The Bossier banner., 1881-12-22
TRUE BRAVERY.

His name was Frank Thompson; he
was fifteen years old, and he lived in a
large city in the State of Ohio, where
he was a pupil in one OF the public
schools. He was q slender lad with
quiet gray eyes, gentle ways, and with
nothing of the "brag'' about him.
Some of the boys called him q coward
because he never would fight; and
whenever a rough fellow would shake
his fists, in Franks face with "You
don't dare to fight" !" Frank would Quiet
ly say: :. dare not to fighf;' which was
. much Drawer thing todo. aa ytssa 49,
But there came day after which no
one doubted Franks bravery 1t was
1t tmid-winter, and the fires in the school,
building were fed with bushels of coal
in order that the rooms might be kept
warm for the hundreds. OF boys and
girls in the school-rooms in that very
cold winter weather. EoY 9ai ~
a Suddenly the teacher in the division
where Frank Thompson studied dis
covered from cloud of smoke that
burst into the room that the school
building was on fire, and there were
i've hundred children in it; and in less
than one moment half the children in
her room knew, as did she, of the dan.
ger and We're preparing to rush out of
doors The, teacher, Miss Olney, said
not word. but springing ID the door,
she lifted her hand and with a COM
handing gesture motioned the pupils
back into their seats, and they dared not
disobey. She, then hurried from the
room to warn the other teachers OF the
danger and to give the alarm Of fire. II
Quick as flash, slender, boy with,
fashing eyes had taken the teachers
place at the door, for. every pupil inI
the room had risen to his feet to escape |
as quickly as possible. The boy at the |
door was Frank Thompson fie sno yIj
{" Stand back" he cried; s.not one of |
Jou can pass through this door! Diso- I
bey orders; and you will be crushed on
And do you think boy movedp Not.
one. The pale-faced, flashing eyed lad
at the door with uplifted hand was equal
TO an army with banners. Every one
felt that the boy who dared not. to
fight. dared to hold his post, and guard |
it, too. And so he stood until the
teacher returned, when he stepped into
2 passage-way, and fairly flew to one of
the lower rooms, where he knew there
was q tiny little fellow. weak and lame,
who might be- overlooked and lost In
The danger. Hunting him out of the
crowd of little ones, Frank lifted him
IN his arms and never lost hold of his
burden until he had put him. safely
down at his mother door, two or three I
squares awaye Then he returned to !
The school building from which the
children had all safely escaped by leav-
ng it, in qniet order. and the fire eten-
,ines were rapidly putting out the fire.
You may be sure there were no BOYS F;
Q call Frank Thompsonsa coward after /
hat. The, story of his bravery, his
Iuick, determined action. got into thei
newspapers, and several gentlemen had
! gold medal made, and on it were these
words: 99i5Ei 9tiaG'i OFT 50 gtAas Il,
4Inl To Frank Thompson sfY ,lt
From the Citizens Of c. IF
In Honor of a Brave Deed
Dec. Il, 1880 -@SfHll
This was the date of the fire. And
he medal was hung about Frank
q the presence of all his schooLfellows.
vhile one of the gentlemen made a lit
le speech, in which he told the pupils I
hat it was always Q brave lad who k'
AIRED to do 7I1h. and alwavs q nom.rd I