JULIA’S PRESENCE OF MIND

It is well to know what to do in case of fire.

Julia lived with her mother in an old-fashioned house on the edge of the town. Her mother was a widow and worked at the village store, while Julia stayed at home and took care of her little sister. Her mother trusted her and felt that her little one was safe so long as Julia had her in charge.

Julia would read to her little sister out of her story books, then she would tell her fairy tales, and talk to her about obeying her mother, and growing up to be a good girl. She never told her ghost stories or any stories to frighten her, and never let her be afraid of the dark, and she never threatened to “tell mother on her when she came home.”

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.”