The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-01-02
A Chapter on Human Nature.

A Chapter on Human Nature.
A correspondent of the Blair County
(Pa.) Wing furnishes that paper with the
particulars of the following incident, oi
which he was an eyewitness. 1t occur
red few weeks ago, on the line of great
internal improvements in that State.
AT the point on this side of the noun
tain, 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-browned, rough, and some
times profane man-stood on his craft,
experimenting the labors of his men,
when the cars rame in, and dozen min
utes after, party of half-a-dozen gentle
men came along, and deliberately walked
up TO the captain, and thus addressed
him:
"Sir, we wish to 60 East, but our fur.
ther progress to day depends upon you
In the cars we have just left, there is q
sick man whose presence is disagreeablc
We have been appointed committee by
the passengers, to ask that you deny this
man passage on your boat; if he goes
we remain. What say youT
BY this time, others had come from
the cars.
Gentlemen" snid the captain, &C.
have heard the passengers through you
committee. Has the sick man any rep
resentatives here? | wish to hear boil
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, emnciated, worn
out creature, whose life was eaten up by
the fell destroyer, consumption. Th'
mans head was bowed in his hands, anC
he was weeping. The captain advanced
and spoke kindly to him.
"Oh, sir" said the trembling invalid
looking up, his face lit up with hope anC
expectation, "are you The captain, and vii
YOU take me! The passengers shun me
and are so unkind. You see, sir, an
dying; but oh il l can live to sec m,
mother, shall die happy. She lives a
Burlington, sir, and my journey is NOR
than half performed. l am poor print
er, and the only child of her in who's
arms l would wish to die"
"You shall 60" said the bluff captain
with an oath, "lf I lose every passen
ger for the trip"
By this time the whole crowd Of pass
engers were grouped around the boat
with their baggage piled on the tow-patt
and they themselves waiting for the de
cision of the captain before engaging thei
passage.
A moment more, and that decision
was made known, MS they beheld hin
come from the cars with the sick maj
cradled in his strong arms. Pushing di
rectly through the crowd with his dying
burden, he ordered the mattress to be lai,
in the choicest part of the cabin, wher
he laid the invalid with all the care Of
parent. Then scarcely deigning TO cast
look at TIE astonished crowd alongside
he shouted loudly to his hands:
"Push of the boat"
But a new feeling seemed to posses
the amazed passengers. With one com
mon impulse, each seized bis own bag
gage, and then walked Immediately o
board the boat.
In short time another committee wa
sent to the captain, asking his presence i
the cabin.
He went, aud from their midst ther
arose a white haired man, who, with tea
drops starting from his eyes, told tina
rouglr captain that he had taught them
lesson-that they felt humble before hin
and they asked his forgiveness. 1t wa
a touching scene. The fountain Of tru
sympathy was broken in the heart Of nj
ture, and the waters welled up, chokin
the utterance of all present.
In an instant purse was made up fo
the sick man, with "God-speed" for hi
welfare.
The true-hearted captain Of the boa
was Samuel d. Carnes, and the inciden
is worth remembering.