Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-02-09
Gum Misfsllany.
A Chapter on Human Nature.

1
,e A correspondent of the Blair G
n Wing furnishes that paper with Il
: particulars Of the following inciden
! 'e of which he was an eye witness.
it occurred a few weeks ago on tn
g line Of great internal improvement
in that State:
At the point on this side of th
' mountain where occurred the trans
shipment of passengers from th
: west, was moored a canal boat, watinI
, the arrival of the train, before start
: ing on their way ''through''to the east
The captain of the boat-a tall and
! sun Drowned rough, and sometime
profane man-.stood on bis craft, super
intending the labors Of bis men
when the CARS came in, and dozer
minutes after party Of Lalf'a-dozer
gentlemen came along, and deliber
ateiy walked up to the captain and
thus addressed him:
"Sir, we wish to so east, but oul
farther progress to-day depends on
you. In the cars We have just left,
there is sick man whose presence
is disagreeable. We have been ap-
pointed committee by the passen-
gers to ask that you deny this man
passage on your boat, if he goes,
we remain. What say yoa?"
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 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
to the car, and entering, beheld a
poor, emaciated, WORKOUT creature,
whose life was nearly eaten up by
the fell destroyer, consumption. The
mans head was bowed in his hands, |
aud he was weeping. The captain
advanced and spoke kindly to him.
"Oh, sit!" said the trembling in
valid, looking up, bis face lit up with
hope and expectation, "are you the
captain, and will you take me2 The
shun me and are so un-
kind. You see, sir, l am dying:
bat oh, il l can live to see my moth
er, l shall die happy. She lives at
Burlington, sir, aud my journey is
more than half performed. | am
poor printer. and the only child of
her in whose arms | would wish to
die"
"You shall Co." said the bluff
captain, with an oath, elf | lose every
for the tlip."
BY this time the whole crowd Of
were grouped around the
boat, with their baggage piled on the !
-owpath, and they themselves wait
ng the decision Of the captain be-
ore engaging their passage.
a moment more and that decision
sas made known, as they beheld him
come from the cars with the sick
nan cradled in bis strong arms
Pushing direct through the crowd I
With his dying burden, he ordered
he 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
It the astonished crowd alongside,
le shouted loudly to his hands:
"Push of the boat
But a new feeling seemed to pos
less the amazed passengers-that Of
shame and contrition attbeir inhu-
nanity. With one common impulse,
zach seized bis own baggage and
hen walked Immediately OBJ board
he boat. 81 5eh
In a short time another committee
vas sent to the captain, asking his
presence in the cabin. Il
He went,and from theif midst there /,
ose a white-haired man. who, with {
he tear drops starting in bis eye, (,
old that rough captain that he had.
aught them a lesson-.that they {
eit humble before him, and they 4
lsked his forgiveness. 1t was 2 {
.ouching scene. The fountain OF
rue sympathy was broken up in the
,eart of nature, and the waters
'welled up choking the utterance OF s
llpsesent. @
In an instant the purse was made {