The Shasta courier., 1860-03-24
A Chapter on Human Nature.

A correspondent of the Blair County Whio
furnishes that paper with the particulars of the
following incident, of which he was an eye-wit.
ness. 1t occurred few weeks ago, on the line
of great internal improvements in that State
AT the point on this side Of the mountain where
occurred the transhipment of passengers from
the West. was moored a canal boat, waiting the
arrival of the train before starting on their way
through to the East The Captain Of the boat
"a tall and sun Drowned rongh, and sometimes
prufane man-stood on his craft, experimenting
the labor. of his men, when the cars came in,
and dozen minutes after party of half-a-do.
zen gentlemen came along, and deliberately
walked up to the captain, and thus addressed
him:
"Sir. We wish to go east, but our further pro.
gress to- day depends upon you. In the cars we
have Just left, thereis sick man whose presence
is disagreeable. We have been appointed a
committee by the passengers, to ask that you will
DENY this passage on 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 committee. Has
the sick man any representatives here? l wish
to hear both sides of the question:
To this unexpected interrogatory there was no
answer; when, without moments pause the
captain crossed to the car, and entering, beheld
poor, emaciated, worn out creature whose life
was eaten up BY the fell destroyer, consumption.
The mans head was bowed in his hands, and he
was weeping. The captain advanced and spoke
] kindly to him
"Oh sirl' said the trembling invalid, looking
up his face lit up with hope and expectaton,-
- are you the captain and will you take me p
| The passengers shun me, and are so unkind.
You see, sir am dying; but OH il can live to
see my mother, | shall die happy. She lives at
| D. -, nd ic : han ho1f
performed. am poor printer, and the only
child Of her in whose arms would wish 10 die. y
"You shall GO" said the bluff captain, with an
oath, " if | lose every passenger for the trip"
By this time the whole crowd Of passengers
were grouped around the boat, with their bag
gage lied on the towpath, and they themselves
waitin the decision of the captain before en-.
gaging their passage.
Amomeut more. and that decision was made
known. as they beheld him come from the cars
with the sick man craded in his strong arms
Pushing directly through the crowd with hi.
diving burden, he ordered the mattrass to be laid
in the choicest part of the cabin, where he laid
the invalid with all the care of parent. Then
scarcely deigning to cast look at the astonish-
ed crowd alongside, he shouted loudly to hi.
hands;
Push off the boat"
But new feeling seemed to possess the amaz.
4 ed passengers-that OF shame and contrition al
1 their inhumanity. With one common impulse,
D each seized his own baggage, and then walked
r Immediately on board the boat.
In a short time another committee was sent tc
the captain, asking his presence In the cabin.
e He WENT and from their midst there rose
b white haired man. who, with tear drops starting
s in his eyes, told that rough captain that be had
e taught them a lesson-that they felt humble
before him. and they asked his forgiveness. !
was a touching scene. The fountain Of tru,
s sympathy was broken up in the heart of nature
and the waters sweled up, choking the utter
d ance of all present
e In an instant purse was made up for thu
: sick man, with God-speed" for his welfare.
n The hearted captain Of the boat wa
:, Samuel d Carnes, and the incident is worth re
a memberinG