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| OLMSTEAD & C0., PUBLISHERS.
For the Companion, wes
A VALUABLE POSSESSION IS SELF-
POSSESSION. 7
“our teacher is so much afraid of a mouse that she
nearly fainted one day at sight of one.”
“Miss Sessions! why, Mary, she seems too sen-
sible for that.”
“She says that she has tried in vain to over-
.gome the weakness, but hopes her: scholars will
conquer all foolish terrors while « young. » You
know I spent Friday evening with Annie Smith.
AsI passed Col. Dwight’s on my way home, out
ran their dog. “Away I flew, in an agony of. terror,
and tumbled headlong into a ditch, and Rose rolled
over me, as much astonished at this ending’ of
what he meant for a frolic, as I was. I was glad it
was dark, but I’ made up my mind next time to
speak to Rose, and, will you believe it, he comes
most protecting, friendly air.”
“Children can be taught courage and self-pos-
session very early,” said her married sister, Mrs.
‘Briggs. \ “I remember my father had so protected
me from foolish stories, scaring stories, as the
children call them, that I had no idea of fear. My
elder brothers sometimes practised upon my cour-
age, but always in vain. -I would walk up and ex-
amine their. scarecrows with fearless curiosity,
while shouts of “Bravo, Puss!” “That’s a smart un,”
- ‘broke with suppressed laughter from various dark
“corners. "
«What fools people make of themselves in times
of danger!” said a caller. “I remember a vel
sensible lady of my acquaintance, who once lost all
presence of mind, because her. honse was on fire.
Her daughters were quietly removing their valua-
-bles, while she ran frantically about with a pan of
sour milk, hindering and confusing. the men, by
screaming : ,
“Do, Mr. Wells, take care of this! O! dearme,
- won't somebody save this! It is all the Joppard
» milk I have to make johnny cakes of in the world.”
- When the excitement was over she would not be-
| lieve a word of it. .
“] must tell you how mother acted under like
circumstances,” said Mrs. Briggs. “Mother’s last
‘work at night is to look after fire. We tell her,
jestingly, that her ‘Pears to me I smell linen burn-
ing,’ ought to be rewarded by one good fire, for she
‘has watched for sparks. these thirty years. One
+ night, as she went her watchful round, she found
that the wood work about the chimnéy had caught,
and that the smothered fire had only to eat its way
: to the outside air, to envelope the whole house in
flame. It was nearly midnight. She went and
\ awakened her two daughters. Alarmed at the
progress the fire had made, they. wished to cry
‘Firel | ane :
‘And have crowds of people half awake pouring
: in to stand in one another's way,” said she, “or let
in the air to fan the flames. No, we can do better
alone, if we keep calm. Go down, Julia, and bring
an axe. Close the windows and doors, Mattie, and
we will bring water as fast as possible.” _ |
°S Ter orders were obeyed, 2 small opening was
made, and a well directed stream of water kept
*” down the mounting flames. . | .
' “Now, Mattie,” said her mother, after a time,
«we must have more help.. Go and rap at cousin
. Grandin’s window, and tell bim I would like to see
him, Not a word more, or sister Jane will go cra-
zy with fright.” -
A moment after a calm, determined man, capa-
ble of incredible things in emergencies, stood by
her. © mah oe
“Well,” said he, after an hour of hard fighting
'; with the enemy they had happily subdued, “well,
{you do beat all for a woman. If you had screamed
‘fre!’ the house would have burned, that’s sure.
A little fresh air, and no human aid could have
"| saved it.”
“What did Aunt Esther want?” sleepily asked
. his wife, when he returned. ve :
“s+ Wanted me to help her and the girls put the
* fire out.” . : 2
“Fire! where?” . :
. “Her house was on fire.”
“Grandin! what a story!” .
© + #Go over to-morrow and see bow the timbers
‘Only think, mother!” exclaimed Mary Brayton,
down the walk now, and escorts me home with the |
“Why did’nt she scream fire?” .
“Because she was Aunt Esther, and as calm asa
clock. I hate these screaming women.” "
He admired her presence of mind. It was one of
his own characteristics. Ie was. once driving a
In spite of his firm hand, the coach was upset by
running against a stone on the road side. ‘Grandin
fell heavily to the ground, underneath a man of
twice his weight.. His right shoulder was broken,
but the friend, who was uninjured, had lost all self-
control. The coach was filled with passengers.
Grandin exerted such superhuman strength that
the frantic horses were held and calmed by his
firm yoice and single arm. When the danger was
over he fainted from pain and over-exertion. The
grateful passengers never forgot his disinterested
courage.” a
Cows seem to have an instinctive knowledge of
the fact that you fear them. This was illustrated
in H—— to a laughable degree. The cows in the
street all acquired the habit of shaking their horns
at the ladies, because there were a great many that
would run away at the mere sight of one of these
horned terrors. One lady stood for two hours in
an agony of fear, while a cow upon the sidewalk
enjoyed and made the most of her power. The
same cow ran away ina fright from the first lady
that’ was courageous enough to shake her parasol
at her. . : :
A school girl once escaped severe injury, or
probable death by her coolness. A dangerous ani-
blinder. One Sabbath she nearly killed one lady,
and attacked another, but as there were so many
men about, she was secured, and her owner was
sharply reproved for allowing such a creature lib-
erty. Like too many selfish people, he preferred
running a risk that did not endanger him. Not
long after she threw off her blinder again, and ran
towards a school girl on her way to recitation,
Poor Anna Philips was a quarter of a mile from
any house, and looked in vain for coming assist-
ance. She had heard that a furious animal could
be controlled by a fearless. eye, and nerved herself’
to try the desperate expedient. The cow came
towards her’ with horns down, lowing as she ran,
but, to Anna’s amazement and delight, stopped
when within a few feet of her, her angry red eyes
quailing before the steady ones fixed upon her.
‘Anna stood until she could endure it no longer,
yet no help came, Then she took one step back-
wards. The cow shook her horns and took a step
towards her, then paused, evidently watching for
the least sign of faltering on her part, Step by
step, still controlling her by,her eye, Anna gained
the stone wall by the road side. One spring sent
her flying over it, while the mad creature's horns
crashed in amongst the stones with an impetus
that sent them in all directions. Lowing with rage
_ and floors are charred, and you'll believe me.”
the cow ran the whole distance, trying to leap the
stage coach and six when the. horses took fright.,
mal was allowed to feed in the highway wearing a |’
THE YOUNG ANGLER.
wall, and keeping close up to the winged feet on the
other side, until Anna gained the academy fence.
When she entered the recitation-room, breathless
and pallid, the hour for the Astronomy lesson had
expired. Ter white’ face and whispered—“Mr,
Green's cow!” _was excuse enou .
“J do not think I touched the wall; I flew over
it,” gasped Anna. , .
“Terror lent you wings, dear child,” said her
teacher, trembling from sympathy. “When she
attacked me that Sabbath, I sprang over a four
barred gate at, one flying leap. The spectators all
asserted that I never touched it, but. flew over like
awinged creature. I only remember a keen sense
of danger, and then I fainted. If you had attempt-
ed flight I fear she would have killed you.”
“Mother,” said Anna, in telling her the story, “I
thought I heard you saying ‘Keep cool,’ and so I
did.”
And the cowP Do your neighbors keep a
public nuisance? Ah! then you know very well
that the cow grazed by the highway until she was
of no further use to her owner.
Mrs. P. P. Bonyey.
“SOUNDING BRASS.”
It was a bright winter morning, not far from
the holidays, and little Dick Melville was busily
collecting his dinner-basket and books preparato-
ry to setting out for school, when his older sister
asked, “Did you learn any verse this morning,
Dick ?”
“Of course I did, and said it to mother, too.
It was—O where is my geography! I do believe
baby has hid it somewhere. Well-it began—O
Bridget! please put in one more slice of bread and
butter,” .
“That's the queerest verse I ever heard,” said
Sam, who rather liked to tease his little brother.
“Now, really, Sam, I was just*going to say it.
It was, ‘Though I speak with the tongues of men
and angels, and have not charity, Iam become as
sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal ;’ and mother
said charity meant love, and feeling kindly towards
every body; but if we’re cross and hateful, then
we're like ‘sounding brass,’ which is”— ~ -
“Hear me,” interrupted curly-headed little
Madge. “I learned one, too,—‘Charity suffereth
long, and is kind.’ ” -
“That's a nice verse for kind little Madge,” said
Sam, lifting her on his knee, :
“Dear me,” again broke in Dick, “where can my
skates be? Fred. Allen said the pond was frozen
over, and we'd have a great time up there, after
school.” :
“Why, Dick, Frank Burton came here last
night, and told me you said he might take them.”
“Now, Nelly, that’s too bad! He told you a
downright falsehood. He has lost his own skates,
and he told me yesterday he was afraid he should’t
get another pair till Christmas; but he never said a
_ 22 SCHOOL STREET, BOSTON.
word about mine, for he knew I wanted to use
them myself.” .
“That’s very strange,” said Nelly, -
“Strange! ‘it’s downright mean,” cried Dick,
vehemently ; “and I wild say that Frank Burton is
the slyest, most selfish boy in school; and I don’t
believe he'd mind telling a lie any more than”—
“Hush a minute,” cried Sam, with a merry twin-
kle in his eye, “I shouldn’t think the band would
be out so early in the morning, but I’m sure I hear
plenty of ‘sounding brass’ somewhere.”
Little Madge eagerly listened, with her curly -
head on one side; but Dick, coloring angrily, re-
torted: Cola tiee
“I kno& what you mean, Sam; but if you’d just
look at home, I think you'd find enough ‘tinkling
cymbals’ to match my brass.” oe
“Dear little Dick,” began gentle sister Nelly.
“Yes, I know it, Nelly; I know I was wrong;
but if you were only a boy, and loved to skate as I
do, and then had every thing go wrong, you'd
just forget all ‘about charity, and wouldn’t care a
bit if you just turned into sounding brass.” °
“Well I didn’t know you were in such a sad
state of mind,” said Sam, laughing. “You may
take my skates if you’d like them.” ’
“Q-dear, no; thank you just the same, but
they’re a great deal too large ;” and little Dick, with
a heavy step, started for school,
To his great disappointment, Frank Burton was
not in his usual place, nor did be make his appear-
ance all day, and poor Dick could hear nothing of
his skates. But when school-hours were at last
over, he joined the merry party for the pond, and
as he reached the ice, sure enough, there was
Frank Burton with his own nice skates just buck-
led nt (-t.2 he S ee
“Those are mine,” shouted little Dick, “and I
want to use them myself.” — . :
“You can have them if you'll catch me,” mock.
ingly retorted Frank, gliding by him like an arrow.
Dick bit his lips, and thrusting his hands in his
pockets, waited till he came around again. :
*' “Frank, you may go round the pond three times
with my skates, if you'll give them to me then.” "* *
Frank laughed loudly. “Very generous when
you can’t help’ yourself; I'l go round as many
times as I please. It’s great fun,” and off he shot
again, ’ — .
Several of the smaller boys who stood near were
very sorry for Dick, but Frank was so large and
strong they did not dare attack him. Poor Dick
stood for nearly an hour gazing on the animated
scene, growing very cold, and struggling against
the bitter thoughts that filled his heart. The boys
were so full of fun, and-he did so love to skate!
At last, when Frank came around once more,
flushed with exercise, and screamed :
_ “Grandfather, would you like to take a turn on
my skates?” Be oars
Poor Dick said to himself, “Well I’m sure I've
suffered long enough—but I must say I don’t feel
very kind. That verse may do very well for girls,
but boys”. ws . : .
Just then came a crash and a shout: a
“The ice has broken! Frank Burton has gone
in! Will be drown?~ O the water is too shallow.
No; it’s deep right in the middle, There, he’s
holding on. Can't any one help him? Mow the
ice breaks! We can't get near him.”
“Let me try,” said Dick. : te
“No; he wont drown; and he’s so ugly, let bim
have a good fright. He'll pull you in, too, Dicky,”
urged the smaller boys. = -. .
“Help, boys,” cried Frank; “I’m so cold T can't
hold on much longer, and if I stir, the ice cracks.”
“Ron for Farmer Jones,” said one; and a dozen
boys started. :
“O, I'll die before they get back,” groaned Frank.
Just then Dick remembered something he had
read, and running across the pond, he tore, with
all his strength, a long board from the nearest
fence, and hastening back, laid it carefully across
the hole, so that Frank could reach it. Then, ly-
ing down flat on the ice, he slowly crawled up near
enough to help the numb, frightened boy upon the
board, and with great care he drew him farther and
farther, till he was once more upon strong, safe ice.
“Three cheers for Dick Melville,” shouted the
little boys, as the others returned with Dick's fa~
ther, whom they had met on the road.
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