American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-08-22
OUR BOY PETE'S HAiR-BREADTH
ESCAPE.
BY CENT SABLE, NJ. D.

| SOME ten or twelve years ago, perhaps
fifteen, there might have been seen, on II
Fourth of July morning, certain young
doctor vending his hopeful way to his
downtown office. 1t was unusually early
| for him, or for any other doctor, to be
moving officeward. He carried in his
hand a small basket containing his din
ner; this, too, was an unusual practice
| for him. Under his arm was Il package
of old clothes, bandages, etc, which his
good landlady had furnished him
His walk was an enthusiastic walk,
and his face wore a pleased, hOpefuIex-
preston. This was his first Fourth of
July in practice He wore no vest and
| he had on a clean shirt. 'This, said he
to himself, g is to be a royal professional
field day"
He thought wrong; it was not a pro
fessional field day, nor has any Fourth
of July, from that day to this, been to
him a redletter day in his practice. Now
adays he watches the younger children,
carries the baby, helps cook the dinner,
yawns, tries to sleep, and generally loafs
about home upon each anniversary OF
that glorious day.
1t is great mistake to suppose that
many accidents happen on the Fourth OF
July, and especially accidents to chill
dren. A sad fact professionally speak
ing-a sad fact. ...
Like an unblessed spirit, our boy Peter
had roamed about town during the night
of the Sd, bound that his enthusiasm
should not be caught mapping. His
brother Philander and the one we call
Gopher had received permission to arise
at three o'clock on the morning of the
Fourth; strings were duly tied around
each of their great toes, and the strings
hung out of the window, so that Pete
would not have any trouble in awaken
ing them. Who cut these strings Is yet
an unraveled mystery.
" How providentialv' said Mariah,
g that the boy was not dashed to pieces,
when, in answer to her question, told
her that | found Gopher asleep on the
shed, where he went to have a fine view
of the rockets on the night of the
Fourth
"Oh, no." l replied; :" he was asleep in
that box the boys constructed out of
spikes and two-inch plank last fall for
the purpose of drying haZelnuts in.
Philander we found asleep in the grass;
while Mariah stumbled over Pete while
on her way to her room to receive the
sad remains of Pete when brought home
a drowned corpse or blown-up boy. 1t
was to her an agreeable surprise to find
him asleep at the head of the back
stairs.
While carrying his remains to bed l
found he was unusually ballasted- In
his left pocket found a toy cannon, IL
fire cracker pistol, sling-shot, two eN-
ploded rockets, a parcel of damaged fire
crackers, two cartridge cases, two knives,
Il lot of keys, candy and peanuts-this
mass of stuff was stuck together with
tar for chewing purposes. The left peck
ct was gone-burned out.
Mariah's face turned ashy pale when
she discovered this fact.
at is a miracle that saved his life;
suppose" continued she, The had bot
tie of powder in that pocket"
"Or nitro glycerine, or a thirty pound
SHELF" said L.
Marah arises on the morning of the
9Th badly shaken up. She tumbles all
the night of the Sd, eats nothing on the
4th and gives thanks all the night of the
4th. Wonderful miracles are wrought
for her benefit, she thinks.
The miracles wrought for the salvation
of boys are mostly wrought by them |
selves. 1t is remarkable how they man.
age to bungle themselves out of Il tigh |
place Boys are called fearless of dan
ger, careless, thoughtless and ignorant
withaI Many believe that boys just |
banker for mutilation and death, and
otter premiums for accidents This is /
all mistake. Boys are naturally very .
timld, very cautious, and not so venture |
some as is supposed, and not fools by /
any manner of means. a boy will run
out IN the street and stand as if hc |
would be run over. But notice, before
he stands, he will catch the drivers eye
and he fears no danger. He climbs IL
roof, IA tree, or he walks rafter, but if
YOU notice, be does what an adult VIII
rarely do, he removes his shoes and
stockings and seldom places himself in
real danger of his life. He takes his
FOIL hal
same as we all do. In the winter boys
are usually timid, and where one is
drowned it is rarely from his own fault
or vcnturesomeness 1t Is more often
the result of Unforeseen contingencies.
They throw big stones at each other,
but they take care that the stones will
fall short of the mark. They jump on
wagons, but always from behind. In
the accident is not often the
fault of the lad or the sled. lris ofteneI
the fault of the needless driver of IA team.
When runaway comes boy never tries
to stop the tcam-nO, he breaks for shell
ter. Boys rarely take risks at fires, and
"a boy run over by an engine is almost
unheard of. They are often iniu by
street cars, but always in the line of
duty, as rule. 1t is the newsboys gen
orally who are injured. They must take
their chances the same as brakcmCn do.
Yet it is Il fact that many boys are in
iured, but it may surprise many when |
say that IL great majority of serious acct
dents, including drowning, are from
among adults. l speak from long ana
large experience. Who are the boys that
suffer most from accident? ] answer, it
is those who have accident cternally
dinncd into their ears and who are al
ways held in restraint. The accidents
are among the better classes; the reason
is obvious. Boys are always on the
alert to prove they know more than their
parents.
| tell Philander that the ice is treach-
erous and the water is deep, and that
will make his life "A burden to him if l
catch him ON the one or in the other.