The Lamar register., 1901-12-25
BRAVE FELIX.

Felix ROSerS parents uieu WheH he
was a very small boy. He had no
brothers or sisters, and his only rela-
tive, an aunt, his mothers sister. al
though a poor widow who was Obliged
to work hard to provide for her own
family, kindly took him to her humble
home.
She had five children-Alice, George,
May, Lizzie and Leon-and Felix made
the sixth Felix was at the head OF
his class; he was very bright and
learned rapidly. They all went to
public school. When Felix was four
teen years old he still lived with his
aunt, but she was not SO poor as she
had been when Felix came to live with
her. Her uncle had died and left her
small sum of money, but quite
enough to live comfortably without
work. Felix was a strong, tall. good
natured fellow. His honesty and
truthfuness made him a great favor
ite with all his school fellows and all
who knew him. One day at lunch
hour, as he was walking home from
school, fire engine passed, but fires
are so numerous in a large city that 1t
did not attract the children's atten-
tion. From the distance Felix noticed
a crowd gathering around the apart
ment house in which he lived. AS he
drew nearer this is the scene that met
his eyes: Several of the fire engines
at work, men shouting. women scream
ing. children sobbing. and thick. black
smoke pouring from the doors and
windows, while firemen were climbing
ladders and people coming down the
fire escapes.
In the midst of this horror Felix saw
child at an upper window. The fire.
men were afraid to get it, as they
thought the wall might fall at any
minute Felix looked again. the child
was in the third story; she was lit
tie girl about four years old. Felix
was about to run up ladder when
policeman said, roughly: See here,
young man, don't go up there, or you
will be killed sure. One dead is better
than two" II will save her if no one
else will" and up he dashed through
the smoke before the astonished police
man could stop him. Felix was as quick
as flash; he took the child on his
arm and descended rapidly. He reach
ed the sidewalk in safety and heard
the policeman mutter: HE is
pucky boy. l am policeman. and I
wouldn't have done it; neither would
the tiremen. and everybody knows
they are brave"
Three minutes later. with a crash
that was heard many blocks. the wall
fell down; nobody was hurt. for the
policeman ordered the people to
stand back" which they did in
hurry. The next day Felix's name was
in the newspapers, with long ac-
count of his bravery. The mother of
the child he rescued was Mrs. Rich
mond, a wealthy lady. She did not
live in the fiat house, but her nurse
girl went there to see her sister and
took the child with her. When the
fire broke out she ran to save herself
and forgot about the little girl. Mrs.
Richmond went to see Felix's aunt.
and with her consent she adopted
Felix. She had lost son about Felix's
age. and Mrs. Rogers knew Felix had
a good home. a loving mother and
dear little sister. He would go to
college. and some day might become a
great man. Yet she was very sorry to
let him go. as she loved him as II he
were her own son. but she thought,
He will have a good education and
chance to he a lawyer or write great
books, and If he stays with me he soon
will leave school and have to work
for his living" Was she not unsel-
fish? Felix never forgot his aunt's
kindness, and by and by when she
moved to the country and three of
her children went to college some peo-
pie thought 1t was Felix's doings, and
perhaps 1t was. So we see, whether
boy is poor or rich he can always be
kind and loving and help others
Edna Frances Dessar in Milwaukee
Sentinel.