150. Fear.—Some persons are always brave. In danger they calmly stop to think, and then know how to save themselves. A timid person does not think, but rushes where his feelings lead. When a crowd is in danger, all will rush to do one thing. All will run for a door, and perhaps tread on one another. Then some one will surely be hurt. At a fire, or in any other danger, you should always stop to think how to act. If you rush with the crowd, you may be hurt. You will be more likely to be safe, if you stay away from them. Then, if help comes, you will be able to receive it. Besides, if you are cool and brave, you will help others around you to be brave too.
151. Fire drill.—In schools the children are taught how to go out of the building when there is a fire. A bell is struck when the children do not expect it. Then every child must leave his seat at once and march out of the building. The bell is struck every few days. Then, when the bell really sounds for a fire, the children know how to march out quickly, and so they learn to be brave.
By training we can learn to be brave at all times. We fear many harmless things, and in many cases do not fear real dangers. We are liable to be hurt at any time. We are more liable to be hurt by a horse when we are out driving than we are by the dark. Yet we do not fear the horse, while some do fear the dark. We ought to learn to think, so as to control our fear.
Some are afraid of the dark, some are frightened by ghost stories, and others expect to see a wild animal jump from behind every bush. No one fears these things unless he has been told about them. We ought to be careful not to tell children of these things. We ought to teach them to control their fear.
152. Habit.—After we have thought about a thing a few times, its hold on our memory becomes strong, and leads us to think about it often. When we have done a thing a few times, we are likely to do it again without knowing it. We call this doing things over again habit. When we once form a habit, we find it very hard to break. We can form habits of doing right or of doing wrong. We can get into the habit of swearing or of drinking by doing these things a few times. Then we shall do these things when we do not want to. When a drinker begins, he does not expect to keep on drinking. But his habit makes him drink, and he cannot help it. We should be careful not to do bad things, for we easily form the habit of doing them.
153. Good habits.—We can form habits of doing right. We can speak kindly and be generous. Then we shall do these things as easily as others get cross. After a person has tried to do good a few times, he will find it much easier to do good. Then he will speak kindly and give generously just as easily as others get angry and keep their good things to themselves.
154. Alcohol takes away thought.—Alcohol affects and weakens the cells of the brain sooner than it does those of any other part of the body. It first makes the thought cells weak. Then a person does not think how he acts. He lights his pipe in the barn and throws the match in the hay. He drives his horse on a run through a crowded street. He swears and uses bad language. He gets angry at little things and wants to fight. He seems to think of himself, and of no one else. He is happy, for he does not think of the bad effects of the drink. He has a good time, and does not care for its cost. He likes to drink, because it makes him feel happy.
155. Alcohol spoils motion.—Some cells of the brain cause the arms and legs, and all other parts of the body, to move. Alcohol next makes these weak. Then a person cannot move his legs right, but he staggers when he walks. He cannot carry a full cup to his lips. His hands tremble, and he cannot take care of himself. He is now really drunk.
156. Alcohol takes away feeling.—After a man is drunk, he loses the sense of feeling. He does not feel cuts and blows. Because he does not feel tired, he feels very strong. He often sees two things for one, and hears strange noises. The whole brain at last gets weak, and cannot act. Then the drinker lies down in a drunken sleep, and cannot be waked up. Some die in this state.
157. Insanity.—When the brain is misused by alcohol for some time, it cannot get over it. Then the person becomes insane. Drink sends more persons to the insane asylum than all other causes put together.