
On landing, Sandy Wright told the
boy that he had some business to do at
the custom house, and some money to 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 which street they
lived.
The boy united his bundle, which con-
tanned a few shirts and stockings, a par
eel of papers and small box; and said
that his mother charged him to keep the
papers safely, for they told of her mar
| riage; and in that box was her wedding
ring. She could, he added, have got
f money for it when she was sick and not
able to work but she would have starved
sooner than part with it, and l would ma
like to part WI it to anybodie but your
sell, but if ye would take it. and opening
the box he gave it to the boatman. 1
was valuable diamond ring and Sandy
Wright returning it to him, told him no
to part with it to anybody on any ac
count.
y He found the direction in one of tht
letters, and in a few minutes they were
] walking up Grass Market. Suddenly
D the boy sprung to meet young woman
\ who was passing, and in whom he recog
1 nised his mothers sister. She knew hin
4 and warmly embraced him; and havin,
n been introduced to the brave, kind frien
Of the boy, she told him Of his parentag
y and prospects. His father was a youn
" man of good family, but estranged fror
p his friends by vicious course Of life
e He married poor but virtuous and in
1t dustrious woman, who was worthy of
better husband. Giving himself up
le Incorporate habits, he sunk into povert
er and contempt; and in the midst of th
in wretchedness which would have bee
ID greater but for the efforts of his wife, L
s. was attacked by a fever, of which he die,
le Two Of his brothers, who were lawyer
ID had recently inquired about the chill
and would probably interest themselv,
er in his behalf. The good boatman no
j, bade farewell to the lad, slipping him
ID groat, which he said was better in h
lg pocket than in that of the gruff ferr
r man.
70 Eighteen years passed away befo
en- Sandy Wright again visited Edinburg
h. He had left it a strong, powerful man
he forty-seven, he returned to it a gra
Id haired old man of sixty-fve. Trouble
go too, had come with his gray hairs. Il
re son, brave young fellow, who had ris
'ut from the humblest post on deck, till
n; was lieutenant, had sailed upon an exp
'ut dition from which he never returne
'ut and the poor old boatman, when about
ay, retire on a pension to which he was en-
- tied Tor his long service af the Cnstc