Year: 1862

steamboat Incident.


My journey TO Boston was as monotonons
as possible, and the two hours detention
there was not particularly exhilarating =
There was no time to visit places of inter-
est, and ! felt too misanthropic and gloomy
for social intercourse, although other gertle-
men were waiting like myself More than
once | had nearly determined TO 90 home
in the return train, but was ashamed to do
that after Mary's generous self sacriice-
We were half way TO Stonington before /
began to rouse up and look about me.
was awakend by the cries of child, and
! saw that the seat in front of me was oecu-
pied by young woman, plainly but decent
ly dressed, with an expression of anxiety
on her face that instantly attracted me-
| She had baby in her arms, and another.
just big enough 10 walk, on the seat by her.
lie was bright little fellow, with great,
1 flashing black eyes, and thick coils Of chest
nut curls clustering all over his head but
he did not seem to be well, and fretted con-
tinually for The soothing attention that he
saw bestowed upon the more helpless babe
in his mothers arms. There were several
bundles and carpet-bag piled one above
another on the seat next 10 the window, and
the little boy, in his restlessnes. often dis
placed them, and they came rolling down
upon the floor / would Ike TO see the
man who would moi have succumbed and
hauled down his flag before such compli-
cation of miseries.


The young mother bore up brayely.-
While hushing the baby and lulling it with
sweet, low lullaby TO temporary quiet,
she contnved also 10 coax the little boys
curly head TO pillow on her knee, and thus
donbly burdened, found means to divert his
attention with cheap picture-book.


But the weather outside grew dark and
unpleasant. Thick clouds were slowly
gathering their forces, and the wall Of the
wind was often heard above the noise of the
engine. The anxious expression of the
mothers face deepened as she watched the
ominous signs that foretold a stormy night
upon the Sound. There was quick, treln-
ulous motion Of her lip at fines, as if she
were repressing the inclination TO have a
hearty cry over troubles.


| had just thought of what SHOULD have
occurred to me long time before, that it
was possible for me to relieve her of part
of her burden, and was trying to drive my
self out of my selfish isolation by calling up
all the good Samaritan thoughts that had
ever used in my sermons on practical be-
nevolence, when an accession of passengers
a, way station obliged me to resign my
seat 10 a lady, who actually thanked me for
the civility.


Left again to myself, leaning against the
door of the car, i resumed the thread of
gloomy contemplation that had of late be-
come habitual, aud was soon lost in the wea-
ry labyrinth of conjectures in regard to the
state cf my parish, its spiritual deadness,
and the measures to be used to awaken any
interest in religious things. / grew more
and more sad and desponding as | media
ted, and my cogitations we're as fruitless as
ever. did not again think of the babies
and their mother till we were about leaving
the cars at Stonington. Happening then to
glance down the car before getting out,
saw her looking about her in evident per-
plexiiy. The heavy rain was already pour
ing down, and the darkness outside was not
very attractive even TO unemcumbered trav-
elers.


| am ashamed to own that / did not offer
my assistance. Mary says she viii never
believe it-:hat it is impossible for human
nature to be so bearish, but the humiliaing
truth must be told. My own wreiehedress
and sense Of utter uselessne>s in my profes- |
sion made me almost Indifferent at the time /
TO the claims of humanity. Still was SEN /
sib!e of feeling of surprise, which gradu- (
ally became indignation, as | saw one lady 1
after another unconcernedly pass by, and /
other gentlemen as heartess as myself, ig-
noring her silent appeal 10 our sympathy.
The car was emptied at last, though / still T
stood in the door, hoping 10 see another do 4
the Christian duty that was so reluctant
to perform. could not leave her to her
fate as the rest had done.


Just then some one entered The door at
The other end, and l saw the young woman
look eagerly round. She had failed in her
efforts to arrange babies and bundles FOR
Transportation to the beat. The new conner
was sioui-lookiug, elderly man. plain and
almost shsbbily dressed, with great shock
of red hair nearly lifting his hat off his
head, and round fat face, deeply marked
with suall-pox. lie was whistliug a lively
air, uhich seemed TO breathe whimsical
sort Ct i fanee 10 the disccmfo.ts Of the