281. Composure in Danger.
In a large school, the pupils were assembled and busily engaged in their work, when there was a sudden alarm of fire. As usual, terrible panic immediately ensued. In wild confusion, and with shrieks and cries, every one darted to the doors of the school-room, forming a mass so dense as to render escape absolutely impossible to many. In the struggle to get out several of the children were seriously injured, and one young lady, a teacher, rushed to an open window and jumped out of it. Throughout this scene of confusion, one girl - one of the best conducted in the school - maintained her self-composure and remained seated on the bench where she had been when the alarm commenced, without once moving. The colour had indeed forsaken her face, her lips quivered, and some tears rolled slowly down her cheeks; but not one cry, not one word escaped, and there she sat, silent and motionless as a white marble statue, till all danger was declared to be over. After order had been restored, and her companions had been brought back to their places, except those who were too much hurt or too much frightened to resume their duties for that day, the question was asked her how it happened that she had been so composed as to sit still when everybody else was in such a fearful state of fright. Her reply was, "My father is a fireman, and he has told me that if ever there was an alarm of fire in the school, I must just sit still. I thought of his words, and did as he desired me, and this was what made me stay quiet."