Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-07-18

(Pa.) Whtg furnishes that paper with the
particulars of the following interesting in
cident, of which he was an eye witness.
1t occurred few years ago, on the line of
the great internal Improvements of that
State. 1t is one ofthose scehes Of genuine,
kind heartedress which fills the mind with
the involuntary Consciousness that there is
something of The angel still in our conf
mon nature"
At the point on This side of the noun
tain, where occurred the transhipment of
passengers from the west, was moored
canal boat, waiting the arrival of tie train,
ere starting on its way through" to the
east. The carta;rt Of the boat, a tall, sun
emb. owned, ROUGH, and sometimes profsee
man, stood by his craft ,superinten,Ang the
labors of his men, wheii the cars c:srne up,
and few moments afters party Of about
a half dozen gentlemen eame Out, and de-:
libefately walking up to the captain, adj:
dressed him:
''Sir, we wish to 90 on east but our fur
Their progress to-day depends on you. In the
cars we have just left there is sick man,
whose presence. is disagreeable. We have
been appointed committee BY the pas
sengers,to ask that you will deny this man
a passage in your boat. If he goes, we
remain; what say you?'
BY this time others had come from the
cars.
Gentlemen" said the captain, 81 have
heard The passengers through your com
mittee. Has the sick man representative
here? | wish to hear both sides of the
question"
To this unexpected interrogatory there
was no answer; when, without moments
pause, the captain crossed over to the car,
and entering, beheld in one corner, poor;
emaclated worn out creature, whose life
was nearly eaten up by the fell-destroyer,
consumption. The mans head was bow
ed to his hands; and he was weeping
The captain advanced and spoke to him
kindly.
"Oh, sir" said the trembling invalid,
looking up, his face now lit with hope and
expectation, care you the the captain, and
will you take me? God help nue. The
passengers shun me and are so unkird.----
You see, sir, | am dying; but, oh if l can
live to reach my mother, l shall die hap
Ply. She lives at Burlington, sir, and my
journey is more than half perfected. T
am poor painter, and the only child of.
her in whose arms wish to die"
"You shall go, replied the captain, if I
lose every passenger for the trip"
BY this time the whole crowd of passen-
gers were grouped round the boat, with
their baggage piled up on the tow PATH,
and they themselves awaiting the deci-
sion of the captain before engaging their
passage.
A moment more aud that decision was
made known, as they beheld him come
from the cars with the sick man cradled in
his strong arms. Pushing directly through
the crowd with his dying burden, he or
dered mattras to be spread in the choic-:
est part of the cabin, where he lay the in
valid with all the ease of parent. Then
SCARCELY deigning to look at the crowd "a
longside, he shouted to his hands:
"Push off the boatr'
DuI leeDnH seemed 10 cross the aston
ished passengers-that Of shame and con-
triton at their inhumanity. With one
common impulse, each seized his own bag
gage and walked Immediately on board
the boat.
In short time; another committee was
sent tc the captain, asking his presence in
the cabin.
He went, and from their midst there
arose white haired man, who, with the
tear-drops starting in his eye, told that
rough and sturdy captain, that he had
taught them lesson, that they felt hum
bed before him, and they asked his for
giveness. It was touching scene. The
fountain Of true sympathy was broken up
in the heart of nature, and welled up,chok-
ing the uttersnce of all present.
On the instant, purse was made up
for the sick man, with God speed for his
welfare.
The true-hearted captain of the boat
was Samuel d. earns, and the incident is
worth remembering.