The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-23
> Pride Before the Fall @


 "Oh, nothing" Arthur answered lightly. "only I was just wondering how long it would take you to swim the ocean and how you'd get some thing to eat and drink. I guess the ocean is more than a thousand miles wide and"
 "Is that so? Is that sol" exclaimed their tormentor. 'sWell, wouldn't mind that I could swim a hundred miles in one day-maybe 0 thousand If I was in 8 hurry. But I'd take 1t easy and--and-I'd carry some sand wiches on my back and when I got thirsty I'd just drink right out of the ocean all I wanted tol" "It's salt water." cried Arthur. "you couldn't drink thati" "Oh yes I couldi like salt water, dol In fact, never feel like I've had a good drink If 1t hasn't got any salt in it. Say. want to see me hop all around those squares? I bet you I can do 1t hundred--no, a million times! Here goesr' And "Bluster Bobby started off. hopping lightly from one square to the next. a look of scorn on his face. He made the circuit in a moment or two; then he started around again--but not so fast this time. Again he returned to his starting place and began the third lap.
 But he wasn't hopping in a lively manner now, Indeed not! He was panting for breath, his face was flushed and the foot he'd been holding off the ground began to feel as though 1t weighed 8 ton.
 l Suddenly he stopped, leaned down, put the foot on the ground and began to feel with it.
 You're touching the ground" cried Arthur. That isn't fair!" "Hunh!" gasped the bully, though | he hadn't much breath left with which | to gasp. "Is-is that SO? We'll, I'm not! I-I-Im just tying my shoe! 1 Guess I-I-got right toto tie my shoe, aint IT"
 | He strengthened up-much relieved 1 by even this brief rest-and began to hop again.
 | All of sudden he uttered shrill cry, and went down in @ heap. He lay on the ground, squirming and twisting and grabbing at his foot (the one he had been hopping on) and shrieking in agony. | Ellen and Arthur rushed up to him. What is the matter?" they both ex- | claimed.
 "Oh-oh--ohi" yelled the bully. "I- I'm going to die-I'm going to die! IT broke my foot off! know broke it off"
 | Arthur looked down, but the foot was still firmly attached to the leg. | NC" he said-and he just couldn't help grinning g-"no, it Is still on. I guess you must have sprained your | ankle."
 "Ohl ouch! Oh-help, help! Oh my! i, Oh my! Get a Doctorn' yelled "Bluster 1 Bobby" his buster all gone, his cour- age oozing out at every yell and his whole demeanor that of the coward he 1 really was at heart.
 Just then the children's Mamma came rushing out to see what was the matter. And she picked up ''Blus- ter Bobby" and carried him into the house where. 1t was found. he had suffered nothing more than sprained ankle-and not badly sprained at that!
 Do you remember the old adage about Pride going before a fall? We'll, it seems to fit in right here, don't you think! For "Bluster Bobby" certainly was boastfully proud, wasn't he? And | he surely did fall, both actually and so far as his Pride was concerned. Somehow. too, it's always that way. Brag about something, and invariably it isn't long before everyone knows that you were merely bragging!