Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-06-12
The Boy and the Tiger.

The following account is by the Rev
Mr.. Lacroix, an excellent missionary at
Calcutta
Bees are very numerous in India but
they are not kept there as they are here, in
hives; for they store up their honey in hol-
low trees in the forests and rngles But
although II is difficult 10 enter these wood
ed places, and those who do 80 are IN great
danger from serpents and savage beasts,
there are many poor men who get their Iv-
ing by gathering aud selling the wild hon
ey. Now, few months before Mr.. Lacro-
tx wrote his letter, four Of these men, and
a boy eleven years old, went from one of
the stations Of the London Missionary So
ciety, for this purpose. They got into
boat, and rowed into an inlet of river,
where the banks on both sides we're grown
all over with high trees aud thick shrubs,
which formed part oi what Is called Ia In
Gla a Jungle. When they came TO the place
where they intended TO land, the men Jump
ed on shore, aud left the boy to take care
Of the boat while they were gone after the
honey As the tide was running then out
OF the creek, in little while the boat was
left dry upon bank Of deep mud The
sun was hot and the place was very silent,
as the boy sat quietly in the boat, looking
abou, him, and wishing that the men would
come back when, 10 all at once the poor
lille fellow stared and started as he saw
very large tiger standing upon the bank Just
above the boat, looking night down upon
HIM with ms great glaring eyes You may
fancy how he felt as he beheld the savage
beast first fix his fierce look upon him, and
then crouch and crawl along the ground,
preparing TO spring and make him his prey
The boy was very much frightened, as
you may suppose, but he had his wis about
him aud therefore without losing mo-
ment, he crept under the deck Of the boat
for fortunately the boat had a deck But
no sooner had he entered his hiding place,
than down came the tiger al one great leap :;
and such was the force with which he
sprang, that one of his legs went right
through the deck, and got jammed IN be-
tween the planks, just over tie place where
the boy lay.
Without loss Of time, aud with wonder
ful presence of mind, the little fellow snatch
ed hold OF a rope which was lying near
him, aud twisting 1t quickly around the IT,
gers leg, he tied 1t firm, and held 1t fast
Not understanding this treatment, and new
er having been trained, like dog, to give
his pay to boy or man, the ferocious crea-
ture groaned aud tugged, and tired in eve
ry way to get his leg cut but the boy
knew well that the only chance of saving
his own life was 10 keep the rope firm and
therefore he held 1t as fast as he could. AZ
ter twisting and turning aud pulling for a
/ long time, without getting away from the
boy, the tiger was quite cowed, and laid
himself quietly down on the deck Now
you may suppose how The pG{i boy mus,
/ have felt, as he peeped 10 through the bro
ken deck, and saw the red eyes and the
/ great Jaws of tins fierce monster.
But at last, the honey -galherers having
finished their work in the jungle, made
their appearance upon the bank Seeing
] the tiger lying upon the deck OF their boat
they at once concluded that he had killed
aud gobbed up the boy, aud that he was
now getting quiet nap after his dinner
They therefore raised d great shout which
so frightened the beast, that he made one
more desperate tug aud as The boy tin,
time was not quite 50 watchlul as he hac
been before, the tiger lerked out his lee
from the hole, and eaped clean of the boat
Fortunately, he jumped right into the Geel
mud and as be was floundeFing about anC
trying to get out of it, the four men rushed
dowRupon him, and with great sticks, which
they happened to have in their hands, they
labored away with all their might at hi
head, till they first stunned and then kiliet
hun.
How glad they were when they saw til,
boy, who they thought had been killed ana
eaten by the tiger, quietly creeping on
from under the deck, safe aud sound, yo'
may easily suppose for he was the son @
one OF the men, and a nephew of another
In closing thus account, MI Lacroix oh
: serves
Young people what an excellent thin
is presence of mind, especially in time G
danger With it many have saved thei
own lives, or the lives of others and If sue
presence of mind was found in a heather
child, how much more should Christian pee
pie, young and old, have of it, who, whe
IN danger, have a kind Father and faithful
God to look to; God who watches owe
them, and who, if they put their trust i
Him, will never leave, never forsake them
Presbyterian.