East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-02-28
A TRUE HERO.

The highest heroism is not seen on the
battle field, where men engage in mutual
butchery to avenge wrongs, real or i'm
aginary, but it is witnessed in the fear
ful casualties of life, where self. possession
and steadfastness Of will save many from
destruction; and in the trials of life,
where serene patience and resignation
take the sting from the sharpest trials
Here is n beautiful illustration
My young cousin Henry had been
reading Abbotts History Of Napoleon
Bonaparte.
One evening as we sat to5 5cthcr, he lay
down his book, and with glowing checks
and sparkling eyes, exclaimed:
Wasn't he the most splendid man
that ever lived? I'd give anything to be
half as great y
Mr.. Abbotts portraits so carefully
conceals the blemishcs Of his hero, and is
set withal in so dazzling frame, that
| could not wonder at the boys enthu-
siasm in contemplating it, But | said /:
"Your chance of being half as great
as Bonaparte is very good, think -
That is not always great which consists
in brilliant achievement. The brightest
greatness is moral; and seeks the good of
others, rather than its own glory. l
could tell you of moro noblo hero than
Napoleon, who lived in his own time"
81 should like to hear of one, answer
ed Harry, with an air that said he was
not to be convinced. But he still loved
q story, so | told him the following
Years ago in tho deep heart of noun
tain in Belgium, hundred men were
working a coal mine.
Grim-visage and dusky, moving about
by the dull red light of their safety
lamps, they might have been mistaken
for the demons OF tho mountains, once
supposed by the peasants to dwell in the
caves. The work was hard, surrounded
by dangers; but their wives and children
were in the hamlet above, and long hab-
it made them forget their peris So
they might be contented and happy.
The creaking windass raised aud low
cred huge bucket through the desp and
narrow shaft, carrying men and tools to
and from. This was their only door
way.
1t was MONDAY, and the sun shone
down one side of the shaft, aud brought
a glimmer of daylight to part of the
mine, when Hubert Coffin, the master
miner, took his place in the great kettle,
and was let down to the mine many feet
below. When he reached the bottom,
he commenced handing some tools and
stores to Victor, blind miner who was
waiting there. Victor had left sick
child in one of the cottages, and it was
to enquire after him that he stood wait
ing at the bottom of the shaft.
The bucket was soon emptied, and
Hubert was just stepping out, when,
bark What sound was that which made
his cheek pale? 1t was the rushing and
trinkling Of water. The next moment
he caught sight Of stream forcing itself
through fissruo in the mountain close
to the shaft. Hubert's long experience
instantly showed him their full danger.
1t was not feeble oozing stream, but a
mighty pressure Of water that had found
its outlet here. They would be over
whelmed-lost.
Ono foot was yet in tho buckot-a
jerk at the rope would save him. But
though death stared him in the face, he
could not sacrifice others to save himself.
Quickly jumping out and seized blind
Victor, aud placed him in tho bucket,
saying quickly, as he jerked the ropc
'Tell them the water has burst in,
and we are probably lost but we will
seek refuge at tho further end of the gal
lery. Say farewell TO our poor friends" !"
In moment he was gone, and with him
Hubert's only certainty Of escape from a
terrible death.