"Do you feel any burns, bruises?
whereabouts are you injured, do you think ?" "Something--a falling beam, I suppose, grazed my head and struck me on the shoulder; I think, too, that my hands and face are scorched." "Yes, your face is; and your hands--scorched?
why they are badly burned! And your collar bone's broken.

That's all, I believe; enough to satisfy you, I hope ?" "Quite," Eddie returned with a faint smile.

"Don't cry, mother dear, you see it's nothing but what can be made right in a few days or weeks." "Yes," she said, kissing him and smiling through her tears; "and oh, let us thank God that it is no worse!" Eddie's adventure created quite a stir in the family and among outside relatives and friends, he was dubbed the hero of the hour, and attentions were lavished upon him without stint.
He bore his honors meekly.

"Mother," he said privately to her, "I don't deserve all these encomiums and they make me ashamed; for I am not really brave.

In fact I'm afraid I'm an arrant coward; for do you know I was afraid to rush in among those flames; but I could not bear the thought of leaving that poor baby to burn up, and you had taught me that it was right and noble to risk my own life to save another's." "That was not cowardice, my dear boy," she said, her eyes shining, "but the truest courage.