[A BRAVE YOUNG SCHOOL-TEACHER.]
In a town in the Rockies, a short while ago, a young girl, who taught in the little school-house of the place, performed an act of heroism worthy of the highest commendation. One of her small scholars had a pet antelope, a sweet, docile, little creature, that followed its mistress to school, remaining quietly near the door during class hours. One day it lay as usual near the door, lazily basking in the sunlight, while the children pored over their studies. Suddenly there came a light thud and a scream. There, with his fore feet crushing the little creature, crouched a big mountain-lion, savagely switching his tail from side to side, and eying the children. The little tots, screaming wildly, ran to the furthest corner, huddling there in a heap.
The teacher, although pale with fear, did not for a moment lose her nerve, but searched the room for some means of rescuing her little scholars. Hanging on the wall near the door was a shot-gun, and she determined to obtain it, although to do so she had to pass the lion. Summoning all her courage, she advanced down the room, facing the savage beast, who stopped tearing at the antelope and growled ominously. Nothing deterred in her purpose, however, she passed by him and took the gun from off the pegs. The lion turned his head, and curiously watched her as she retreated up the room again. The gun being empty, it was necessary to return to her desk to procure some shells and load it. Savage with blood, the lion left the antelope, and prepared to spring upon the group of children. He made one leap over the benches, which landed him in front of the teacher's desk, and his eyes catching sight of her, he changed his purpose, and swinging around, was about to spring upon her. Noticing this, the teacher, who had been watching for a good opportunity to shoot, instead of waiting for him to make the leap, walked quickly up to him, and before the astonished brute could recover she placed the muzzle of the gun in his ear and pulled both triggers. The recoil knocked her over, and she fell to the floor senseless. The gun did its work, however, for the lion's head was almost blown to pieces, and the brute lay a quivering heap on the floor. The children ran screaming down the road, and men hastened to the school-house, to find the brave girl recovered, but wildly trembling. After learning the circumstances, they seized a chair, and seating the girl in it, carried her, with the dead lion, through the town, cheering and praising her brave act.
[FREDDY'S FIRST-OF-APRIL RESOLUTIONS.]
"One by one our good old customs are going to the wall,"
Said little Fred, "and pretty soon we'll have none left at all;
So I'm going to keep All-Fools' day, just because I think we should
Not idly let it lapse into innocuous desuetude.
"I'm going to see that father gets a paper one year old;
The napkins I am going to pin up tight in every fold;
The sugar I shall mix with salt, and see that Bridget bakes
Some batter-covered flannel disks to serve for griddle-cakes.
"A purse upon the sidewalk then quite unobserved I'll fling,
And when folks stoop to pick it up I'll yank it with a string.
I've cut a lot of strips of cloth to pin to passers-by,
And every pompous man I see I'll make look like a guy.
"Beneath a battered ancient 'tile' I'll slyly place a brick
To stub the toes of thoughtless men who give a passing kick;
I'm going to tell the teacher a new boy has come to school,
And when he asks the pupil's name I'll call out 'April Fool!'
"I think a little nonsense of this harmless home-made kind
Is just as good for growing boys as some that's 'more refined,'
Affected by the modern race of little school-boy prigs
Who look with scorn on tag and tops and kites and Guinea pigs."
H. G. Paine.