The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-04-20
4 Chapter in Human Nature.

At a point on this side of the mountain;
in Pennsylvania, where occurred the
transhipment of passengers from the west
was moored canal boat, waiting for the
arrival of the train before starting on its
way Through to the east The captain
OF the boat-a tall sunbrowned, rough,
and sometimes a profane man-stood by
his craft, superintening the labors Of his
men, when the cars come in, and dozen
minutes afterwards party of half do
zen gentlemen came along and deliberately
walked up to the captain, and thus adj
dressed him: "Sir, we wish to 90 east,
but our further progress depends upon
| you. In the cars we have just left there
Is sick man, whose presence is disagree
able. We have been appointed a commit
tee by the passengers to ask that you will
deny this man passage on this boat. If
he goes we remain. What say you?'
By this time the others had come from
the cars.
Gentlemen, said the captain, 81 have
heard the passengers through your com
mittee, Has the sick m&u any represent
ative 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, worn
out creature, whose life was nearly eaten
up by the fell destroyer, consumption.
The mans head was bowed in his hands.
and lie was weeping. The captain advanc-
ed and spoke kindly to him.
"Oh, SIR said the trembling invalid.
looking up, his face now lit with hope and
expectation, ARE you the captain, and viii
you take me? The passengers shua me
and are so unkind. You sec, sir, am
dying, but oh, if | could live TO see my
rnotAer, shall die happy. She lives at
Burlington, sir, and 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 90 said the bluff captain,
If | lose every passenger for the trip"
BY his time the whole crowd Of impa
tient passengers were grouped around the
boat, with their Luggage piled on the tow
path, and they themselves awaiting the
decision Of the captain before engaging
their passage. ! moment more and that
decision was made known as they beheld
him coming from the cars with the sick
man cradIed in his strong arms. Pushing
directly through the crowd with his dying
burden, he ordered a matrass to be laid in
the choicest part cf the cabin, where he
laid the invalid with all the care OF a pa
rent Then scarcely deigning to cast
look at the a-toEishod crowd alongside, he
shouted loudly 10 his hands:
Push OF the boat
Bat new feeling seemed to possess the
astonisEed passenGcrs-tnat Of shame and
contIition at their inilumanity. With one
common impulse, each seized his baggage
and then walked Immediately OF, board
the boat.
In a short time another committee was
sent TO tie captain, asking his presence il
the cabin. IL, went. aud from tLeir midst
there rose a white haired man, who, with
the tear drops starting iiom his eye, told
that rough captain that Ee had taught
them . losson-that they felt hunbled be-
fore him. aud they asked his forgiveness.
1t was { touching scene. The fountain of
true sympathy was broken up in the heart
ol nature, and the waters swelied up,
choking the utteTance of all present In
an Instant purse was made UP for the
sick man, with 3 q God speed for his vel
taIc.