Popular Irish Stories (1850)/The Generous Irishman
THE GENEROUS IRISHMAN.
Lieutenant Fleming was the youngest son of a respectable gentleman in the county of Louth, and was sent at an early age on board a British man-of-war in the situation of midshipman. He had a fine open manly countenance, an easy air, and a heart that diffused the irresistible charm of good humour over a tolerable set of features, setting at defiance both ill-temper and ill-breeding.
After an absence of twelve years, spent with honour to himself and advantage to his country, having by his bravery and good conduct been promoted to the rank of lieutenant, he obtained permission to visit his native place. He had not been long seated on the top of the coach, before he perceived that his next neighbour was either very ill, or in great trouble, by several deep sighs which seemed reluctantly to force their way from an overcharged bosom.
His heart beat responsive to the sound; it was too dark to distinguish faces, nor did he recollect to have observed, on his getting up, whether it was a male or a female next to him, nor was that a consideration: he chewed his quid sometime in silence, till a sudden violent jolt of the coach drew forth a faint shriek from a female voice, and threw her in contact with the lieutenant's shoulder.
"Avast," cried he, "take care how you steer, or we may all roll over, d'ye see; besides here seems to be one longside not able to stem the upsetting. Take courage, my good lass, lean against me and welcome; we shall soon come into some port."
"You are very kind, good sir," answered a feeble voice; "I am, indeed but little able to bear the motion of the carriage, much less the sudden shakes, but I will be better by and by."
"I hope so, I hope so," rejoined the lieutenat, "we shall get into smooth water immediately, when we are off the stones."
No answer was returned, and a dead silence ensued until they came to the first stage of changing horses.
Fleming, on the appearance of the light, turned to look at his neighbour, and beheld the pale skeleton of a young woman, who seemed fast sinking into the grave, and scarcely able to sit upright. "Odds, my life, poor soul," said he, "you seem to want ballast, it will never do to steer this course—why did you not steer into the cabin? "
"Because, because," replied she tremulously, "it was not convenient ——— I have more air here."
"Yes, yes; but a few such squalls as we had some time ago, may turn you overboard: you are not steady enough, my good lass, to keep your course here."
He then called for some grog and biscuits, and jumped off to look in at the windows of the coach.
"Ay, ay, here's plenty of room; here, you steersman, open the coach door, and let us help that poor young woman into this berth."
"Why, I have no objection, master," answered the coachman, "but you know outside and inside passengers are different things—who's to pay the difference of the fare?"
"Why, I will," cried Fleming.
"No, no," exclaimed the invalid, "I entreat you, Sir, I am very well here: indeed I am—I will not get inside—pray leave me as I am."
"Look ye, young woman," returned the lieutenant, "you are upon a slippery forecastle, you may be hove overship in the dark, and founder before help can come to ye. So no more words, my conscience wont let me see you in danger, for I shant sit easy with you at my stern; so do, my good soul, let me put you safe under hatches, out of the way of the squalls and foul weather."
The poor young woman saw it was in vain to contend with her humane neighbour, and however repulsive to her own feelings to accept the obligation, she was as little calculated to support the fatigues of her situation as unable to pay the additional expense. She, therefore, with tears dropping on her cheeks, silently permitted herself to be placed in the coach, nor did she reject the biscuit, though she declined the grog.
"Mayhap," said he, "a gill of warm wine will do you more good; and, without waiting a reply, he dashed off, and presently returned with it, entreating her to drink of it. Not to disappoint him, she sipped a small quantity, and pressing his hand said, "God bless you."
The manner and the words shot through the heart of the poor lieutenant; but a summons from the coachman to resume his place, cut short all further conversation, and he jumped up into his berth, after tossing off his glass of grog, which he found very necessary to recruit his spirits.
When they stopped at the inn to dine, Fleming handed out his sick friend, with equal respect and tenderness; nor did he neglect offering his hand to three other females in the coach, one of which only accepted of it; the other two threw up their heads, and coldly declined his assistance.
Fleming was not a man of observation, he knew nothing of the world or the human heart; he had no idea that he could have given any offence by showing humanity to a fellow-creature, or committed an unpardonable insult, by "stowing a sick outside passenger in the cabin."
He gave his arm to the young woman, and conveyed her into a room, where she was scarcely seated, before, to his great dismay, she fainted, and he loudly vociferated for assistance.
By the endeavours of the landlady, and the smelling-bottle of the lady who had deigned to accept Fleming's offered hand, the poor invalid soon recovered, and he left her to their care, whilst he "examined into the state of the locker." A fine piece of roast beef and a giblet pie were just going smoking hot to the table; but though the scent was perfectly agreeable to him, he had consideration enough to think it might be too powerful for a sick stomach. He, therefore, asked if they had any new laid eggs, with a tart or two for the poor young woman in the other room.
"Yes, sir," replied the landlady, "we can give her a couple of eggs and a nice custard in a trice; but—a—as these eggs are not provided for the coach passengers, we shall expect them to be paid extra for."
"Very well," returned he, "carry them in, and I will pay you for them."
He went back and told the invalid she should have an egg brought to her, and as soon as he had swallowed a few mouthfuls of beef, he would come to her again. Tears were her only answer, and he darted away, followed by the lady.
"I admire your humanity, sir," said she, "for I find you are an entire stranger to the young woman."
"I don't know what she may be," answered he, stopping and bowing to the speaker, "but what of that? you see she is very sick, poor soul, and it is our duty to help forward a fellow-creature. She is bad enough, and I fear will soon be in that port from whence there is no return."
"I fear so, too," rejoined the lady, "and it is from thence I feel so much to admire in your kindness. Young men in this age rarely bestow favours on females without a view of self-gratification of some kind or other."
Before he could reply, they were summoned to dinner. Fleming, much pleased with the lady's kindness to the sick girl, and attention to himself, was particularly assiduous for her accommodation, without intending any slight to the others, or observing their haughty or indignant looks.
And here it is impossible to refrain from observing how much our own comforts in life depend upon our attention to those of others. The two ladies whose humanity was not proof against the affront of having an outside passenger, whose dress was as humble as her pretensions, obtruded on them so unceremoniously by a lieutenant, whose wrapping great coat demonstrated that he was no great things, and equally low bred and impertinent, had sat in disdainful silence till they arrived at the inn, when their anger burst forth into scornful observations, and a reprimand to the coachman for admitting such a low creature into their society, who had taken inside places.
"As to low or high," answered the man, "so they pay me the full fare, it is one and the same thing to me. Besides the poor young woman was mortal bad, and he was a goodhearted fellow that offered to pay the fare, and all passengers are alike to me."
"Then you ought never to have people of consequence in your coach, fellow, if you don't know how to behave yourself."
"I know very well how to behave myself, I don't want to affront nobody," returned coachy, "the young woman was a clean decent body, and as good as others, for the matter of that, seeing her fare will be paid."
"Don't be impertinent, fellow, it is plain you care not how you insult the ladies, so you can be paid. You would not have taken her into the coach without being sure of your money, though you presume to force her upon us."
"That's another sort of a thing. I pities the poor thing, and would serve her with all my heart, but the coach is master's property, and musn't chouse him of his fare. But wha't signifies words about it, she is an inside passenger now, and by St. Patrick he's an honest lad that lent her a hand."
The insulted ladies found it in vain to contend, they encouraged each other in the idea of affronted consequence, and displeased that their companion had followed the two low creatures, they determined to send her to Coventry, and preserve an indignant silence in the coach.
These wise resolutions accompanied them to the dinner table, when, to their great surprise, they beheld the lieutenant's uniform, and a figure, now disencumbered of an old wrapping coat, that he did not blush to exhibit in the most fashionable circles in the kingdom, though it wanted the polish of high life.