DOWN A MANHOLE
If Willie Duncan had played where his mother told him to play, he would not have fallen down a manhole; neither would he have had a narrow escape from losing his life by being buried in the snow.
But Willie was only four years old, and therefore not so much to blame as an older boy would have been.
The street cleaners were dumping the dirty snow from the street into a manhole, which opened into a big drain. This drain carried off the rain in summer and the snow in winter.
While the shovelers were at work, Willie toddled across the street. Before the men near the manhole could stop him, he disappeared into the opening.
“Bring a ladder!” some one shouted. But there were no ladders in that street of crowded houses.
“Turn in a fire alarm!” some one else cried—and this was quickly done.
The men knew that firemen always bring ladders, and that they perform many other duties besides putting out fires.
While they were waiting for the ladder, Frank Brown came running up. Now, Frank was only twelve years old, but he was a boy of quick wit and great presence of mind. Only the summer before, he had jumped into the river from a pier to rescue a small boy from drowning.
“Let me go down and get him out,” cried Frank to the workmen.
The men tied ropes about the daring boy and lowered him feet first into the manhole.
Meanwhile, they could hear poor Willie crying bitterly down there in the soft, cold snow.
“Where are you?” called Frank.
“Here I am in the snow,” came a wee voice from the darkness.
Frank caught the half-frozen little boy in his arms, and both were quickly pulled to the surface.
Willie was hurried off to the hospital to be treated for exposure; but Frank was none the worse for his adventure.
While all this was happening, an accident befell the fire patrol which was rushing to Willie’s rescue. The patrol motor-truck ran into a bakery wagon. The driver of the wagon was thrown out and hurt. Both the wagon and the patrol truck were damaged.
Wasn’t it fortunate for Willie that day that Frank Brown knew what to do, and did it?
When the people praised Frank, he said, “Oh, that was nothing. I am glad I could help the poor little chap—but I would have gone down there to save even a kitten, wouldn’t you?”
QUESTIONS
Since it took some time for the fire patrol to reach the manhole after the accident, what would have become of the little boy if Frank had not been a hero?How would you like to go down into a dark, cold manhole to rescue somebody?Tell what you know about Hero Medals—those of Andrew Carnegie, and others.Do you think that Frank was a Boy Scout? Why?
Since it took some time for the fire patrol to reach the manhole after the accident, what would have become of the little boy if Frank had not been a hero?
How would you like to go down into a dark, cold manhole to rescue somebody?
Tell what you know about Hero Medals—those of Andrew Carnegie, and others.
Do you think that Frank was a Boy Scout? Why?
1. A scout is trustworthy.2. A scout is loyal.3. A scout is helpful.4. A scout is friendly.5. A scout is courteous.6. A scout is kind.7. A scout is obedient.8. A scout is cheerful.9. A scout is thrifty.10. A scout is brave.11. A scout is clean.12. A scout is reverent.