The little sister, who was only six years old, loved Julia very much, and did everything she was told. They often played together in the yard, and walked to the big park where they saw flowers and animals, and people enjoying themselves.
One Saturday evening Julia and her sister were waiting for their mother to come home. It was cold, and Julia had started the fire and lighted the lamp, and was getting her little sister ready for bed. The fire was burning brightly and Julia had gone into the next room to get something, when she heard her little sister scream. She ran back into the room, and saw that a spark from the grate had set the little one’s night dress on fire.
Julia did not lose her presence of mind, as many other young girls would have done, but ran quickly to the bed and pulled off the blanket, calling to her sister to lie down and roll over. The little girl obeyed promptly, and Julia ran with the blanket and covered her up, and soon smothered the fire entirely.
The little sister was burned on the arms and back, but when the doctor came in later and put some soothing ointment on the burned places he told the mother that if Julia had run screaming into the hall and cried “fire!” her little sister would have burned to death. The doctor said to the mother, “You see when the clothes catch fire you are in danger of burning the skin, and also in danger of breathing the flames. The best thing to do is to lie down and wrap up in a blanket, or rug, or carpet, and roll over to put out the flames. Then send for a doctor. Julia did exactly right and is a very trustworthy girl. And the little sister did right, too, in doing what Julia told her. I am glad you have two such fine children.”
THE BAKER BOYS AND THE BEES
One should take advantage of every circumstance in an emergency.
Andernach was a city enclosed with an immense wall which had only one gate. This was a heavy iron gate and was very hard to open. The watchman lived near the gate and as it was not opened very often had much spare time. He was very fond of honey, so one day he bought a great many hives of bees which were placed on top of the wall for safety.
Not far away was another walled city called Linto. The people of this city were enemies of the people of Andernach, and were always waiting for an opportunity to attack them. They were constantly watching to see if the gate was ever left open. One night they met and planned to capture Andernach before sunrise. They plotted to kill all the people, rob their houses and take possession of the town. When all was ready they crept softly toward the dark, quiet city. Not a sound could be heard and the watchman was fast asleep, not dreaming of any danger.
Only the bakers here rose early. They made their bread, put it in the ovens and returned to their beds, leaving small boys to watch the bread. The boys had to watch carefully to keep the bread from burning. Two of the baker boys, Hans and Fritz, were great friends and were often together. While the bread was baking they played around the ovens, but they dared not go to sleep.