Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-11-23
THE LITTLE LION TAlIER.


The lion heart, of which we are going
TO write, beat in the breas, of no shaggy
monster, roaming the Jungle Of his native
India i; nor yet Of captive couchant in
hi, cage. His victorious couqUeror was
no Van Amburg, dressed like gladiator,
who by alternate feeding and whipping,
brought him under control This s,ou;
heart beat wiifuily in the breast Of young
boy whom We shall call Harry. He was
ready for any sport; no matter what
noise, Or trouble, or danger attended it
Hunting, fishing, swimming, climbing, ii
ding-any,hing that mortal boy could
conceive Of, be was engaged in. Whhou,
being really what We would call "yici1us," "
lie was q great anxiety to his parents.
They feared be might annoy some neigh
Dor, injure, in bis rough and tumble
games, some companion, or be brought
home TO them MANNED or killed. He was
terribly misch.eyous and thoughtless !;
pumping in his Sunday hat and drinking
therefrom, leaving his school books on The
roadside while he played ball, and forget
ting where they were Till they we're ruined
and carrying matches, frecrackers aud
ish-hOOks IL Lis pockets, the contents Of
which would, fer variety, have outdOne
Dickens "Cii Curiosity Shop" What
was ever to be done with this bo;s.erous
fellow, none of the household could fore
see. This was master Harry, as be was,
three months ago; to-day be is another
boy, tanned down TO tue gentleuess Of
very lamb, moving quietly about the
house, waiting On grandma, leaving the
kitchen to those who belong there, aud
hoyering morn and night about certain
chamber door. Whatwroush; the change?
Who tanned the lion?
One afternoon, our noisy hero came
home from an expedition which had
brought more WEAKNESS than fish. Poles,
hooks, lines, worms and mud we're all de-
posted on the newly scrubbed kicLen-
floor, aud he shouting as usual, 81 III hun
CRY, rm tired. Isn't tea almost ready 2"
| Usually, his answer would have been
threat, OH tell your mother, sir )" but
low Bridget looked wonderfully amiable,
as she said, ''Ye can't guess what ives
have got ?"
"Wha.?' asked Harry.
| ga baby ~
"Whose is it p
"Our OVID, intirely."
81 don't believe yOu"
"Ask yer grapdmum, in yonder."
"Grandma," shouted Harry, "have we
got baby of our own!"
"Ies, We have a sweet little sister ~
replied the old lady, coming into the
kitchen.
SIS it our own, to keep for erer %
"To keep as long as God pIeases, my
dear boy. He sent it to US and He can
take it away, if We are not thankful"
"pn afraid it will die ~ cried Harry,
looking alarmed Scan l look a. it,
grandma 2"
"Yss, my dear, if you step very softly.
1t is a frail, delicate, little thing, which
must be very tenderly nursed for some
time. 1.you should handle it as you do
the dog or cat, you would kill it in mo-
ment"
"Why. grandma"
Babies were class of the community
With whom Harry had had very little iu-
tercourse. He now brought out his slip
pers-their office was sinecure, be never
having time to wear them-washed his
face and hands, brushed his hair, and then
followed grandma up stairs on tiptoe, a
style Of walking he had never tried be-
fore. He went into the chamber, and
there, wrapped in blanket, and lying in
the rockiDg-chair, was she whom We call
"The Little Lion Tanner" Harry touched
the velvet check, lifted the tiny hands,
and examined the wondrous frame. Tears
filled his eyes as be kissed his mother, aud
said, 80 mother, wasn't it kind in God to
send it here | do hope it wont die :"
From that hour, he has been subdued
aud if at any time the old bois,erouspess
returns, glance from those baby eyes,
or a vail from the little lips, brings him
back again to bis new found gentleuess.
The silent influence Of the helpless babe
has done for Harry what neither the dis
cipline Of home nor the cbastisements Of
school could ever accomplish.
Looking at him, l have asked myself,
care there not men whose spirits might
bow before gentleness, although they
would yield to nothing else? May not
the influence, sometimes, Of helpless wo-
man, curb the will which never bends be-
fore man, nor yet, perchauce, before the
laws of the land? o, there is a mighty