The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-11-18
A TOUCHING INCIDENT.

4 correspondent of the Blair co lnty PA
Wing furnishes that paper With the particulars
OF the following interesting incident OF which
he was an eyewitness. IL occurred q few years
ago on she line of the great internal improve
nents Of that State 1t was one of those acts
Of genuine kind-hear tedness which fill the mind
with the involuntary consciousness that there
is something of the angel still in our common
nature.
At The point this side Of the mountain, where
occurred the trans-shlpment Of passengers from
the West, was moured canal boat awaiting
the arrival cf The train ere starting on lis way
through to the East. The captain Of the boat,
a tall rough sun-embrowned man stood by his
craft experimenting the labors of his men,
when the cars rolled up, and . few moments
after Il party of about half dozen of gentle
mca came out, anl deliberately walking up to
the captain, addressed him something after this
WISE
''Sir, we wish to 90 on East, but oar further
progress to-day depends upon you. In the cars
we have Just left is sick man whose presence
is disagreeable. We have been appointed q
committee by the passengers to ask that you will
dcay this man passage in yonr boat. If he
gges. we remain; whas say your
Gentlemen" replied the captain, II have
heard the passengers through their committee.
Has the sick man representative here y
TO this unexpected interrogatory there was
no answer; when without moments pause,
the captain crossed over to the car, and enter
ing, beheld in one corner a poor, emaciated,
worn out creature, whose life was nearly eaten
out by that canker worm-consumptiOn. The
mans head was bowed in his hands, and he
was weeping The captain advanced and spoke
TO him kindly.
80, SIR said the shiyering invalid looking
up, his face now lit with trembling expectation,
"are you the captain, and will you take me
God help me The passengers looked upon me
as breat hing pesiilence, and arc so uukiud
You see, siT, am dying But oh, if | am spared
to reach my mother, shall die happy She
lives in BURLINGTON, sir, and my journey is more
DIAN half performed. / am poor printer
and the ot.ly child of her in whose arms wish
to die
'.You shall 60" SAID the eaptain, IF I lose
every passenger for the trip"
BY this time the whole crowd Of passengers
were grouped around the boat, with their bag
gage piled on the path AMI they themselves a.
waiting the decision Of the captain before en-
gaging their passage.
A moment more and that decision was made
known, as they beheld him coming from the
cars with his dying burden Graded 10 his arms
Pushing hls way through the crowd with the
sick man. lie ordered a mattrasS to be spread
in the choicest part of the boat where he laid
the invalid with the care of a parent That
done the captain ordered the boat to be got
ready for STARTING
Bat new feeling seemed to pervade the as
tonished passengers-that of shame and con-
triton at their inhumanTty. With one common
impulse they walked aboard the boat, and in 6
few hours after. another committee was sent to
the captain, entreating his presence among the
passengers in the cabin.
He went, and from their midst there arose a
wlite-headed man; who, with tear-drops in his
eyes, told that rough, sun Drowned man that
they felt humbled before him, and they asked
forgiveness. 1t was q touching scene. The
fountain of true sympathy was broken in the
heart Of nature, and its waters swelled up
choking the utterance Of all present
On the instant, a purse was made up Cor
the sick man, wzith fGod speed to his home,
10 die mths arms q his mother