The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-05-27
A Brave and Noble Boy.

The New York Sun give brief chap
ter on the "Heroism of Humble Life, and
appends the following touching llustra-
ton: ti' a9 u 9 lg ala
Perhaps the finest of these modern in
stances occurred two weeks ago on beard
an English steamer. A little ragged boy
aged about nine years, was discovered on
the fourth day OF. the outward voyage
from Liverpool to New York, and carried
before che first mate, whose duty it was to
deal with such cases. When questioned
as to the object Of his being slowed away,
and who brought him on board, the boy,
who had beautiful sunny face, and eyes
that looked like the very mirrors OF truth,
replied that his step father did it, because
he could not afford to keep him., nor to
pay his passage out t Halifax, wnere he
had an aunt wbo is we'll IF and to whose
house he was going. The mate did not
believe the story~in spite of the winning
face and truthful accents Of the boy. He
had seen too much of stow aways to be ash
" deceived by Them he said and it was
his firm convi 3tion that he boy had been
brought on board, and provided with food
by the sailors The little fellow was very
70 lghly handled in consequence. Day by
day he was questioned and requestioned
but always with the same result, He did
not know sailor on board, and his father
alone had sccreted him and given him the
food which he ate.
At last the mate, wearicd by tho boys
persistence in the same story and perhaps
a little, anxious to inculpate The sailors
seized him one day by the collar, and drag
ging hint to fore them Saying that unless lie
confessed the truth in ten minutes from
that time he would hang him on 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, and in front Of him stood the in
exorable mate, with his chronometer in
his hand, and the o, her officers of the
ship by his side.a 1t was the finest sight
said our informant, that we ever behcld,
to sec the pale, proud, sorrowful face OF
that noble boy-h head erect, his bcauti
full eyes bright through the tears that suf-
fused them When eight minutes had
fed, the mate told him he. had but two
minutes to live, an advised him to speak
the truth and save his life, but he rcrlied
with the utmost simplicity and sincerity
by asking the mate If he might pray.
The mate sid nothing, but nodded b S
head, and turned as pale us ghost, and
shook with trembling like a reel with
the wind. And there, all eyes turned on
him, this brave and noble little fellow
this poor waif whom socitt, wn d not
and whose own step father could not care
for him-there he knelt, with clasped
hands and eyes uplifted to heaven, while
he repeated audibly the Lords Prayer
and prayed the dear Lord Jesus to take
him to heaven. W
Our informant says that there then oc
Cured a scene as of Pentccost. Sol
broke from strong, hard hearts, IS the
mate sprang forward to the boy and clasp
ed him to his bosom, and kissed him anC
blessed him, and told him how sincerely
he. believed his story, and how glad HI
was that he had bravery enough to face
death and be willing to sacrifice his owl
life for the truth of his own word aa e z