The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-05-19
DO UNTO OTHERS AS YE WOULD
HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO YOU.

Whig furnishes that paper the particulars
of the following interesting incident Of
which he was an eye witness. 1t occurred
few years ago on the line of the great in
ternational improvement of that State. 1t
was one of those acts of genuine kindheart-
edness which ell the mind with involuntary
consciousness that there is something of
the angel still in the common nature:
..At the point this side of the mountain
where occurred the transhipment IF passen-
gers from the West, was moored canal
boat awaiting the arrival of the train ere
starting on its way through the East. The
Captain of the boat, a tall, rough embrown-
ed man. stood by his craft experimenting
the labors of his men, when the cars rolled
up, and few moments after party of
about half a dozen gentlemen came out
and deliberately walked up to the captain,
and addressed him after something Of this
wise:
..Sir, we wish to 60 on East, but our fur
ther progress depends on you. In the cars
we have just left sick man whose presence
is disagreeable. We have been appointed
a committee by the passengers to ask that
you will deny this man passage in your
boat. If he goes, we remain, what say
you :"
"Gentlemen," replied the captain, Il have
heard the passengers through their commit
tee. Has the sick man a representative
here ~
To this unexpected interrogatory there
was no answer, when without moments
pause the captain passed over to the car,
and entering behind, in one corner, found
poor emaciated worn out creature, whose
life was nearly eaten up by that canker-
worm, consumption. The mans head was
bowed in his hands, and he was weeping;
the captain advanced and spoke to him
kindly.
20, SIR" said the shivering invalid, look
ing up, his face now lit with trembling ex-
pectation. ''are you the captain, and will
you take me God help thee The passen-
gers look upon me as breathing pestilence,
and are so unkind! You see, sir, l am dy-
ing but oh, if spared to reach my
mother, l shall die happy. She lives in
Burlington, sir, and my journey is half
performed. / am a poor painter, and the
only child of her in whose arms wish to
die ~
"You shall CO." said the captain, ''if
loose every passenger by the trip"
By this time the whole crowd of passen-
gers were grouped around the boat, with
their baggage piled on the path, and they
themselves awaiting the decision of the cap
tain before engaging their passage.
A moment more and the decision was
made known, as they beheld him coming
his arms. Pushing directly through the
crowd with his dying burden. he ordered
m lttress to be spread in the choicest part
of the boat, where he laid the invalid with
all the care of parent. That done, the
captain directed the boat for starting.
But new feeling seemed to possess the
astonished passengers. With one common
impulse they walked aboard the boat, and
in few hours after, another committee was
sent to the captain, entreating his presence
among the passengers in the cabin. He
went, and from the midst there arose
white haired man, who with tear-drops in
his eyes told that rough, sunbrowned man
that they felt humble before him, and asked
his forgiveness. 1t was touching scene.
The fountain of true sympathy was broken
in heart of nature, of all present. On the
instant purse was made up for the sick
man. with ''God speed on his way home
to die in the arms of his mother.