Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-02-21
MIS- CE LII A N Y.
NY CHILD PASSENGER.
pY AZ OLD skA cArrAx.


Many year, sso, when Was lying 10 The
old Julis, 10 one OF the noble harbop Of Aus-
tralis. fuii.laden and ready to start for Eng.
land. having finished all my business on
shore. and only waiting for breeze to spring
up, I va, rou.ed from reveric on the poop.
10 which wac thinking Of no earthly thing.
but only whs,lIns Tor the wind. by the
mate. coming TO me. and saying "Therc
lea gentleman with boy. cir. wishes TO
See YOU"
Who can they BE-. thought. as de-
.cepded The poop ladder. aud turning into
the cabin. mst the sare OF . gentleman there.
where % lev were q, tha, period. and in
whose righ, hand vas the hand Of boy
gentleman. Why do u'c those words :
Because ~e sailors. although not much us-d
to their society. yet have an in.'ine, which
tell. Us when We are in the prcsence o' such
q one. a glimpse at q man. fearls" and
bold in HE deinsanor, gentle AMI courteous
in hi. manner. whose eye. look straight into
yours. aud whose hand grasp. firmly aud
releases reluctantly, who uses good plain
words with meaning In them. t'och mean.
ing a. We put In an order TO '' stand by -
-" Er ,our iises," when On = lec-.hore.
aud Il 'hs mis-, stays death com") the"
tell u. the gentleman. and Ne have re'pcc,
and feeling towards him quite dscren, from
those OF land.mAn
"Cbnli.. he said to his boy, and no,
10 me. 4" ihi. is Captain Denily. whose chip.
mat. you are to b. To Old Ensl.nd :" and
frankly and heartily tho boy pu, hi. hand
in mine. and then turned bis eyes on lie
father.
lie introduced him'eli very brieay, apollo.
siIipg Tor no, having been on board earlier,
and then continued. +" We have beard, cap
tain. tha, you have been many times here
before. and made safe voyages. and that
your ship !. a strong and 80 worthy craft.
and wish this young gentleman to 20 home
in your charge. am sure ,ha, Charlie
will BE- good boy, and will obey your or
der. a. cheeriully as any OF your crew, OF
as he la. always obcycd me"
A Tightening OF tie little G''. in mine,
made me fancy ,ha, Charlie was determining
on carrying ou, hi. fathers wishes. Ai'G
some explanation from MIR, about the
late hour OF bringing my olly passenger %
boaid. receiving some Instructions, and cot
clad,ns pleasantly a. u terms, &c, hi' liz
tie plain. roagh-wood boxes were passcd into
my cabin. and tho rafting OF the windlaS
pawl. telling the fair wind had come. tie
time came to say farewell.
!, was no -ai parting the ia,her said. m
a hold. cbecry voice. 4" Good bye, Charlie ~
then they shook hand, warmly. aud like
nro grown up people, no tear being in the
eyes OF either Take good care Of him.
captain, and. when hi, schooling i' over.
you .hnl, bring him back again 90 HE rsps. !"
And waving hi. hand IN sdieu, the iait.r
ven, over tho side into his boat. and pulled
Tor the shore. ln few minutes We were
under .ail. aud standing seward.
A.. we drew ou, Of the harbor, Charlie
KEEP, hi. eyes fixed on the fast recctine bat {:
bot. Observing the hustle Of my da,is TO
slhcken, he came up TO me, and pui'inG hi'
little hand IN mine, gave me look which
ut once established q confidence aud faith in
each other which for worlds woul! no,
have broken.
lie could not have been much more than
five years oi age, with a round. happy 'aee,
and clear. blue, frank, unsuspeciins eyes,
lie had long, heb, hair, iu., beginning TO
curl, aud va. dressed in short yellow irock,
with o black bel, round his waist. and q
ship made straw hat, with n neat blue rib.
bon on IL and stood firmly on The deck and
looked boldly round him a, every oojee. and
each Of my men
could not account iOr the change which
seemed to have come over my old quarter
deck. IL seemed 10 me as new aud !fesh ~
4, did on the day when the OLD ship was
launched. many years before. That ehild''
smile bad magic in u. and ] noticed that
the man at the wheel, when be had caught
hi, eye. coufu.cdly put the helm up and
then down. and REDEEMED in the face.
had never known much or never cared
much about children but the appearance,
and ways Of little Charlie won on me with
q strange charm. aud ! tried 81 eoald t.
unbcnd from my old solitary moods and hab'
its, and try and make him happy. Aise'
~e had boeu some time out, determined
to make little cot, and have IL siung Ia
my own cabin, where should always have
him near me and pretty little one did
make, and sewed IL all With my own hands
IL was Of fne duck, and about three feet IN
length. by u little moro than one across
and on the head OF l, embroidered With
my needle and twine heart with bird
standing ou i,, a' II singing. and on the foot
Of 1t I wrougb, ship under foil sail on
wa,clcs. .ea. d-omehow connected the
hear, and bird with lit,le Charlie. as he
seemed TO me then, and pictured bis future
IN the ship with fair wind and all sail 'et
Such cosy little CO. never hung from sh'P''
beams before, and when be was In 10. and
enjoying 4 swing. with b. merry cheerful
laughter lowing over IL. 4. seemed to me Al