Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-05-31
MisCellauenMs.
ELF.POssESsION.

BY self-possesson-- mean the fac
ulties of the whole man we'll in hand,
or self-control.
True self-reliance: implies self-posses-
sion the latter can not exist without
the former He who would concentrate
all his powers upon the accomplishment
of an all-absorbing purpose. must be
self-possessed. Interruptions. surprises
and even surrounding confusion, will
not throw him off his base. Tie keeps
cool, labors on with will, and never
loses sight of the goal at the end of tho
race.
This is valuable quality in the COM
mon walks of life. Ii is needed in all
pursuits, and every day. For tho want
of it., both men and women, both old
and young, become disconnected, and
fail when they ought to succeed In
expected experiences and startling cas-
ualties confuse them, and they know not
what they do.
A woman, whose house was on fire,
threw looking glass out of the win
dow. and carried n pair of andirons sew
eral rods to a safe place, beside stone
wall.
A man, suddenly awakened from his
sleep by the cry of fire, leaped from his
bed to find that his own house was in
flames Instantly, no proceeded to throw
out of door and window .crockery, shovel
tongs, chairs, bod clothes, mirrors, -four,
meal, pies, ETC., but forgot the trunk in
which was deposited all his money,
jewelry, gold watch and valuable keep.
sakes, and it was consumed.
A mother, alone in her house with
her little child, was so confused by the
clothes of the little one taking fire that
she ran into the street, crying franti-
cally for help. leaving the child to per-
ish.
A sclf-posscssed mother would have
quenchcd the burning dress, and saved
the child.
A pleasure party on small lake were
enjoying themselves, when young lady
changed her position SO suddenly that
the boat dipped little water. She ut
tered scream, and sprang to the other
side, and others did the same. upsetting
the boat, and drowning several of the
party. Presence Of mind would have
averted all these disasters.
Not long since, school house in New
York city was discovered to be on fire
BY one of the teachers At once she
communicated the fact to tho teachers
in the other rooms, who announced the
session closed, directing the pupils to-
leave the house orderly. Every room
was emptied, and the pupils in the
street, before the latter knew the cause
of their dismissal. Had tho teacher
shouted: "Fire FIRE !" when she made
the discovery, there is no doubt that
lives would have been lost in the gen.
era rush for the doors. The self-pos-
session Of the teacher prevented sad
catastrophe.
Not long since, farmers wife Of our
acquaintance was left at home on
Sunday, with her three children, while
her husband went TO meeting. The
latter had scarcely passed beyond the
call of his wife, when shout from one
Of tho children told that the youngest,
two years old, had fallen into the we'll.
There was no man on the premises,
and no neighbor near, as the mother
we'll knew, and her first cool thought
was "If that child is saved, | must
save her! J" Running to the well. and
Selling tho windlass, to lower the buckle l.,
she called "NelIie. darling, don't cry /;
mamma will lower the bucket"
Fortunately, the water was so low
that the bucket could be dipped with
difficulty, and it went down carefully,
but quickly.
"Now, Nellie, dear, get into the
bucket. and mamma will draw you up.
Don't be afraid; mamma will draw you
right up to her"
There was not the slightest appear
ance of alarm 10 the tone or words Of
the mother, for, in her remarkable self
possession, she meant TO remove the
child's fear, and encourage her TO get
into the bucket. Nellie obeyed her
mother, crawled into the bucket, and in
minute more was locked in her mothers
arms. Presence Of mind saved the child
Maternal love, for the time being, held
nerves, muscles, mind and soul in com
plete subsection, in its indomitable pur-
pose to save the child.
Courage is not self-possession. There
may be courage without self-possession
and there may be self-possesslon with
out courage.