The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-05-21
The sEerOisnn of Humble Life.

We have heard of numerous instances of
bravery and heroism among people whose
business il was to be brave, who were paid
for it, and in whom cowardce would have
been suicide of reputation and social posi-
tion; bat it does not often happen that any
body is Jealous to make hero out of shoe
black or castaway, even when he has mani
Tested the highest attributes of courage and
devotion.
This comes of the snobbish shoddy educa-
tion that prevails in society. If we were of
healthy and manly breed we should extol
all examples Of this kind to the highest
point of praise and honor, thankful that hu-
manity was capable Of such excellence. But
we are lame lot, blear-eyed and diseased
with conceit and selfishness from top to toe,
so that we can see no good thing that is not
stamped with the seals of respec liability, and
born with silver spoon in its mouth.
And yet examples are not wanting in the
uneducated, laboring classes, so-caled,
which, for generous courage, fortitude, and
valor, are an honor to human nature There
mas that brave Newport girl, the best sailor
on the coast, as Higginson says, who pushed
her boat the other day into sea that threat
ened to overwhelm her, at the cry and signal
Of distress and saved three of her fellow crea
lures from death that seems iDevitable!-
Was not that deed worthy of being set
forth in story, illuminated in history among
the worlds heroisms? And there are scores
of such continually happening, of which no
record is made, which are performed as du-
ties, and things natural and betitting.
But perhaps the finest of these modern in
stances occurred two weeks ago on board an
English steamer A little ragged boy, aged
nine years, was discovered on the 4th day OF
the outward voyage from Liverpool to New
York, and carried before the first mate,
whose duty it was to deal with such cases. -
When questioned as to the object of his be-
ing slowed away and who brought him on
board, the boy, who had beautiful, sunny
face, and eyes that looked like the very mir
rors of truth, replied that his step father did
it, because he could not afford to keep him,
nor pay his passage out to Halifax, where he
had an aunt who was we'll off, and to whose
house he was going. The mate did not be-
lieve the story, in spite of the winning face
and truthful accents of the boy. He had
seen too much of stow-aways to be easily de-
ceived by them, he said; and it was his firm
conviction that the boy had been brought on
board and provided with food by the sailors.
The little fellow was very roughly handled
in consequence. Day by day he was ques-
toned, but always with the same result. He
did not know sailor on board, and his faith
er alone had seoreted him and gave him the
food which he ate.
At length the mate wearied by the boy
persistence in the same story, and perhaps a
little anxious to inculpate the sailors, seized
| him by the collar and dragging him to the
fore-deck, told him that unless be confessed
the truth in less than ten minutes from that
time, he would hang him from the yard-arm.
He then made him sit down under it on the
deck. All around him were the passengers,
and sailors of the midday watch, aud in front
of him stood the inexorable mate with his
cronometer in his hand, and the other Off
GERS of the ship by his side. 1t was the
finest sight, said our informant, that we evei
beheld, to see the pale, proud, sorrowfu
face of that noble boy-his head erect, hii
beautiful eyes bright through the tears tha
sufused them. When eight minutes had AeC
the mate told him he had but tive minute
more to live, and advised him to speak tn
truth and save his life; but he replied, will
utmost simplicity and sincerity, asking tn
mate If he might pray.
The mate said nothing, but nodded hi
head and turned as pale as a ghost, an