The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-26

The Orphan Boy.

The hustle of the fight was over the
prisoners had been secured and the decks
washed down, and the schooner lapsed
once more into midnight quiet and repose.
sought my hammock and soon fell asleep.
But my slumbers were disturbed by wild
dreams, which, like the visions of fever,
agitated and unnerved me. Suddenly q
hand was laid on my shoulder, and starting
up / beheld the surgeons mate
Little Dick is dying, sir" he added.
At once l sprang from my hammock.
Little Dick was sort OF protege of mine.
He was pale, delicate child, said to be
an orphan, and used to gentle nature /;
and from the first hour I Joined the
schooner my heart yearned to him, for l,
too, had been friendless and alone in the
world. He had often talked to me in con-
fidence Of his mother, whose memory he
regarded with household reverence. Poor
lad! his heart was in the grave with his
dead parent.
During the late fight l had owed my
life to him, for he had rushed in just as a
sabre-stroke was leveled at me, and by in
terposing his feeble cutlass, averted the
deadly blow. In the hurry afterward, I
had forgotten to inquire whether he was
hurt, though at the time had resolved to
use my influence to procure him a mid
shipman's warrant With pang of re-
proachful agony leaped to my feet.
''My God!" / exclaimed, "you do not
mean it he is not dying!"
81 fear, sir" sail the messenger sadly,
"that he cannot live till morning."
"And l 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.
The surgeon said "He is going fast,
poor little fellow do you see this !? a." AS
he spoke he lifted up little gold locket
which laid upon the boys breast. "He
has seen better days"
could not answer, my heart was full :;
here was the being to whom but few
hours before l owed my life-a poor,
slight, unprotected child-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:
"Poor little Dick, you'll never see the
shore you've wished for so long. But
there1l be more than one, when your log
is out, to mourn over YOU
Suddenly the little fellow opened his
eyes and looked vacantly around.
Has he come yet?" he asked in low
voice. "Why won't he Gomez
81 am here" said l, taking the little
fellows hand. "Don't you know me
Dick?"
He smiled family, and then said, "You
have been kind to me, sir-kinder than
most people are to poor orphan boy 1
have no way to show my gratitude, unless
you will take the Bible you will find in my
trunk. It's small offering, | know, but
it's all have"
| burst into tears; he resumed:
doctor, Pm dying, amt II" said the
little fellow, for my sight grows dim,
God bless You, Mr. Danforth''
'Can | do nothing for you, Dick ?"
said |. 'You saved my life. would
coin my blood to buy yours.''
81 have nothing to ask 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"
Anything, everything, my poor lad,"
answered, chokingly"
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.
IT'S a long way up there-5ut there
are bright angels among them. Mother
used TO say that should meet her there.
How near they come and | see sweet
faces smiling On me from amo1g them.
Hank is that lnusic?" and lifting his fin q.
ger, he seemed listening for moment.
He fell back, and the old veteran burst
into tears-the child was dead Did lie
indeed hear angels voices? God grant it
-Adtion0I lnteEtgencer.