Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-08-13
WAS SHE A COWARD?


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 a great pet.
Indeed her brothers had but one fault
to find with her; but they managed to
give her 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 Oh the subject, but, as he was only
two years old, he could hardly be eA-
pected to have an opinion about the
matter. Rob and Max, however, the
older boys, seldom lost an opportunity
of teasing Jennie about being a coward,
and of submitting her to very UNI
pleasant ordeals, in order to teach her
not 10 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 a 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 hard time with the teas
g n
sometimes received with temper and
sometimes with tears.
Its as bad to be a cry-baby as a
coward" said Max, one day, after teas
ing her until she cried.
This reused Jennie temper.
Pm not a cry-baby,' she said, in
dignatlon drying her tears; land l am
no more of coward than you, Master
Max. let Doctor Smith pull my tooth
without a 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. He was very
glad at that moment to hear his mother
call him. She had been sitting at the
window, and overheard the children.
Il 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.
''She is not baby. You boys tor
ment her so she can not help crying,
and am not at all sure she is such a
coward as you imagine. Many people
who are afraid of imaginary things
are brave enough in the face of real
danger was his mother reply.
Max was not TO be convinced, but re-
Trained from teasing Jennie any more
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
a stop to it whenever she heard them.
One day the children were all in
vited, with their mother and father, to
take tea with their grandmother.
Of course they were in great hurry
to set off, and their mother allowed
them to 60 some time before she did.
Jennie had charge of George, and her
mother gave her many charges about
him.
Il am so afraid something will hap
pen to him. l think he had better wait
and go with me-" she said, anxiously.
But at this time Master Georges lip
began to pout, and thege We're signs of
coming tears-an event always averted,
if possible, in the Carter family. for
Georges crying fits were apt to be
stubborn things.
Don't worry, mother dear, / will
take good care of him, said Jennie.
And when she made a promise, her
mother knew it would be Kept, and let
them 60.
They walked along the street very
happily, the two boys in front. and Jen
HE few steps behind, with George.
Suddenly they heard q great noise,
and people calling. Looking back they
saw horse with Il wagon attached to
him coming furiously toward them on
the sidewalk.
Run, rum" shouted Rob, as he and
Max started for the steps of house
near by.
Jennie could not run with her little
brother, and she never thought of Ieav-
All ldCt, SAC HCttI VI
herself at all. She had promised to
take care of little George, and she
would do her best
Stepping quickly behind him, so that
she should put herself between him and
the danger, she threw her arms closely |
about him; as if, poor child! her little |
frail body could save him from the fate |
that was coming.
She shut her eyes. There was rat |
Ting crash. She was conscious of a /
sharp pain somewhere about her, and |
then knew no more.
When she came to herself she was |
lying in bed, with her head bandaged |
and a queer, stiff feeling in one arm.
just then her mother came to her |
bedside.
My dear, brave little grip she said,
as she kissed her.
''Was George hurt?'' Jennie asked,
family.
mo, my darling. You have saved /
his life by your courage and presence of |
mind
Jennie smiled, and there being nothing
better TO do fell asleep.
Jennie was a long time recovering
from the injuries she mad received. The |
horse had. just as he reached the chill
iren, suddenly taken to the street. In
turning, the wagon had dashed vio-
emily against a tree and been broken.
Some portion of it had struck Jennie,
cruising her head and breaking one
arm. Il