The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-04-23
THE ILL-FATED BROTHERS.
BY WILLIAM COMSTOCK.

Some SIXTY years ago, when only hi
teen summers and winters had passed
over my head, / was going home to din
ner one afternoon, and had arrived as
far as the corner of Front and Roose-
welt streets when L paused on seeing
considerable crowd collected in front of
NJ q Co. s store.
Above the heads of the bystanders
loomed that of a big cartman whom l
had often seen in that vicinity, and ever
and anon he lifted a rattan as If threat
.ening some person with severe chastise-
ment.
L pressed forward to take look at the
victim, but that was not accomplished
till had got inside the ring, for the in
dividllal who had incurred the wrath of
the gigantic cartman was small negro
boy-a mere child; and there he stood,
trembling like leaf, and almost white
with terror, IA he momentarily expected
the scource TO descend upon his head
and shoulders.
The surrounding throng laughed and
jeered; they were highly entertained by
the terror of the little black boy.
A number of sacks filed with CHINA
mon were piled on the sidewalk; they
ship that lay at the wharf near by The
boys, finding little holes in these sacks
through which the cinnamon projected,
Ind improved the occasion to supply
themselves gratis.
When the big cartman bounced upon
them they scattered, and all escaped ex-
cept the little black boy, and of him the
cartman had thought proper to make an
example.
AS he stood there covering and friend
less, placed myself mt his side, saying,
Don't be frightened, little fellow, he
dare not hurt you.
Down came the rattan upon one of my
Segs, and the delighted crowd gloried in
finding a new subject for their mirth,
while an enormous fat woman still
further contributed to their merriment
by placing herself in front of me, glar-
ing in my face, and demanding in the
shrillest of tones: care you a niger
whitewashed, that you take nigger's
part?''
The little negro, taking advantage of
'Gais diversion in his favor, glided through
tthe crowd, and, putting all his legs to
;stbe ground, got off clear.
The blow which 1 received from the
.caDtinan's rattan was no great thing, but
tthe insult was something, and, as Hooked
Emp ut him resentfully, he said, "Oh, /
don't care who your father isl don't
care who your father is.
OF course not what should he care
for fathers, mothers, uncles or aunts
Was he not the favorite cartman of the
wealthy house of M & Co.? Had
she not good, round salary and per-
manent situation? Thus established for
1ife, could he not afford to be perfectly
independent of everybody except his
wealthy employers?
Three years from that time went my
first voyage to sea. On my return home
at the end of three years and four
months, among the first news that i
heard was that the big cartman called
Dobbins had hung himself
"How is that ?" / asked
"Why, you see, was the reply; "he
qad long been In the service of M q
Co, and, when they failed, nobody
else cared to employ him. The conse-
aquence was that he became miserably
poor, and, finally, he has hung himself
An despair
That was sad news, and, as it was
disagreeable subject of contemplation, i
banished it from my memory in the be-
lief that the fate OF Big Dobbins would
asPOn be forgotten. was mistaken.
Being adrift in Valparaiso, three or
-four years afterward, entered the navy,
rand signed the papers on board the Uni
ted States ship B, which lay in the
Sharbor.
After writing my name, and holding
brief conference with the First Lieuten-
ant, L was passing along the gun deck
when On object that met my view caused
me to start.
Was dreaming?
There stood before mo ,Ggantic sea-
man, with colt in his hand, with the form
and features of Big Dobbins. II not
only seemed to be the man himself, but he
also fixed an evil eye on my countenance,
AS If ne recognized me.