The times., 1899-12-24
HEROIC DEEDS OF CHILDREN.
Instances Where They Have Been
More Prompt Than Grown People.

(From tie Philadelphia Tim-s.)
Probably the most precocious hero on
record is a tiny boy called Leonard Web
ber. aged five years. who several days ago
received a certificate Of honor from the
Royal Humane Society for saving from
drowning the life OF his little brother,
aged three years The children were play
ing with some other boys on the edge OF a
pond when the younger Weber fell into
the water. The others. frightened by the
incident. took 10 their heels. but Leonard
without the slightest hesitation, plunged
in and rescued his brother from a watery
death The youthful hero. who is a bright
intelligent youngstsr, seemed 10 think
nothing Of his brave feat. and there can
be litLe doubt that be is OF the stuff which
has gone so far toward building up the
mighty empire to which he belongs.
Quite as remarkable was the case which
comes from a remote corner Of Russia,
where boy OF nine years actually pos
sessed the teTmeriJy 10 tackle a great,
gaunt wolf that had azsailed a tiny play
mate as the latter lay asleep. The rescuer
seized an ak that Chanced to be lying on
the ground. where it had been left by
woodman, and gave battle TO the wolf. who.
finding himself thus attacked. promptly
abandoned his murderOus intentions and
trotted of into the woods So silently was
the splendid deed performed that the sleep
er slept on through its performance. and
il was only when ne aWOke soon after
ward that he heard how narrow an escape
he had run from a terrible death.
Russia has indeed been the scene Of much
youthful heroIsm. Some years ago, when
a peasant woman was sitting with her li,tle
daughter. aged about eight years at supper
the curtains which divided the living room
in which they sat from the adjoining bed
room caught fire through the explosion Of
an oil lamp The mother sat dumfoUaded
not knowing what TO do, but her daughter
child as she was. possessed more presence
of mind for. seizing knife, she climbed
upon chair, cut down the blazing cur
tains, and then smothered the flames with
the hearth rug.
In two minutes time the fire. which
might have developed into yeritable con-
ilcgration. was eEtingUished, and the
whole business was carried out by the I'm
aided pluck of q mite Cf eight years. For
tuuately she escaped with nothing worse
than several trivial burns. and her brave
conduct was the talk of the village for a
long time afteTward
Even burglars have found themselves
wcrsted BIZ children little more than ba-
bies and in Nottingham. not so very long
ago. a burly disciple of Bill Sykes was sub
duei and captured by the action of a
schooIboy Of twelve. The boy slept in a
Tiny room adjoining his fathers apart
ment and was awakened one December
night by sounds of a struggle frCm the lat
ter's chamber Without an insJaHt's hest
tation the child seized a poker and gliding
on tiDtoe into the room found his father
in the grip Of a massive burglar who was
gradually choking him.
Quick as thought the hog init the rufiaH.
once. twice, thrice, upon the head with
the result that he lcJsencd his grasp ON
the fathers throat and fell TO the Eo0r
stunned and helpless. Ten minutes later
ne was on his way TO the police station,