Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-09-07

ness that would have been greater
but for the efforts of his wife, he was
attacked by fever, of which he died.
Two Of his brothers, who were law
yers, had recently inquired about the
child, and would probably interest
themselves in his behalf. The good
boatman now bade farewell to the lad,
slipping him his last groat, which he
said was better in his pocket than in
that of the gruff ferryman.
Eighteen years passed away before
Sandy Wright again vistei Edin-
burgh. He had left it a strong pow
ertul man of forty-seven, he returned
to it gray haired old man of sixty.
five. Troubles, too, had come with
his gray hairs. His son, brave
young fellow, who had risen from tho
llumble8t post on deck, till he was a
lieutenant, had sailed upon an expe-
dition and never returned; and the
II poor old boatman, when about to re
tire on pension to which he was en-
titled for his long service at the Gus
tom House, was dismissed without
shilling, on a charge Of having con-
nived at the escape of smuggler.-
He had travelled a weary two hund-
| red miles with the hope that an infe-
rior clerk in the Custom House, with
whom he had some acquaintance,
might use his influence in his behalf.
The clerk, who had given him but lit.
tie encouragement, had appointed to
meet him at Brown Square. Two
honrs after the appointed time had
passed, and, weary and Sorrowful,
Sandy Wright passed the street,watch-
ing and waiting for his friend, who
came not, when a gentleman who had
passed him quickly, abruptly paused,
and reraced his slept, fixing his
eyes steadfastly upon the old man.
"My name, sir, is Sandy Wright"
said the boatman, touching his cap.
my good kind friend" exclaimed
the stranger, his face glowing with
pleasure, as he grasped the old mans
hand, "often, often have inquired for
you, but no one could tell me where
you were, or whittier you were living
or dead. Come with me to nv house
IN the next square. What not re-
member me; it will be i'll with me
when | cease to remember you! am
Hamilton, an advocate; but you will
scarcely know me as that
The astonished boatman accom-
panied his new friend to an elegant
house in Brown Square, where in a
handsome parlor he saw a young lady
reading.
WHO of all the world have found, y
said the gentleman, but good Sandy
Wright the kind, brave man, who
rescued me from perishing in the
snow, and who was a kind friend to
| me when | had no friend"
With a kind smile the lady held
} out her hand, and assured him that
her husband had frequently told her ot
, his kindness, and regretted that be
had no opportunity of acknowledging
} it.
The poor little orphan had beel
| kindly cared for by his father
: friends, and by his diligence in stud,
2 and virtuous conduct he had reward
ed their care, and secured for him
. self an honorable position. And nov
d not with words only, did he show hi
; sense Of thai compassion which hao
not passed by on the other side, AM
! left him helpless and perishing, bu
d had succored him when ready to die
He enquired into the charges mad
o against che boatman, and finding tina
t they were not very serious, he invite
him to spend a few weeks at hi
:, house, till he could see what could b
It done for him. The weeks passe
n slowly, but he had an interested al
It ditor in Mrs. Hamilton, who loved til
II stories which he told with humor an
Y simplicity, and by her husband he wa
e treated with the reverence of
t, son. But he was weary of the life
o gentleman, and sighed for the Ii
t, tie smoky cottage and the 'puir o.
v wife"
III "Just say with US one week longer
J! said the advocate; y yon are not as a
!! tive man as when you carried n
I'd ten miles through the snow, and frigf
le ened the tall ferryman; and | W
secure for you passage in one of tt
ne trading vessels to Leith.'
10 A few days after, Mr.. Hamilton, h
ey face beaming with pleasure, and wi
IT packet in his ha n d, entered t
e. room.
"This is from London" said /
n handing the packet to his wife, w
r. had been conversing with the go'
I'D boatman, ''and it tells us that Ale
10 ander Wright, Custom House DO;
Id man, is to retire from the service +,
as a pension OF twenty pounds per a
o. num-.
he Sandy Wright, grateful and &C
ut tented, bade farewell to his frient
lrt and returned to his native pla
rt where he lived comfortably on !
ut little income, sufficient to supply
he his moderate wants. He used to s
1t that he was a sixty year old schol
nd before he knew the meaning OF th
I'm verse, "Cast thy bre d on the "
on tiers, and thou shalt find it after ma
days."
of
ey "What is the difference 'twixt
i'd watch and a fedder bed, Sam 2"
-