Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-20
"Ifo faded, yei so calm aud mock,
So gcnlly Wnn. so sw eelIy weak. ~


washed down. tho watch piped, and tho
schooner had once more rolapscd into mid
night quiet repose. I sought my ham
mock and soon fell asleep. Bu,my slum-
bcrs were disturbed by wild Creams. which
like tho visions Of fever, agitated and
unnervcd me; the last strife, tho hard
ships Of my early life, and thousand
other things mingled together as figures
In phantasmayoria. Suddenly a hand
was laid on my should, and starting up
bcheld the surgeons mate.
"Little Dick Is dying, sir" hc said.--
At once I sprung from my hammock
Little Dick was a sort ofproiege OF mine.
He was pale delicate child, said to DO m
orphan, and used to gentle nurture, and
from tho first hour joined tho schooner
my heart yearned toward him, FOR too
had once been fricndloss aud alono ia tho
world. IIe had often talked to mo In
confidence OF his mother, whose memory
he regarded with holy reverence. while
to the othcr boys OF tho ship hc had little
to say: for they wore rude and course, ho
delicate and sensitive. Often whom they
cerod him for his melancholy. he would
60 apart by himself and weep. Ho never
complained Of bis LOT, though his coinpan-
ions imposed upon him continually
Poor lad his heart was In tho grave with
his lost parents.
/ took strange interest In him, and
had lightencd his task as much as possible.
During tho latc fight had owed my life
to him, for hc rushed in just as sabre
was leveled at me; and by intcrposing his
feeble cullass had ayerted tho deadly
blow. In the hurry and confusion since.
had forgotten to inquire Il he was hurt,
though at tho time inwardly resolved to
exert oil my influence to procure him a
| midshipman's warrant In requital for bis
service. II was with pang Of freproachful
agony, therefore. that leapcd to my feo,.
"whatp Icxclalmcd. "you don't moan
II? He Is not dying ?"
II fear, sir" said tho messenger, sha.
king his head sadly, "that no cannot live
till morning"
"And Ihavc been lying idle here !"
exclaimed, with remorsc. "Lcad mo Ia
him -
"Hc Is dclrlous. but in tho intervals Of
his lunacy ho asks for you, sir" and aa
the man spoke We stood beside the bed
sido Of the dying boy.
The sufferer did not lo In his usual ham.
mock, for 1, was hung In tho worry midst
Of tho crew, and tho close air around II
was too stifilins; but ho had been carried
under tho opcn ha.ehway. and laid there
In littlo open space OF about four feet
square. From tho sound Of tho rlpples
Judged tho schooner was In motion
wlilo tho clear. calm. blue sky. seen
through tho opening overhead. and dotted
with myrlads OF stars. be,okoncd that tho
fog had broken away. How calm II smiled
down on tho wan face Of tho boy. ocea'
sionally light crront-oh how delic'
Iously cool In that pcnt up hoIe-eddicd
down tho hatchway, and lIftod tho dark
chestnut locks Of tho sufferer, rs with biz
head roposlng IN tho lap OF an old veteran
ho lay In an unquIet slumbcr. IIc breath
cd quick and heavily. The wound ol
which no was dying had boen iniousely
painful, but within the last half hour had
somewhat lulled. though even now hI'
thin fingers tightly sraspod tho bod clothes
as II ho suffered tho creates! agony.
A batile-stained and gray-haIrcd seaman
stood beside him, holding a duh lantern a
hIs hand. and gazing sorrowfally down
upon tho sufferer. The surgeon knel'
with bis finger on tho boys pulse. As
approached they all looked UP. Tho vet
eran who held him shook his head, and
would have spoken, but the tears gather
ed too chokIngly IN his eyes. The surge.
on said
"IIc Is going fast--poor little fellow
do you see this ?" AS he spoke hc lifted
up rich gold loo kct. which had laid mp
on the boys breast. ale has seen better
days"
could not answer, for my heart wa'
full; here was tho being to whom. bu. Q
few hours before. / had owed my lifc-g
poor, slight. unprotected chld-lyIns tc.
fore me, with death already written on Bis
brow--and yet ] had never known his
danger, and had never sought him out; II
rcproachcd mo IN that hour. They notl-
ced my agitation. and his old friend-thc
seaman that held his hcad--said sadly:
Poor little Dick. you'll never SEQ tho
shore you have wished for so long. But
thero'll be moro than one, when your log.
OUT Che spoke with cmotion,) ito mourn
over you.'
Suddenly the little fellow opened his
eyes and looked vacantly around.
alas he come yet ?" he said. In low
voice. "why don't he come p
~ am here" said ], taking the little fol.
lows hand, "don't you know me, Dick?
He smiled family in my face. ic then
said, "You havc been kind to me. sir
kinder than most people are to poor or
phan boy. I have no way to show my
gratitude, unless you will take tho Bible
you will find in my trunk. It's small
offering, know, but it is air have"
burst into tears. He re sumcd:
doctor, ! am dying. amt ]? for my
sight grows dim. God bless you, Mr.
Danforth."
"Can do nothing for you, dick ?" said
I; "you saved my life. Iwould ! coin my
blood to buy yours"