BRAVERY AND ITS REWARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 147, 23 June 1934, Page 3 (Supplement)

BRAVERY AND ITS REWARD.

(By Tim Gill. 3S. Tiiuniatn IJoad, Sandrlngham, S.W.I : ago 17.) Jeanette sat brooding over tlic fire. With her cliin in her cupped hands she gazed at the glowing embers in the giate, watching them change from pink lumps of heat to imaginary figures and shapes. Yet lier mind was far away from what she was looking at. She was wondering how she could in some way achieve recognition from a handful of friends, and thereby be allowed to jom their little group. The truth was that she was lonely, and countless little wrongs and mishaps had slowly changed lier until her disposition had become (juite melancholy. "Jeanie, come out and play with me." It was her small sister, and Jeanette's lace softened as she gazed into the pretty face with its large entreatiii" eyes. "No, Patty, I'm afraid I can't," said Jeanette, slowly rising; "I haven't done my homework yet." There was disappointment written on (lie child's face, and, anxious to please the little mite, Jeanette found herself consenting to allow her to stay in the same room while she did her work. "Only you mustn't play with anything Tatty. You must be quite good." "I'll be as good, as good, as good," returned Patty with such an air of seriousness that it made Jeanette laugh. For a while there was silence in the 100 m and Jeanette, forgetting her other companion, lost herself in her work. "Oh! Oil! Jeanie, quick," suddenly burst, out Patty in terror. "What — Oh!" And Jeanette rushed over to her little sister. The little girl was holding a sheet of paper in her hand, and it was blazing furiously. Somehow it had caught on her hand, and try as she would she could not shake it free.

"Stop! Keep it still," called Jeanette; but, alas, the warning came too late. The paper brushed against the light dress the child was wearing and it too caught alight. Quick a.s a flash the flame spread, lighting the whole material and Patty was soon a waving linger of flame. "Keep still Patty, you're all right," said Jeanette. Quickly she turned the child over and rolled her on the mat, smothering the flames. But while she was doing this the original piece of paper that had caused all the trouble and nuisance had sot alight to the sofa, which was covered with a. gay cretonne. "Oh!" It was like a wail of despair, and it came from Jeanette. How could she put that out? Surely the whole house would soon be alight. Perhaps the neighbours would hear, she thought, and immediately gave a slirill cry for help. The next minute she was splashing the sofa with water and endeavouring to stop the flames from spreading. "What's the matter?" suddenly came a voice from the door, and soon the girls from next door were running into the house. "Fire! Fire!" cried Jeanette gesticulating wildly, but these helpers were too late. Jeanette had extinguishd the flames, but only at the cost of severe burns and a terrible shock to herself. But the fire had been put out and the room remained only full of smoke and rank noxious air. "You are a brick, Jeanette. How did it happen?" said Marjory Long, turning t'.» Jeanette. Jeanette turned round. "It was Patty," she mumbled, then slowly sank to the floor. » * * * A few weeks later Jeanette found that she was quite a heroine. The story of her bravery and resourcefulness had spread like wildfire, and she was now the centre of admiring interest. Her girl friends were so eager to praise her courage and to renew their friendship with her that she 110 longer had occasion to feel lonely and depressed.