The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-09-07

But ihai cali only answered them, "booi"
-Phebe Cary.
WILLIE's COURAGE.-Willie Carr was
one of those boys who never like to be
beaten at anything. Only dare him to
do thing and he would do it, no mat
ter how foolish it was. He had lately
come to live at town on the seacoast,
and he and his schoolfellows amused
themselves on halfhOlidays by climbing
the cliffs, fishing, boating, and many
other seaside pastimes. On one Satur-
day afternoon Willie said to his COM
panions:
"The tide has just turned in quar-
ter of an hour that rock" pointing to a
small rock covered with seaweed) twill
be under water, and l dare any OF you
fellows to run ten times round It,"
Some shook their heads and said they
did not care to run the risk of being
drowned, but a few said, "We will go if
you will lead u.s."
So of they started. The water was
over their shoes at the first round.
"Salt water will do us no harm," said
Willie. :,
At the sixth round Tom Bishop and
Willie were the only ones who kept on
running; the water was already above
the knees, for the tide was coming in
fast. At the eighth round Willie was
running alone, and many of the boys
said, "Don't 60 any more, Willie" But
Ned Dawson cheered him: Only twice
more, and l will say you are the bravest
fellow in Hastings" But at the tenth
round all said, "Don't 60 any more"
EDO you dare me to do it 7" cried
Willie; although the water is above
my waist, | will 60, just to show you
what l can do"
Many of them tried to hold him back,
but he rushed of painting for his last
round. When he reached the rock he
was very tired, so he sat down to recover
his breath then he got up and waved
his cap. The boys cheered him, AID
cried, MAKE haste-come along"
But he stayed longer than was neces-
sary, just to show how brave he was, and
waved his cap. At this moment large
wave dashed over the rock, drenching
him to the skin, and obliging him to
start off. But before he had gone half
way on his journey another wave came
rolling along, and ne found himself up
to his armpits in water; another came.
and then another, and carried him of
his feet. He was nearly choked with the
salt water that went down his throat.
but he recovered himself enough to get
back to the rock; there he sat painting
and exhausted.
His boosted courage began to fail he
could swim but little, and, incumbered
with his wet clothes and all exhausted as
he was, there was not much chance for
him. Higher and higher the water rose 4;
the rock was under water, and there he
sat pale and shivering.
Some of his comrades ran off for help,
but poor Willie doubted if it would
come in time. All his sins and follies
rose before him like cloud he thought
of his mothers anguish, for he was her
only son, and how she would feel when
she heard he had been drowned
drowned! and by his own folly. A
large wave rolled over him-he tight.
ened his grasp on the sea-weed another
came, and then another {; a mist rose be.
fore his eyes-he loosened his hold, and
all was dark.
Some hours later Willie was in hi.
own bed at home, and lady with {
sweet, pale face was bending over him
"Thank God," she said.
Willie heard it and opened his eyes.
"Oh, MOTHER" he said, 81 am saved
then ? / was SO frightened, and when
thought of you death seemed 80 ter
rible."
eyes" she said, "you were saved by
boatman, who heard your schoolfel
lows cries of distress let us thank Goo
for his mercy in saving YOU"
Some time after, Willie entered thu
navy; he had lost none of his courage
and daring, but he acted more under {
sense of duty and less to gain mans ap
plause.
He is now an officer, beloved by hi
men and respected by all who know him
for at the call of duty he is always first
and where danger is there you will al
ways find him.
How TO UNDERSTAND POETRY
Sometimes boy or girl says. / should
like to understand poetry; 1 do like t.
read it, but 1 can not always tell what il
means"
Dear children, some things 90 under
the title of poetry which are incompre
hensible to young and old, to wise ant
foolish alike. But the way to understand
true poetry-that Of nature at least-i
to love the beauty of which it is tn,
picture and the song. The best poetry i
simple and natural as life itself ; and BY
listening to the sweet voices which ART
always floating unheeded on the air, yol
will feel what ii is through all your be
ing. Only keep eye and heart open, ant
never let It be possible for you to scorI
or neglect the least thing that God ha
made.
Look for poetry and you will find i
everywhere-in the fairy-cup moss unde
your feet in the woodland footpaths, il
the song of the robin at your window IL
the morning, in the patter OF the rain OF
the roof, in the first rosy cloud on TIT
horizon at dawn, and the last that fade
out in the west at sunset. For poetry i
written all over the earth by DIVINE
hand, before it can get into books.
The Creator is the great poet. AL
that is beautiful to eye or ear or heart i
His handwriting. Wherever bud opens
rivulet slips along its pebbly path, or
leaf-shadow dances in the sunshine, Their,
He has written poem which He mean
should be read with delight by ever,
passer-by.-Lucy Ldrcom IN 81. Nicholas
WAsHINeToN's DoG.-General Wash
inpton, it is stated, was out hunting. II
the Virginia forest, accompanied by hi
favorite hound, Governor. A heav,
! storm of rain and mist coming up, he los
his way, his powder became useless, and
to add to the perils and Inconvenience o
his situation, ne found that he had not hi
J pocket compass with him. In this sorr!
plight he wandered in circles, as people
do who are lost IN the bush, wet weary