Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1867-07-24
Letters to Boys and Girls.
NO. Ill.
My DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS !:

MY DEAR DUNG FRIENDS:
thought | would write about CoUR-
AGE in this letter, and the reason for
my writing about this is, am afraid
many of you do not know what cOur
age is. 20 yesr says little Mr.. Six
year-old, Il know what it is-it is the
right that is in fellow No doubt the
most of you think the same, but it is
Il great mistake. Why, if that were
true courage, dog would be far no
bier being than a boy, for | never saw
the boy yet who would not run from
fierce dog. To be ready to fight at all
times is not courage, but brutishness.
Facing danger when there is no
need. of doing so is not true courage
A band of Indians once attack ed
a block house in which only eight
men were posted Rushing up
on the stockade or high fence which
was around the house, they were beat.
en- off by the brave defenders with the
loss of several lives. Then falling
back, they hid themselves in a field OF
rye, and called on the whites to sur
render. Don't sec any one to surren-
der to- replied the commander Then
big Indian, to show his bravery,
leaped up from the rye as high as he
could, and cried, Here | be = You
may be sure he did not do that rash
act for nothing. In moment eight
bullets from as many rifles pierced his
body. His rashness met its reward,
and his fellow, savages, discouraged by
his death, SUNK away through the
rye. Now such acts are prompted,
not by real courage, but by fear Many
persons are thus led to expose them
selves to unnecessary danger, simply
because they are afraid that they will
be thought or called towards To
face danger when there is no necessi-
ty for it is not courage, but fookhardi-
ieSS.
True courage consists in standing
up for the right ard against wrong. |
once beard Of boy who will call
George. He was challenged to fight
by playmate. The boys formed
ring, and all was ready for the battle
Now strike me if you dare" said the
boy who had given the challenge
George stood quietly looking at the
other for few moments and then
calmly replied, No, | have nothing to
strike for This soft answer turned
away the other boys wrath, and he
said, well, then, let US be friends again,
for l lave nothing to strike you for
either. Now which of these boys dis
played the greatest courage. The one,
by offering to fight, exposed himselft to
suffer Il few blows. The other, by re.
fusing to fight, exposed himself to the
taunts of bis enemy and the jeers of
his companions, and you allknow these
arc harder to bear than blows But
he stood up for the right and against
the wrong, regardless otthe conseQuen-
Ccs. That was true courage.
Two boys were one day looking at
horse that was quietly nibbling the
grass. One said to the other, Il dare
you to go near that horse's heels.'-
There is no need for it, was the SEN
sible reply. Pooh / believe you are
afraid" said the first who had spoken
Look at me- and.he walked close up
behind the horse, who took no notice
Of him. Emboldcned by the animals
quiet behavior, he took hold of his tail,
dtu DcSiiI W "h1Sh 1t dFOuuu. NOt
liking this, the horse struck out his
heels and laid the boy scnseless and
bleeding on the ground. His compan-
ion tried in vain to restore him to con-
sciousness, and finding that help was
necessary, bravely caught and mount
ed the horse, and without saddle or
bride rode him to the nearest house
and procured assistance. That was
true courage.
70 possess fighting disposition is
brutshness; to display daring, ven
turesome spirit is foolhardiness, to face
danger in order to defend the right or
to aid suffering fellow being is true
courage In a word, the boy who
dares to do right is the truly courage
Gus boy, and all others are towards at
heart.
Give me the dauntless boy
Who inches not from labor fatigue,
But moves right on the path Of duty.
God will stand by the boy who boldly stands
By Gods eommand God will give him energy
And courage now, and aiterward success