The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-13
NO. $50.
PRESENCE OF MINI.

| Very much has been written with regard 10
this important trait Of character, yet adults, as
well az children, are continually in every dan
gerous emergency, found lamentably deficient.
Accidents causing death and destruction of
property will ever occur therefore, in calm
and tranquil moments we should fortify our
| selves for the hour of danger. The story of
John Raynor" impressed on the mind, posi-
| bly, might have restored to life many children
apparently drowned. 1t was in the infancy of
this periodical that the account was given, and
host of our present readers were not then its
patrons therefore, | hope to be pardoned for
giving transcript for publication, especially
as it cannot fail TO interest our juvenile friends
1t was during the summer holydays ofl800'
said Mr.. Bowers q had young friend stay
ing with me and my younger brother Edward.
His name was John Raynor; and how he came
by so much information as he seemed TO have,
| do not remember that we troubled ourselves
| to inquire; but my father, who liked John ex-
| ceedingly, said it was from his constant habit
| of observation. He was then only fourteen
only two years older than myself One eve
ming. during the absence Of my parents, we oc-
cupied ourselves with assisting our old garden
err The garden slOped down to a broad river,
which joined the sea at a few miles distance.
was not so busy but looked up every now and
then to watch the beautiful sunset that sparkled
on the water, or the passage boat and country
barges that glided by at intervals. Suddenly
| observed at a small distance, something float
| ing on the water.
"'It is the body of boy - said John, and in
moment flung off his jacket and threw him
self into the water Fortunately he was q good
swimmer and his courage never left him. He
swan with all his strength towards the float
ing body, and selling with one hand the hair,
with the other directed his course to the shore.
| We watched eagerly, and the moment he came
within reach assisted him in laying the body
on grass-plot. My brother Edward recog-
Missed him az the son of washerwoman, ex-
claiming as he burst into tears
"'poor woman, she will never see her boy
again. John replied, in hurried tone,
g She may if We lose no time and use the
right means To recover him. Edward run
quickly for doctor. and rs you pass the kitch-
en-, tell Susan to have bed warmed
"'We had better hold him up ny the heels
said the gardener to let the water run out of
his mouth
emo, no. exclaimed John by so doing we
shall kill him, if he is not already dead; we
must handle him as gently as possible
when the body had been carried into the
house the gardener urged John to place the
body near the kitchen fire. but after a little
Il tney ylelutu 10 JOnu anu
the body was rubbed dry, and placed on his
right side between hot blankets on mattrass
The head was bound with flannel, and placed
high on pillows four bottles were filed with
hot water. wrapped in fannels, and placed at
the arm pits and feet while the body was con-
stantly rubbed with hot fiannels, John then
took the bellows, and having blown out all the
dust, directed me TO close the mouth and one
nostril, while he by blowing in at the other
filled the chest with air; he then laid aside the
bellows, and pressed the chest upwards to force
the air out this was done from twenty to thir-
ty times in minute to initiate natural breath
ing All this time the windows and doors
were left wide open. Edward at length re-
turned without the doctor; he was absent from
home. The use of friction with warm flannel,
and artificial breathing, continued for one hour
and a half, and no signs of life appeared John
continued his efforts Another half hour pass
ed and, to the inexpressible delight of us all,
the boy opened his eyes, and uttered faint
sigh"
What good thing it was for the mother of
this poor boy, that John Raynor once read, on
a framed printed paper, Rules of the Humane
Society for recovering persons apparently
drowned Better still that he had taken pains
to remember them Every item that we CLEAN,
calculated to benefit the distressed should be
treasured in memorys garner for the hour Of
need.-Wothers Journal and Family INSTANT.