Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-03-31

hrcplhcc' Win an ola sword aud two
muskets that had seen service at
Bunker Hill and Yorktown. Often had
we, In boyish curiosity, asked what Il
was, and why II was kept there, tied
by piece OF faded ribbon 10 one OF the
antlers, but had always been put off
with "by and by" and when you are
older" Now, when we saw a chance
TO know about II, we chorused. "Ohi
yes, Aunt Celia, do tell, please" aud
she, quietly saying; II suppose they
can learn its lesson now" began,
II was os you know, tho only girl OF
the family, and also tho youngest
child, your father being two years
older. There were few neighbors
when we first came here TO live; In.
decd, our nearest was fully a quarter
OF n mile away, 50 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 tho land and In It's care,
Accordingly Henry and were much
together We studied the same book
Mt our mothers knee, played with the
same toys and were together so much
that tho older boys sometimes called
us mothers two girls hut your ia
Their, though tcudcr and gentle In ap-
pearance, had brave heart under his
little Jacket, and knew better than
they that no was no coward. They
called him so sometimes, thinking, be-
cause he seemed fearful about some
things they counted trillcs, that
he really had no courage I'm afraid
boys have forgotten nowadays TINT
nero daring Is no test Of truo courage.
Here, Francis and Carl felt their faces
grow hot, but Aunt Celia said no more
and went on:
1t was ono day in April, very like
today, that we all went upon the side
hill TO pick May flowers Henry was
nearly twelve years old, his birthday,
as you know, is next month, and I WINS
ten, u had always been n habit, when
people went out In the spring for ilow.
ers, to cut stout stick, TO be used
partly as n walking stick, and partly
rs u protection against snakes, which
were often seen, but which usually es.
capped before they could DO reached.
Old people told of rattlosnnkes that
used 10 be seen, but they wero very
scarce, even then, and mono of us had
ever seen one,
"Wo all had sticks cut from q bunch
OF hickory saplings that grew beside
tho path, and your uncle Elijah said,
IA we were going along: i wonder
what lion would do 10 he heard n rat.
tlcsnalSe; turn pale and faint away, I
guess at which the others laughed
loudly, but Henry said nothing, though
! saw his lips culver ut the taunt
1--WE found the flowers, thick and
beautiful, Just ns you have this weel,.
We picked all we wished ate tho lunch
which mother had put up for us, and
were sitting on n large, fiat stone, talk.
Ing OF starting for home. | saw a bit
OF pretty moss under some twigs at the
edge OF the stone, and stepped down 10
yet IL, when suddenly peculiar
whir'r-r, that wo never had hcH-ai be
fore, struck our cara Ill the boy,
started up, lookinss about eagerly ri,
ousnesN my side parted slightly, ant
! ..s fattencd head OF u large rattle
snake protruded. and again came thaI
dreadful sound. Then the boys jumped
from the rock, each In different direc
tion. and screamed, rather than cried
Jump, celia, it's n rattlesnnlte.'
~ could not move. | must have beer
paralyzed by fear, for, though wa
but n child, | could not misuudcrstapt
my danger. OF course, what I am tell
ing happened in few seconds, but
remember hearing tho swish that
stick makes when IL cuts through thu
air, and the horrible head, with III
forkcd, vibrating tongue, was severed
from the writhing body and fell nj MI
feet
Harry had quietly stepped down by
my side, and with his stick. the on,
you sec on the antlers yonder, hnI
saved me from dreadful death There
he stood. pale and trembling 20 be sure
but with such light In his blue eyes
that none OF his older brothers dhret
ever call him coward, or girl, again
We walked quietly home, bringing tn,
body with It's horrible horny scales, 4
show 10 father and mother shall
never forget how they claspcd us II
their arms as they listened 10 the story
and how | wondered, as n child will, Il
rybody, 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, tho scorn Of sclf-protcc'
tlon when another needed help, and
they have been better for IL ever since.
Your father has never had tho story
told TO you. thinking that sometime 1,
might also teach yon the lesson that
! Ia. Ia
Latin cor, and down through tho
French occur, Is both below and abov,
any outward manifestations, and be
longs 10 the heart
1.-THE snake must have come out In
10 the sun from his den under the rock
and was not rs active rs In warmer
weather, or the bite would have fol
lowed tho first alarm. There hni
never since been seen another In thii
locality"
We sat In silence for awhile, ant
then grandfather spoke. laying hi
hand on IIarry's curls: ~ seem TO see
my boy Henry again In his son, Harry
I hope no will grow up into tho sam,
brave, though tender, manhood OF hi
father, and remember, boys" he said
turning toward Francis and Carl
that rocklessncss and a desire 10 b,
thought bold and daring are not an In
dex OF true courage and often have M
connection with II. II the walnut 70,
teaches you this lesson, It's story will
be Of great value 10 you. h. Col
well, In American Agriculturist
The jury in the ease Of Robert j. Ca
cndon, aged 10, on trial for the murdC
Of Policeman Elmer Findley, at Phili
dclphin, have been discharged, they b,
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