New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-05
Adventures of an Orphan.

nant fevers 50 in newly settled Countries |
while overseeing the cultivation Of large tract Of
land, in order to regain fortune lost during the dis
aatrous speculations of 1884.
Being an only son and left among strangers after
the death of his father, George Wentworth resolved
to leave Ohio and remove to the State of New York
for the purpose Of trying his fortune in any manner
that chance might Offer fIe had passed throuh sew
eral towns and villages his route without meeting
ANYTHING to attract MS attention till reaching G..
This fine town. with its lovely lake and beautiful
scenery struck his fancy, and so he determined to OBJ
tain employment if possible, and make it his future
home
While walking along the principal street of the
place--a shady avenue overlooking the lake which
located several fine churches and other public
budihgs-hc saw large crowd assembled around a
yerected liberty pole in front OF Of the prin
cpal hotels. On approaching the spot he found that
it was political meeting, held for the purpose of
raising pole and making party speeches.
Our hero forced his way into the crowd just as they
raising the stars and stripes with the names
of their favore candidates to the top of the flag
staff. The flag had scarcely reached half way. the
enthusiasm BEING at its height, when the cord twisted
and caught in the little hole at the top. They pulled
and tried every way but unable to raise or lower
the flag single inch. The excitement and cheering
/ ceased and ali eyes were raised to the halfmasted
| flag portion of the opposition party, who were
grouped together little in the OF the main body,
began to eer and joke about the apparently bad omen
| to the evident discontinue of their opponents.
At length Judge s., editor and publisher of the
c. journal, then candidate for Congress, offered
|
draw the cord through the wheel.
The utmost silence reigned for several minutes but
no one advanced to make the daring trial. So Who
will volunteer shouted the Judge strongly excited
as peal of laughter went up from the opposition
The chuckle had scarcely died away, however, be-
fore George, with his cap and shoes off stepped before
| the Judge, and with confident look, exclaimed
81. sir, will climb IT, ..... "
g You, my lad you are not strong enough
| @ Oh, yes sir I'm used to climbing
Then 60 ahead my little Spartan, said the Judge,
at the same time giving him an encouraging pat on
the shoulder. .....
Steadily, hand over hand, his feet clutching the
pole in manner that proved him to be an expert
climber, George made his way to the top Of the staff,
which was SO slender that it sWayed to and fro with
his weight. Nothing daunted, he wound his legs
right and left round the pole and with his right hand
UNFINISHED the cord. Shouting tearlessly to those be-
low to hoist away, he chung on till the flag fairly
reached the top, and then slowly descended.
The cheers that now rent the air were terrific op-
position and all joined in one universal shout. After
the excitement had somewhat subsidized the Judge
looked at the boy with admiration and took out his
pocket-book to pay the promised reward
George notieed the action. and exclaimed:
Keep yonr money sir !; l. want no pay for helping
to raise The American flag.
"Noby said, my little man: what is your name p
inquired the Judge.
George Wentworth sir! am an orphan, and
have just arrived here in search of employment, :"
replied our hero, his bright eye glistening with a
tear
well, you shall live with me-" exclaimed the
Judge. will take care Of you for the future
Five years passed from the time that George Went
worth became an inmate of his beneactors family.
III the meantime Judge S. had been defeated by
his political opponent, and George had been initiated
into the mysteries Of the art preservatiye Of arts.
He had become a fayorite with the citizens and was
looked upon the adopted of the Judge. 1t was
whispered in private circles that he was to be the
enyied husband Of the beautiful and accomplished Ida,
the Judges only daughter
fiIt tlliS GEORGE had not dreamed of IT'S ha
never felt so happy as when in her presence and it
did make his muscles twtCh to see the foppsh stu
dents from the College swarm around the acknow
lodged idol Of his heart.
Poor youth had he known the real state of Idas
feelings, the thought would have almost turned BIZ
brain and could he have interpreted the CLEAN o
joy that flashed from her eyes whenever he uttered
noble sentiment or sally of wit, it would have filed bis
soul with cCstaCy and delight.
One fine day in the latter part Of June, Ida her
father AMI George were enjoying sail on the lake il
their trim little yacht, the Swan which had won
the cup at the last regatta under the management OF
our hero. who was at present standing by the mast
gazing at the beautiful scenery on the opposite shore
the Judge held the tiiler, and Ida was leaning over
the side OF the boat trailing her pretty hand through
the clear water Of the lake, when a sudden gust OF
wind Careered the yacht that she lost her balance
and fell ntothe water George heard the splash made
by lda and before the Judge could utter cry, had
kicked off his light shoes and plunged in to rescue
her. Being skillfu and vigorous swimmer, he came
up with the struggling girl before her clothes would
ttll"'!icf 10 Sllh eDtWlllg nef waist Win his
left arm struck out with his right and kept her above
water till the Judge turned the boat and came to the
relief Ina few moments they were safely in the boat
again. and Ida soon recovered from the effects of he
unexpected bath.
The old Judge embraced George, and exclaimed
with tears starting fast from his eyes:
God bless you, my dear boy you have saved my
daughters life how can ever repay you?
. By saying nothing about it," replied George. q
owe you thousand times more than can ever repay
and am too happy in being able to render even thi
slight service.
The lovely Ida could say nothing Her heart wa.
overlooking with an expression that told volumes
Her father observed her earnest loving glance ant
began to guess the true state Of affairs. He moi
prepared for it, and in silence turned the boat to the
shore. They soon reached home with feelings far
different from those they had started with.
The following morning George received notice to
meet the Judge in his library His heart beat wildly
what could it mean?
The Judge determined to put him to a severe test
As George entered the library he commenced
Since becoming an inmate of my family, George,
you have conducted yourself i'll worthy manner,
performing every duty cheerully and neglecting none
You are now of age and are capable of doing business
for yourself have placed five thousand dollars in the
bank at your disposal you can use the sum as you
think proper. let it lay on interest and take charge
of my Office at salary OF fifteen hundred dollars a
year In either you must leave my house for the
present time What do you say to my proposals."
forth request to be allowed few hours for con.
sideratiou. This being granted, he retired to his
room and threw himself on the bed in paroxysm of
grief Could the Judge have guessed what he himself
had scarcely dared to hope? What right had he to
his benetactors daughter ard fortune? None! He
would smother his feelings, and earn an honorable
living by his own eXeltOns.
Various were the rumOrs set a!!oat by the scandal
mongers of C as the of young Wentworth
leaving his patrons mansion, but their inuendoes
were unheeded. George new devoted himself wholly
to business and study. His brow wore 4 more
thoughtful expression, and his cheeks grew a shade
pacr.
The Judge acted with him in traightforward frank
manner, yet never addressed him in the kind athery
tones which had been his wont before the incident
which occurred on the lake. If he CHANGED to meet
Ida in his walks, friendly glance and nod was all
that passed still he felt that his look betrayed him
for the warm blood gushed from his loving heart and
tinted his cheeks with tetale blush and he
cherished the pleasing thought that her look was
beaming with hope.
little more than year had passed from the time
George had left the house of those lie loved. 1t was
the eve of another election excitement ran high ant
Judge S. was again candidate for Congress
For several weeksa series of ably written articles had
appeared in tie Judges paper. They were addressed
to all classcs-tarners, mechanics, luborels. The
original and vigorous style, clear and convincing
arguments, deep aud profound reasoning of thesl
articles invariably carried conviction to the partie
hr,-l1