South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-09-01
Presence of Mind,

Very much has been written with re-
gard to this important trait of character;
yet adults, as well as children, are con-
tinually in every dangerous emergency,
found lamentably deficient. Accidents,
causing death and destruction of prop
erty, will ever occur; therefore, in calm
and tranquil moments we should fortify
ourselves for the hour of danger. The
story of John Rsynor" impressed upon
the mind, possibly might have restored to
life many children apparently drowned.
1t was in the infancy of this periodical
that the account was given, and a host of
our present readers were not then its
patrons, therefore I hope to be pardoned
for giving a transcript for publication; es-
pecially as it cannot fail to interest our
juvenile friends.
1t was during the summer holidays of
1S-, said Mr.. Bowers, I had a young
friend staying with me and my younger
brother Edward. His name was John
Rsynor and how he came by so much in
formation as he seemed to have, l do not
remember that we troubled ourselves to
inquire; but my father, who liked John
exceedingly, said it was from his constant
habit of observation. He was then four
teen, only two years older than myself
One evening, during the absence of my
parents, we occupied ourselves with as
sisting our old gardener. The garden
sloped down to- broad river, which Joined
the sea at a few miles distance. l was
not so busy but l looked up every now
and then to watch the beautiful sunset
that sparkled on the water, or the passage
of boats, and country barges that glided
byat intervals. Suddenly l observed at a
short distance, something floating on the
water.
1t is the body of a boyl said John,
and in a moment flung off his jacket and
threw himself into the water. Fortunate
yThe-wssa-eoodsHimmer and his cour-
age never left him He swan With all
his strength toward the floating body, and
Selling with one hand the hair, with the
other directed his course back to the shore.
We watched eagerly, and the moment he
came within reach assisted him IN laying
the body on a grass-plot. My brother
Edward recognized him as the son of a
washerwoman, exclaiming, as he burst in.
to tears:
Poor woman, she will never see he1
boy againl"
John replied in q hurried tone:
"She may, if we lose no time, and use
the right means to recover him. Edward
run quickly for a doctor; and as you pass
the kitchen, tell Susan to have a bee
warmed"
"We had better hold him up by the
heels" said the gardener, ito let the wa.
ter run put of his mouth"
mo, no, mo-" exclaimed John; 'by SC
doing we shall kill him, ifhe is not al
ready 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 persuasion they yielded to
Johns entreaty, and the body was rubbed
dry, and placed on his right side between
hot blankets, on a mattress. The head
was bound with flannel and placed high
on pillows, four bottles were filled with
hot water, wrapped in fiannels, and placed
at the arm pits and feet, while the body
was constantly rubbed with hot fsnnels
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 chesi
with air; he then laid aside the bellows
and pressed the chest upwards to forct
the air out. This was done from twenty
TO thirty times in a minute, to initiate
natural breathing. All this time the win.
dows and doors were left wide open
Edward at length returned without the
doctor; he was absent from home. The
use OF friction with warm flannel, and ar