Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-03-31
HARRY'S BRAVERY.
A Loeson on tho Moaning OF
Truo Courage.

pract.c &C IN wealthy quarter OF PM.
adelphia, and we boys, four in number,
were encouraged by him to live out Of
doors us much as possible. We played
the national game, rowcd, belonged TO
wcll.cquippcd private gymnasium,
aud were halo and hearty accordingly;
but especially did we prize the spring
vacation which wni always spent at
our grnudfathcr's farm, beautiful
spot in the Juanita valley, shut in by
hills, and warmed by the sunshine.
which always seemed to us 70 shine
especially bright on our annual visit,
n II TO make up for the cloudy and
stormy weather Of March.
At the time OF which speak, the
authorizations before starting were
especially Joyous. Harry, Carl and
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, md were In consequence
proud and happy, though tired !,
Royal by name, junior in we'll.
known Now England college, working
steadily in the course, was not un-
willing to spend u week or two in
quiet, searching the wcll.storod
library which had the best that three
generations Of book lovers could buy
on its shelves, and before whose
CHEEKY open FIRE We gathered at even
ing for 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.stocl,cd brook
that ran along willow -fringcd banlts In
the south pasturo-and boarded the
train. Al the station the nircd man
met us with II pair of Morgan horses
than which do not remember to have
seen better from that day to this, and
we were soon ut 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. Sho waa a widow,
having lost her husband In the Mexi.
can war, and was a teacher VI --r,crr
languages In q glr!s' -, waite school ir
southern S~"' or,, ST. ,,,,', an, -,
49, 'o'"' '"u "uH "'N y"
-..Ose rare natures that the heart In
stinctivcly trusts, and no one of the
many grandchildren hesitatcd about
telling Aunt Cecilia his or her troubles
always confident that something woult
be done toward making the rough
place smooth or gaining the object
sought
Carl and Francis were just ut the
age when fcats OF daring were de
light TO them. Harry was Of a natur
ally timid nature, modest, and lacking
sometimes in confideucc and 20 wa,
often urged on by the other two wheI
he shrnnk from attempting anything
by such expressions as Don't be Q
coward, Harry" "a girl could dc
thatw which, by such n sensitive spirit
were felt more than blows OF the lash
would be. When ! was by, the boys
would not indulge in those trials oi
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 lOolti
for what he calls courage in his play
mate. and, IL he does not sec what ap
pnrcntly corresponds To his own, h,
thinks him n coward, while the braycl
OF the two may really be the more diff
fident and shrinking one.
IL was Saturday afternoon; we wer,
to leave Monday morning, and hat
gone TO the post Office 10 mail n lcttc
TO our father, telling him TO expect N
Monday noon. Behind the barn was
large oak tree from whose trunk {
| long branch ran horizontally towart
| L. II. skA,,,,l .t % L. A
distance above IL The boys had beer
| pitching quoits near the tree, and, hay
ing finished the game, looked abou
for some more exciting sport Franci
| thought he saw II, so he climbed th,
tree, crept out on the limb, hung b.
the arms n moment and then dropped
with something OF u jar, to be sure, bu
safely, on the roof where he sat will
a satisfied look. lie called to Carl Il
follow him. Carl, though unwilling e
try II, was still more unwilling to nc
knowledge any superiority Of his olde
brother in that line, so he, too climbed
up, crept out, and, when he had fount
what he thought was a good place
and had called out two or tire,
times: Fran, shall strike all right2
dropped and was happy. Then the!
both called 10 Harry; Come on, Hal,
but he, overcome by the fear he ha,
felt that they would fall while attempt
ing IL, refused TO make the trial
When they began TO speak about wha
"a girl could do" grandfather cam
out Of the back door, where he ha'
been silent spectator OF the who'll
affair, patted Harry on the shoulder
assuring him that he'd more sense thai
Carl and Francis together, and bad
the climbers come down at once.
| Grandfather was man OF few words
and they obeyed. Nothing more wa
said. / returned soon after We hai
tea as usual and adjourned TO tn
library, where a genial Gre Of hickor!
logs warmed and lighted the room
Grandmother and grandfather sat II
4 their armchairs on each side OF tn
broad hearth. occupied an antiqu
chair had found In the attic, an
which | was 10 carry home for my owl
noom. Carl and Francis sat on old
fashioned crickets, while Aunt Cell
had her low willow rocker In from
OF the ERE, and Harry leaned againa
her, with her arm around his neck.
We remained silent for some me
ments, when grandfather query saio
Cecilia, hadn't you better tell the boy
the story Of the walnut rodp" W
looked up In swift surprise. The wa
nut rod spoken OF was one that ha