The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-09-25
WAS SHE A coWARD7

How Jennie Proved Her Bravery In the
Face Of Real Danger.
Jennie Carter was very bright
good humored little girl, about twelve
years old. Being the only girl in the
family. she was naturally great pet.
Indeed, her brothers had but one fault
to find with her; but they managed to
give her q great many uncomfortable
moments on account of that one fault
The fact was, she was afraid of the
dark. and this her two elder brothers
could not understand.
Little George never had anything to
say ON the subject. but, as he was only
two years old, he could hardly be ek-
pected to have an opinion about the
matter. Rob and Max, however, the
older boys, seldom lost an opportunity
of teasing Jennie about being acoward,
and of submitting her to very un-
pleasant ordeals, in order to teach her
not to be afraid. As, for instance. once
she and Rob were in dark room, when
he suddenly ran out. holding the door
shut on the outside, so that she could
not follow; and another time he and
Max coaxed her down a dark, narrow
passage to q little room at the end,
where they left her. and ran away.
Poor Jennie, in running after them.
fell and sprained her ankle, which was
not what they had expected. All this.
however, only served to make her more
timid, if possible, and did no good.
Jennie had q hard time with the teas
ing of her two brothers, which she
sometimes received with temper and
sometimes with tears.
'.It's rs bad to be cry-baby as
coward said Max, one day, after teas
ing her until she cried.
This reused Jennie's temper.
I'm not = cry-baby," she said. in
dignation drying her tears; and am
no more of . coward than you, Master
Max. l let Doctor Smith pull my tooth
without . word. and you would not
even let him look at your mouth, and
came home and cried all night with the
toothache."
Max looked rather sheepish at this,
and had nothing to say. de was very
glad at that moment to hear his mother
call him. She had been sitting ut the
window, and overheard the children.
81 wish you would not tease your sis
ter so constantly, Max" she said, as
he came in the room. 1T does no
good"
..She is such . cowardly baby" he
said, BY way of an excuse.
ssShe is not baby. You boys tor
ment her so she can not help crying,
and I am not at all sure she is such q
coward as you imagine. Many people
who are afraid of imaginary things
are brave enough in the face Of real
DANGER" was his mothers reply.
Max was not 10 be convinced, but re-
Trained from teasing Jennie any moro
that day because his mother expressly
| forbade it.
Mrs. Carter felt very sorry to have
her little daughter afraid of the dark,
| because she knew it was foolish, but
she did not see any way to help it, and
hoped in time Jennie would outgrow
it. She felt quite sure the boys could
do no good with their teasing. and put
= stop to it whenever she heard them.
One day the children were all in.
vited. with their mother and father, tc
take tea with their grandmother.
OF course they were in great hurry
| to set of, and their mother allowed
them to 60 some time before she did
Jennie had charge of George, and hel
mother gave her many charges about
him.
81 am SO afraid something will hap
pen to him. think he had better wait
and 90 with me, she said, anxiously.
But at this time Master Georges Liz
began to pout. and there were signs O.
coming tears-an event always ayerted
| il possible. in the Carter family. fol
Georges .'crying fits were apt to b
stubborn things.
| Don't worry, mother dear, / vii
take good care of him. ''said Jennie
| And when she made promise, hel
mother knew it would be kept, and lie
them 60.
They walked along the street YER,
happily, the two boys in front, and Jen
ME q few steps behind. with George.
| Suddenly they heard great noise
and people calling. Looking back the,
saw . horse with wagon attached Il
him coming furiously toward them OF
4
Run, rum shouted Rob. as he an,
Max started for the steps of = hous
near BY.
Jennie could not run with her littl
brother, and she never thought of leav
ing him. In fact, she never thought Q
herself ut all. She had promised +
take care of little George, and sh
would do her best
i Stepping quickly behind him. 90 tia
she should put herself between him an
the danger, she threw her arms closel
about him; IS il. poor child! her littl
| frail body could save him from the fat
that WAS coming.
/ She shut her eyes. There was . n
Ting crash. She was conscious of
sharp pain somewhere about her. an
then knew NO more.
i When she came - herself she va
lying in bed, with her head bandagc
and : queer, stif feeling in one ann.
81 just TIN her mother came to he
. bedside.
my dear, brave little girl" she saii
= shs kiased -.