The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-05-26
A Brave Boy.

The New York Sun, in an article on
"The Heroisms of Humble Life, relates
the following story of a heroic lad: Two
weeks ago little ragged boy, aged nine
years, was secreted on an English steamer,
that he might reach his destination without
paying his passage. On the fourth day Of
the outward voyage from Liverpool to New
York, be was discovered and carried before
the first mate, whose duty it was to deal with
such cases. When questioned as to the OBJ
ject of his being slowed away, and who
brought him on board, the boy, who had a
beautiful, sunny face, and eyes that looked
like the very mirrors of truth, replied that
his stepfather did it, because he could not
afford to keep him, nor to 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 believe the story,
in spite of the winning face and truthful
accounts of the boy. He had seen too much
of stow,aways to be easily deceived 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 lit
tie fellow was very roughly handled in con-
sequence. Day by day he was questioned
and requestioned, but always with the same
result. He did not know sailor an board,
and his father alone had secreted him and
given him the food which he ate.
At last the mate, wearied by the boys
persistence in the same story, and perhaps a
little anxious to inculpate the sailors, seized
him one day by the collar and dragging him
to the fore, told him that unless he 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 memorable mate, with his
chronOmeter in his hand, and the other off,
GERS of the ship by his side. 1t was the
finest sight, said our informant, that we
ever beheld, to see the pale, proud, sorrow
full face of that noble boy-his head erect
his beautiful eyes bright through the tear;
that sufused them. When eight minutes
had fed, the mate told him he had but two
minutes to live, and advised him to speak
the truth and save his life; but he replied
with the utmost simplicity and sincerity, by
asking the mate if he might pray.
The mate said nothing, but nodded hi;
head, and turned as pale as a ghost, and
shook with trembling like reed with the
wind. And there, all eyes turned on him.
this brave and noble little fellow, this poor
waif whom society owned not, and whose
own step-father could not care for him
there he knelt with clasped hands and eye;
appraised to heaven, while he repeated audi
bly, the Lords Prayer, and prayed the dear
Lord Jesus to take him to heaven.
Our informant adds, that there then oc,
Cured a scene as of Pentecost. SobI
broke from strong, hard hearts, as the mate
sprang forward to the boy and clasped hin
to his bosom, and kissed him and blessed
him, and told him how sincerely he now be-
Heyed his story, and how glad he was, thai
he had been brave enough to face death, and
be willing to sacrifice his life for the truth
of his own word.