The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-05-20
HARRY'S BRAVERY.
A Lesson on the Meaning of
True Courage.

a Lesson on the Meaning Of
True Courage.
Ny father was 4 physician of good
practice in wealthy quarter of Phil
adclphia, and we boys, four in number.
wee encouraged by him to live out of
doors as much as possible. We played
the national game, rowcd, belonged TO
wcll-CquippCd private gymnasium,
and We're hale and hearty accordingly:
but especially did we prize the spring
vacation which was always spent At
our grandfathvr's farm, Il beautiful
spot in the Juanita valley, shut in by
hills, and warmed by the sunshine.
which always seemed to Us TO shine
especially bright on our annual visit,
if to make mp for the cloudy and
stormy weather of March
At the time OF which l speak, the
anticiPations before starting were
especially joyous. Harry, Carl ana
Francis, aged respectively eleven, four
teen and sixteen, had after earnest
efforts in their school work been
promoted each to the class above his
former rank, and were in consequence
proud and happy, though tired. l,
Royal by nt1nc, 4 junior in 4 we'll
known New England college, working
steadily in the course, was not IN
willing to spend week or two in
quiet, searching the vCll-storcG
library which had the best that three
generations of book lovers could buy
on It's shclvcS, and before whosc
chccry oPcn fire vc gathered at even
ing Tor stories and counsel from older
and wiser minds
We packed our bags, took our rods
for trout fishing was often good, even
in early April, in wcll-atocIscd brooI,
that ran along willow -fringcd banks in
the south paSture-and boarded tn
train. At the station the nircd man
met us with a pair of Morgan horses
than which do not remember to have
seen better from that day to this, and
we were soon at the hall door. shaking
hands with grandmother and grand
father, and, to our pleasant surprise.
with Aunt Celia, who, unexpectedly to
US, was at home She was a widow,
having lost her husband in the McXi-
can war, and was a teacher of modern
languages in Z girls private school in
southern New York. She was one of
those rare natures that the heart in
stinctively trusts, and no one of the
many grandchildren hesitated about
telling Aunt Cecilia his or her troubles.
always confident that something would
be done toward making the rough
place smooth or gaining the object
sought
Carl and Francis were just at the
age when fcats of daring were n de-
light to them Harry was of a natur-
ally timid nature. modest, and lacking
sometimes IN confidence, and 50 was
often urged on by the other two, when
he shranll from attempting anything,
by such expressions as Don't be
coward, Harry "A girl could do
that which. by such a sensitive spirit,
We're felt more than blows of the lash
would be- When / was by. the boys
would not indulge in these trials of
strength or endurance, but in my alb
sence | knew they hurt his tender feel
ings by their taunts, though really
they did not intend TO. A boy looks
| for what he calls courage in his play
mate. and, if he does not see what ap-
parently corresponds to his own, he
! thinks him 4 coward, while the Drawer
| of the two may really be the more diff
| fident and shrinking one
| 1t was Saturday afternoon; we were
! TO leave Monday morning, and l had
| gone to the post Office to mail 4 letter
| to our father, telling him to expect us
| Monday noon. Behind the barn was
! large oak tree from whose trunk 4
! long branch ran horizontally toward
] the shed roof, though at a conSidera BILE
distance above it. The boys had been
| pitching quoits near the tree, and, hav-
| ing finished the game, looked about
| for some more exciting sport Francis
! thought he saw IL, so he climbed the
tree, crept out on the limb, hung by
| the arms moment and then dropped,
with something of 4 jar, to be sure, but
safely, on the roof, where he sat with
| q satisfied look. He called to Carl to
follow him Carl, though unwilling to
try il, was still more unwilling to ac-
. knowledge any superiority of his older
| brother in that line, SO he, too elm bed
up, crept out, and, when he had found
what he thought was a good place,
and had called out two or three
times: Fran, shall / strike all right?"
dropped and was happy. Then they
both called to Harry: Come on, Hal,
but he, overcome by the fear he had
felt that they would fall while attempt
ing il, refused to make the trial.
When they began to speak about what
"a Elri cOulu 90 STdnuIdlheT came
out of the back door, where he had
been a silent spectator of the whole
affair, patted Harry on the shoulder,
assuring him that he'd more sense than
Carl and Francis together, and bade
the climbers come down at once.
Grandfather was man of few words,
and they obeyed- Nothing more was
said. l returned soon after. We had
tea as usual and adjourned to the
library, where genial fire of hickory
logs warmed and lig hted the room
Grandmother and grandfather sat in
their armchairs ON each side of the
broad hearth. 1 occupied an antiqu
chair / had found in the attic, an
which / was to carry home for my ow
room. Carl and Francis sat on OLD
fashioned crickets, while Aunt Cell
had her low willow rocker in fror
of the fire, and Harry leaned againS
her, with her arm around his neck
We remained silent for some me
meuts when grandfather quietly saiC