_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.”