The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-05-19

uoActS tnab had seen service at
bunker Hill and Yorktown. Often had
we, in boyish curiosity. asked what it
was. and why it was kept there, tied
by piece Of faded ribbon TO one OF the
antlers, but had always been put of
with "by and by" and "when you are
older Now, when we saw a chance
10 know about it, we chorused: "Ohl
yes, Aunt Celia, do tell, please" and
she, quietly saying: Il suppose. they
can learn its lesson now" began:
Il was, ss you know, the only girl Of
the family, and Also the youngest
child, your father being two years
older There were few neighbors
when we first came here to live; in
deed, our nearest was fully quarter
OF mile away, SO we saw few besides
our own family. Your uncles, John.
William and Elijah, were several years
Older, and SO were busy helping father
in clearing the land and in its care,
Accordingly Henry and / were much
together. We studied the same book
at our mothers knee, played with the
same toys and were together so much
that the older boys sometimes called
us mothers two girls But your ia
Their, though tender and gentle in APP
pearance, had brave heart under his
little jacket, and knew better than
they that he was no coward. They
called him SO sometimes, thinking, be-
cause he seemed fearful about some
things they counted trihes, that
he really had no courage. Pm afraid
boys have forgotten nowadays that
mere daring is no test of true courage. !"
Here, Francis and Carl felt their faces
grow hot, but Aunt Celia said no more
and went on 4sssss==z===z
ut was one day in April, very like
to-day, that we all went upon the sidc
hill to pick May flowers. Henry was
nearly twelve years old, his birthday,
as you know, is next month, and was
ten. 1t had always been a habit, when
people went out in the spring for fow-
ers to cut stout stick, to be used
partly as a walking stick, and partly
as a protection against snakes, which
were often seen, but which usually es-
capped before they could be reached.
Old people told of rattlesnakes that
used to be seen, but they were very
scarce, even then, and none of us had
ever seen one.
We all had sticks cut from bunch
of hickory saplings that grew beside
the path, and your uncle Elijah said,
as we were going along: / wonder
tlesnake; turn pale and faint away, 1
guess. at which the others laughed
loudly, but Henry said nothing, though
! saw his lips culver at the taunt,
I'VE found the flowers, thick and
beautiful, just as you have this week.
We picked all we wished, ate the lunch
which mother had put up for us, and
were sitting on large, fiat stone, talk
ing of starting for home. I saw bit
of pretty moss under some twigs at the
edge Of the stone, and stepped down to
get it, when suddenly peculiar
whir-r-r, that we never had heard be-
fore, struck our ears. All the boys
started up, looking about eagerly. The
bushes at my side parted slightly, and
the fattened head of large rattle
snake protruded, and again came that
dreadful sound. Then the boys jumped
from the rock, each in different direc-
ton, and screamed, rather than cried:
Jump Celia, it's rattlesnake.'
M could not move. l must have been
paralyzed by fear, for, though, ! was
but d child, / could not misunderstood
my danger. OF course, what am tell
ing happened in few seconds, but I
remember hearing tho swish that a
stick makes when it cuts through the
air, and the horrible head, with its
forked, vibrating tongue, was severed
from the writhing body, and fell at my
feet.
Harry had quietly stepped down by
my side, and with his stick, the one
you see on the antlers yonder, had
saved me from dreadful death. There
he stood, pale and trembling to be sure,
but with such a light in his blue eyes,
that none of his older brothers dared
ever call him coward, or girl, again.
We walked quietly home, bringing the
body with it's horrible horny scales, to
show to father and mother. / shall
never forget how they clasped us in
their arms as they listened to the story,
and howl wondered, as a child will, if
every body, when they were grown up,
cried when they were very glad. ~
Nothing was ever said to the older
boys. They had learned what true
bravery was, the scorn of self-protec-
ton when another needed help, and
they have been better for it ever since.
Your father has never had the story
told to you, thinking that sometime it
might also teach you the lcespn that
true courage from its root word, the
Latin cor, and down through the
French cocur is both below and0a bow
any outward manifestations, and be-
longs to the heart
1.-THE snakemust have come out in
to the sun from his den under the rock,
weather, or the bite would have fol-
lowed the first alarm. There has
never since been seen another in this
locality"
We sat in silence for awhile, and
then grandfather spoke. laying his
hand on Harry's curls: II seem to see
my boy Henry again in his son, Harry.
i hope he will grow up into the same
brave. though tender, manhood of his
father, and remember, boys" he said,
turning toward Francis and Carl,
''that recklessness and a desire to be
thought bold and daring are not an in
dex of true courage and often have no
connection with it. If the walnut rod
teaches you this lesson, its story will
be of great value to your. f. COL
well, in American Agriculturist
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. n.sS9,~.,s ,