The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-26
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT.
The orphan Bey.e

NN~S~ 1871 t+cs-Nbs fHAASAbShstb 49, "Nr-~-ts
odThabastle of bths aeht x snS9.1 ssa the the
prisoners had been secured, and the decks
washed down. and the schooner lapsed
once more into midnight quiet and repose
l sought my hammock and soon fell asleep.
But my slumbers were disturbed by wild
dreams, which, like the visions Of fever,
agitated and unnerxed me. Suddenly q
hand was laid on my shoulder, and starting
up abeheld the surgeons mate. safl 1 .el3EE
81. Little Dick is dying, Sir, he added. u
bnAto once 1 sprang from my hammock,
Little Dick was a sort OF bproaege Of mine.
he was q pale, delicate child, said to be
an orphan, and used to- q gentle nature !;
and from the first hour i o joined n the
schooner my heart yeafnedc to him, for /,
too, had been 'friendless and alone in the
world.o2 He had often talked 70 me il con-
fidence Of bis mother, whose memory he
regarded with household reverence Poor
lad!i his heart was i'm the grave with his
dead parent. on odt 20 b9ndi919 yi19qoIq 20"
During the late fight 7 had owed my
life to him, for he had rushed in Just as q
sabre-stroke was leveled at me, and by in
terposing his feeble cutlass, averted the
deadly, blow. In the hurry afterward,
had forgotten to inquire whether he was
hurt, though at the time had resolved to
use my influence to procure him mid
shipman's warrant. With a pang of re-
proachfui agony | leaped to my feet.
.,5..sMy God I" ], exclaimed, ''you do, not
mean it the is not dying!" g.l5 aaD iia
ti'sI fear, sir, sail the messenger sadly,
'sthat he cannot live till morning. y,
a"And / have been lying idly here" I
exclaimed, with remOrse. "Lead me to
him." -.. -....,
"He is delirious, but at lucid intervals
he asks for you, sir; % and as the man
spoke we stood at the bed of the boy.
A battle-stained and gray haired sea-
man stood beside him, holding dull Ian
tern in his hand, and gazing mournfully in
the face of the sufferer. The surgeon
knelt with his finger on the boys pulse.
AS approached they all looked up The
veteran who held him shook his head and
would have spoken, but the teers gathered
too chokingly in his eyes. ta5 ,7... Il
The surgeon said: "He is going fast,
poor little fellow do you see this {" As
he spoke he lifted up little gold locket
which laid upon the boy's breast. ''He
has seen better days" O., go. gao5slaat -
could not answer, my heart was full /;
here was the being to whom but a few
hours before I owed my life-a poor,
slight, unprotected ehild-lying before me
with death already written on his brow.
They noticed my agitation. and his old
friend, the seaman, who held his head,
said sadly: Il .5.i " ~ g.'1' - - p i, q,
"Poor little Dick, you'll never see the
shore you've wished for SO long. But
there'll be more than one, when your log
is out, to mourn over you M .','.'
Suddenly the little fellow opened his
eyes and looked vacantly around. .H2l1
"Has he come YETI" he asked in a low
voice. "Why won't he Gomez"
% 81 am here" said /, taking the little
fellows hand. "Don't you know me
Dick?" ..s.. 5...f. aiming il, g.,..f,.
He smiled family, and then said, You
have been kind to me, eir-kinder than
most people are to a poor orphan boy I
have no way to show my gratitude, unless
you will take the Bible you will find in my
trunk. It's small offering, I know, but
it's all have. - ]r.,-. ..-...
burst into tears he resumed:
"Doctor, I'm dying, amt II" said the
little fellow, "for my sight grows dim,
God bless you, Mr. Danforth. - -aio al
"Can l do nothing for you, Dick P"
said l. SO You saved my life. Il would
coin my blood to buy yours."3i4 .a ,sa9d
% 81 have nothing to ask-I don't want
to like-only if it's possible let me be bur
led by my mother. You'll find the name
of the place in my trunk. >" "'h
Anything, everything, my poor lad," l
answered, chokingly." ta
0 The little fellow smiled faintly-it was
| like an angels smile-but did not answer
His eyes were fixed on the stars Pickering
in that patch of blue sky overhead. His
mind wandered. e.. - :t.I- .e 1a.roorh
cts long way up there--but there
are bright angels among them. Mother
used to say that | should meet her there.
How near they comet land I see sweet
faces smiling On me from amoAg them.
Hank is that music?" and lifting his fin =.
ger, he seemed listening for a moment,
He fell back, and the old veteran burst
into tears--the child was dead Did he
indeed hear angels voices2 God grant it J!
acknowledgement. .72;liW s;;3taAl
- 81 ariyH 1Hiea