The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-07-08
THF YOUNG FOLKS COLUMN
INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
NATTER FOR THE YOUNG.
He Couldn't be Soldier but he Was
: Nevertheless a Hero-Exactness of
Speech-A Billiard BaII-Reute of
the Spanish CaraveIs,

In London there is a Children's Hos
pital, in which people of wealth and
public spirit take great deal of inter-
est The Prince and Princess Of Wales
sometimes visit It; and when, not long
ago, the cornerstone of great new
wing to the hospital was to be laid,
the heir to the throne was ready to
lay it. But instead of choosing the
prince to perform this work, it was
decided to entrust it to some one else
not a person Of greater rank, for it
would have been impossible to find
such an one in the kingdom except in
the person Of the queen, who does not
lay corner-StoneS. The person chosen
was poor boy, ten years old, named
Johnny Hart, who was one Of the pa
tients in the hospital.
JOhnny'S story was this: He is the
son Of a brave soldier, and he had a
great ambition to become a soldier
himself when he grew up. He often
talked of it, and his eye flashed with
pride when he thought of fighting for
his country.
By and by it was discovered that
something was the matter with one of
his legs. He was a poor boy, and he
was taken to the Children's Hospital.
He suffered much pain, but as he lay
on his bed he often told his doctors
and nurses that when he was big
enough he should be a soldier, like his
father. His pale face would flush and
his eyes sparkle again as he talked
over the prospect Of going into the
army.
Presently the doctors discovered that
his leg could never be cured, and that
it was necessary to amputate it. This
would forever put an end to JOhnny's
ambition to be a soldier. No one in
the hospital had enough courage to
tell him of the doctors decision.
At last the ether was administered
to Johnny, and his leg was removed.
He awoke. and learned what had been
done. No more dreams of soldering
for Johnny Hart!
His nurses feared the result; but
they need not have done so. Johnny
had not the ambition to be a soldier
| without a soldiers heart. He proved
himself as true an hero as ever stood
up in battle by the courage with which
he sustained this crushing blow. ~ :s,g
Hardly a word Of DISAPPOINTMENT
submissive in all that was done for
| him.
Before long he got upon his crutches,
| and really helped to cheer up the hos
pital with his brightness and good ma
| ture; and he never said a word more
| about becoming q soldier.
And then, as the day was drawing
| near for the laying the cornerstone
| Of the new wing, the thought was sug-
| gested to the managers, 'Why not let
little Johnny lay the corner-stone?'
N!othing could be more appropriate
IAN that it should be done by one of
.ne children, and no child within its
Walls was more worthy than Johnny
Hart
| So he laid the stone in the presence
of great throng, which included some
famous people; and won more renown
| by this honor, perhaps, than he would
ever have won if he had become SOL
der; for many a brave private does
| ais duty manfully for years without
ever hearing the mention Of his name
outside his company or at roll-call
There are Children's Hospitals in this
| country which are deserving of support
| and honor as this one in London, and
| in them there are boys who have tax
! en- the amputation of leg or an arm
as bravely as he. These boys, perhaps,
when they get upon their crutches, are
almost proud Of them. regarding them
selves as somehow little distinguished
Above their fellows. But the chance
for the display of heroism will surely
come to them even if they suffer lit
tie pain.