Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-06-10
A Hero in Everyday Life

S ~itSi has SAID, The courapa r.
the commonplace is greater than -
courage Of the crisis" Ano,he,
menting on this thought, adds Go
haps, yet the two are one. The S.
for the great ordeal, if it be pe,r;.1
must spring from something i, -.
character that did not generate :.
moment" The following little s.,-
so aptly illustrates the second wri,a,,.
conception of courage, the abili,v =
meet the great test, whether !, :.
snort and sharp or long and soul.v.,
ing, that it seems worth telling
A few months ago there died :,
remote Western ranching commuD;,,
young man of about twenty four n.y..
though unknown and unhonorod 80
in the hearts of the little prorr az.
witnessed his unfaltering COURAGE n
nevertheless, in the truest sense =,
the word, hero.
He was country lad, and. aI,bo,o,
! he had lost his right arm u,bo. ."
youngSter, he shared in most of -.
outdoor activities of his ranch bor,.
and made a favorable showing :, -.
ooyish feats that he and his chums ..
gagged in. He never seemed to cor
slider that the loss of his arm enti,,e,
him TO immunity from farm work u
could drive a team ard was ,ooI
rider. He had the coolest head 49,
steadiest nerve in handling colts and
unbroken horses. When the o,bo.
boys hesitated about trying Dad
one" he would say, "You fellows o;~s
me chance. | can ride this OF or,
law" 1t was no idle boast, for h.
generally did.
He was of a social disposition. ,au
and looking. People peneron..
liked him. Contentedly he followa1
his round of work and recreation. He
was the normal outlook of a coun,-.
boy reared amid simple surroundin,,
and loving them for their wholesome
| sturdiness.
Suddenly came the knowledge that
death, not life, was before him M,
a swift, merciful death that could be
met at the food of emotion and hiOb
valor as soldiers meet it in battle. Mr.,
slow, furtive death whose appro,cb
he must watch and wait for MGR.
than five years before the END the doc.
tors gave him up; for three, he WIS,
recluse. Afflicted with LINGERING
cancer, he was always in discomfort
often in acute pain.
When his mother would ask, "Weu
how are you to-day" he would re.
ply cheerily, ooh, just feelin' rne.- or.
mot quite so stout, but still ponp
strong, mother" He never complain.
ed.
At first he was able to attend III.
small social affairs Of the nciphbor.
hood and to mingle with the Young pco.
pie as before, but as the disease al
vanced he had to forgo even those
simple pleasures. Gradually weak.
ness compelled him to quit the little
task that had helped to pass the time.
Reading was his chief diversion, varied
by car ride or a visit with one Of
the few friends he continued to see.
10 one used to the changing outdoor
duties of the ranch this enforced seclu.
sion and inactivity were doubly irk.
some. But the grit that had mad.
him stick to the bucking ponies and
the patience and endurance learned
during long, monotonous days of sheep
herding did not now desert him. He
met death with the same quiet courage
with which he had awaited it.
Here was real heroism. There was
no sudden burst of spectacular
bravery, the result, perhaps, of the
stimulus that some high-Aaming mo.
ment gives, or of the desire to win
the admiration and applause of rs
friends. This young man had in him
the real stuff of heroes, the slow
growth that follows daily battles OF.
securely but valiantly waged, the win.
ming OF which gives also victory over
self.
10 the few who knew Of this modest
young mans sturdy pluck and bh:
courage, he stands forth a shining in.
Spiration. The pity of il is that he
never could know that anyone so re-
earded him. Such bravery merits
more substantial reward even on earth
than a laurel wreath upon a grave.
BE Saving With Gasoline.
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