The Portland daily press., 1864-10-18
A NOble-Hearted Captain.

Thu effact of an act overtoWing with real
humanity is well illustrated in the sketch we
Give Of tbs conduct OF canal-boatman OF the
s'olden time;' -
A few years ago, while travelling through
pannsvlvania was witness OF one oil those |
scenes of genuine kind -heartedness which,
contrasting 50 much with the common selnsh
ness, gladden. the soul and waken up It's better
feelings.
At y point this side Of the mountains,
where occurred the trans-shipment OF pas
srs from the West, was moored canai-
boat waiting the arrival OF the train oeiole
nLArIing ON its way through TO the East. Inc
captain OF the boat, a tall, rough, Dut noble.
looking, sun Drowned man, stood Dy the vessel
experimenting the labors OF his men, when
the train drew up, and few minutes alter
party of about q dozen gentlemen came out,
and, deliberately walking up to the captain,
addressed him something alter this wise:
"Slr, we wish TO 60 TO the East, but our
further progress to-day will depend upon you.
In the car We have just lett sick man, whose
presence is disagreeable; we have been APP
pointed committee by the passengers to ask
that you will not give this man a passage In
your boat. Ii he goes, We remain; what say
YOUR
heard the passengers through their commit
s~~t ~-~~ @@~@~ e-~e--A SAJ ASEASSSAe~eA'S
here?n
10 this unexpected interTogatory there was
no answer; when the captain, without mo-
ment's pause, crossed over to the carriage,
and, entering, beheld in one corner, q poor,
emaeiated, WORKOUT creature, whose life was
nearly eaten up by the canker worm consump
ton. The mans head was buried in his
hands, and he was weeping. The captain ad-
vanced and spoke kindly to him.
20, air" said the shivering invalid, looking
up in his face with trembling expectation,
''are you the captain-and will you take me
God help me! The passengers look upon me
as breathing pestilence, and are SO unkind.
You see am dying, but Oh If | am spared tc
reach my mother, shall die happy. She
lives in Burlington, sir, and my journey is hall
performed. l am poor printer, the only
child of her in whose arms wish to de-"
"You SHALL cop replied the captain, 81
have TO lose every passenger for the trip"
By this time the whole crowd of passenger
were about the boat, with their baggage pileC
upon the path. They were waiting for the de-
cision of The captain before engaging passage
A moment moreand their decision was made
as they saw im9coming from the railway car
rage with the sick man Graded in his stout
arms. Pushing through the throng with his
dying burthen he ordered mattress 10 be
spread in the choicest part of the boat, where
he laid the invalid down with the care of a pa
rent. This done, the captain ordered the boat
TO be prepared for starting.
But new feeling seemed to take possession
Of the astonished passengers, that of shame and
contrition for their inhumanity.
With one common impulse they walked or
board the boat, and In few hours after, an
other committee was sent to the captain, en-
treating his presence among the passengers ir
the cabin. He went, and from their midst
arose an aged, white haired man, who, with
tear-drops starting in his eyes, told that rough
sun-browned man that they asked his forgive
ness. 1t was now one of the most touching
scenes ever witnessed, the fountain OF sym
pathy broken up in the heart of nature, and its
waters welled up, choking the utterance, anC
filing the eyes of all present. On the instan
purse was made up for the sick man, includ
ing generous contribution from the captain
and the poor invalid was started with 500
speed" on his way home to die in the arms O
his mother.
The nobe-hearted captain of that boat wa
Samuel Harms, and this pleasing incident il
his life is worthy of being remembered.