FOR THE LITTLE ONES

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 88, 15 April 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

FOR THE LITTLE ONES

KEEPING COOL IN DANGER

RICHARD EVERETT'S PLUCKY DEED.

My Little Friends,

The other day I saw a small girl almost killed through running In front of a quick-moving taxi. Only good work on the part of the driver averted the calamity, for he applied his brakes and swerved just in time _ to miss the child. Any sensible boy or' girl, no matter how old or how young, will not cross the road without first looking to right and left to see that the street is clear of traffic.

Sometimes I have noticed children in the middle of a road become terribly confused and frightened at the approach of a car or motor lorry. Usually boys and girls caught in such a fix start to run forward, then dar* back and commence to go forward again—they cannot make up their minds exactly what to do. Consequently they confuse the motor drivers, and the danger of their being run down is increased. The great thing to remember when in danger is to keep your head.

Hot so very long ago a nine-year-old boy who lives in Nova Scotia, on the coast of Canada, was able to save his father simply because he remained calm when he saw danger approach. The Bay of Fundy is a place noted for its treacherous currents and quickly rising tides. Mr. Leonard Everett was a fisherman, and out in the Bay he was collecting lobster pots in his motor boat, when a sudden eddy swept the small craft into a hole iih the wall of the nearby breakwater. From the beach young Richard Everett saw what happened, but instead of getting into a panic and rushing about crying for help, the boy realised that he must act— and act quickly—if he was to prevent his father from being drowned.

From the beach he pushed a small punt into the water and rowed quickly through the network of currents to his father's aid. Within the hole the tide was rising quickly, and Mr. Everett knew that unless he could get out of the hole to safety the breakers would soon sweep in and batter his boat to pieces. Even before the, punt nosed its way into the hole the bow of the motor boat was stove in and the tiny craft commenced to sink. The plucky boy helped his. father aboard, and, exerting all his strength, forced the punt away from the breakwater and through the turbulent waters of the bay to the beach. The fisherman is very sure that he owes his. life to the fact that nine-year-old Richard faa* his head. And so, my little ones, I would J . ■ hi' "" -Efa you to think over this Canadian J J boy's plucky act, and remember to always keep cool at the approach of danger. - -