Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-01-13
How a Child Conquered Fear

On the rug before the open fire sat
Pussie, her head against her aunt's knee,
her Skye in her arms--a picture of con-
tent. After silence of at least two
minutes she drew a long breath-so long
that Aunt Kitty laughed, and asked her
what the matter was.
With good deal of hesitation the lit
tie girl answered, in a very sad voice,
Because it is almost time &c go to bed. -
"Pussie, why don you like to go to
bed?"
"Because-b 5ause- 1 don't want to
say"
Then 1 will tell you why. Shall 1
dear?"
"Oh, auntie, you don't know. You
can not even guess why"
Aunt Kitty stopped over and whis-
pered something, which had the effect
of bringing Pussie on her feet, as she
exclaimed, "Why, how did you know?"
al once was little girl myself, dear"
"Oh yes. l know; but then you never
felt as feel about the dark"
Don't be too sure about anything, lit
tie one. What should you say if l told
you that found out your fear of the
dark just because l used to feel as you
feel now?"
Still incredulous, PuSsie shook her
head. saying, "But when did it go away :?
You are not afraid of anything now"
Come here, and 1 will tell you," and
taking the child on her knee Aunt Kath-
arine told her this little story of her
own life:
"When was child l was as timid as
hare. l was very shy; L did not like
strangers, and did not care for COM
panions of my own age. l was perfect
ly happy with my mother and father,
and my beloved dolls. Now you see
you have the advantage of me, for you
are not shy, you are fond of little girls
and boys, and then, too, you have your
dogs and your pony. Now, l was so
afraid of dog that the sight of one, as
far off as l could see him, filled me,with
such terror that instinctively drew up
my small legs, and then took to my heels.
| was so afraid of a worm that l have
gone whole block out of the way to
avoid passing one. / am afraid, PusSie,
that was born coward, but nothing
was so absolutely awful to me as the
dark. A familiar room was bad enough
when unlighted, but one that was unoc-
cupied was to me the most truly horri-
BILE place that could be conceived Of The
windows. with their distinctly defined
saShes, were one of the most frightful
featuie es for me, and l remember lying
awake at night and seeing the four or
eight white squares in the darkness, and
trembling with fear-of what / did not
know" And Miss Katherine heard a
murmur.
"Oh, auntie, it always frightens me
sol l am glad it frightened you, toe" :"
And with a closer cuddle she said,
please go on"
"Once my father spoke to me about it,
reasoning with me most lovingly and
tenderly, never uttering one word of
ridicule or reproach telling me that no
one could help me in overcoming the
dread of darkness, but that might con-
quer it myself. / used to wonder if l
should evver feel as he did about it, and
be as brave as he was in every way.
Some little time passed away. and
when was about seven or eight years
old an idea flashed through my brain,
and Will tell you what | did.
ut was just about this hour, between
six and seven O'Clock, and at this season
of the year. when | made up my mind
TO explore the whole house in the dark.
Sir John Franklin and DR.. Kane (you
remember l was telling you about them
only last night p could not have had a
firmer conviction of the dangers they
were Drawing than l had at that mo-
lnent The Dark was quite as unknown
to me as the North pole to them, and set
thick with terrible risks and perils; but
having made up my mind to do it, the
possibility of retreat did not occur to
me, for l remember felt as if it were
a sort of duty,a a promise to my father;
so walked out of the room where all
the family were sitting by the freight,
and began to go up the first flight of
stairs in the back part of the house
unlighted save by ground-glass win
dow, through which the hall lamp threw
a dim light. l had made up my mind
to begin with the worst, and went stead
lily up, one, two, three, four flights of
stairs; the last led to the attic, divided
into two rooms-the outer one finished
but'never occupied; the inner one un-
finished, and each lighted by window
In the roof, and communicating by lit
tie door, so low that, small as / was, /
could not stand upright ia passing thro'.
In utter darkness | climbed the steep
stairs, closing the door at the foot, and