The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1894-06-09
A Brave child.

49, .... 4 Brave Child.
The circus was quite full, and the
cage with the lions was wheeled for
ward so that every body might see the
child who had tanned the wild beasts.
The door of the cage was opened, and
slim, graceful child walked in,
dressed in snowy iincry, pale blue
tights and spanglcs with n little blue
rap resting on flowing golden hair. \
low soft whistle from the baby month,
and the beasts came slowly and sub
missivcly forwards; they cringed at his
feet, and licked the pretty little hands.
Obcdicnt to voice and eye, first one
lion danced and then the other, and
then one sprang through u. hoop the
boy held up. The delighted specta-
tors applauded; the wild beasts were
lsed to the lights and the perform
rnccs which had been going on for
The last fortnight. The little child in
The bright tights and tinscl had grown
used to the animals; his danger was
nevcr thought of. "llc is used to it"
said one woman in the crowd; lit is
his living"
"And very fearful one" answered
4 man, land don't like to see such a
fragile baby with such wild animals"
A wild shrek! Was it o part of the
performance? "Laric, Laric," the
child screamed, as the animals
crOuchcd down and glared on him
ready TO spring. 'Larie, save me-"
Are the lions getting angry, that
they gnash their teeth and sniff round
the child, or has something gone
wrong in the performances, Cor the
child has terrified look on his face?
One of the wild brutcs prepares TO
spring, while a low, deep @rowl breaks
from the throat of the other one. The
spectators hold their breath; women
faint: not one man in the large assem-
bly, is brave enough TO go forward to
the child's assistance. The huge
beast prepares to spring on the child,
and there is a dead silence, for n
child's life is in peril, A iluttcr and u
rush a. q boy in nightshirt springs
into the cage. lie has fair, flowing
hair like the other child. He
whistles softly and the lion
listens, and let's him remove
his claws from the child's neck. Is
there TO be a struggle between the
two children and the lions? The
Younger child has tainted, and ut last
somebody removes him from the cage,
with blood streaming from his neck
Softly the child in the night shirt con-
tinues whistling. and he never re-
moves his eyes from the wild beasts;
he knows how dangerous it is to let
his glance wavcr from them, and, if
he shows any sign OF fear, it viii be
his death. His hand trcmbles; the
boy looks very i'll; but, walking back
ward, ut last he gets out of the cage
and shuts the door, Then the fright.
ened, silent crowd stand up, and press
forward TO take the boy.
''You brave child" W oman cries,
with tears in her eyes 'Hou brave
boy" said big, burly man; you
have more pluck than all of us put to-
gether"
The child stood still, trembling
from head to foot.
Il DFaVc' NO, III Is my Twin SlStcl
who is brave; because | am i'll, she
puts on my clothes and told father
she would take my place, for we
could not shut up the circus"
WAS it n girl?' many exclaimed.
Don't let her do il again!" us she
hurt?" ''lIow old was she?" Question
after question was asked.
Rosie is 10, and She shall never do
It again!"
Nor you either, my little man." in
terrupted somebody, 'for such cruel
performance does not give pleasure,
now we know how dangerous it is.
So here" he said, addressing the
crowd, 'let us make collection for
brave little Rosie"
And in less than n quarter of an
hour nearly 500 was given to the
father, on condition that he would
never allow the children's lives TO be
endangered again by any perform
ance.
Left Auntie Out.
Little Mary has always been devoted