HAD THE CURIOSITY TO PICK UP THE RAGS 72 FINIS 74 NOTE. THE materials of heroism are everywhere; each day and all situations are full of them. The power to recognize them and the will to use them make the hero. He who saves life, no matter how obscure, how poor, how ignorant he may be, has a value which can never belong to the spiller of blood; and the crimson glories of war fade before the white honors of peace. This little story, which was originally contributed to the "Youth's Companion," has sought to teach the young people of America something of the grandeur which waits upon a brave deed, and something of the beauty of supreme self-sacrifice. E. S. P. W. H. D. W. [Illustration] A LOST HERO. The express from Columbia was due. It was almost nine o'clock on Tuesday night, the 31st of August, 1886. It had been a hot day, sultry toward night, and the loungers at the Summerville station were divided between pitying and envying their neighbors on the excursion train. In such weather, home seems either the most intolerable or the most comfortable place in the world. It had not rained for six weeks, and South Carolina panted. [Illustration: "THE ENTERPRISE OF THE SUMMERVILLE MERCHANT."] There was a larger crowd than usual at the little station to see the Columbia excursionists come in. The enterprise of the Summerville merchant who placarded the pine-trees of this forest village with legends to the effect that his ice-cream would be found "Opp. the depot," was well rewarded that scorching night. The streets thronged--if Summerville streets can ever be said to throng--with warm and thirsty loungers of both sexes and of every color. South Carolinians though they were, they objected to the heat of that day. [Illustration: "IN THE GROUP AT THE STATION STOOD A WHITE BOY."] In the group at the station stood a white boy, about ten years old,--a neatly dressed, well-behaved little fellow, with an expression of crushing and delightful responsibility. He wandered back and forth restlessly and proudly from the track to a tree in the square, where an old horse and wagon were fastened with unnecessary security. The boy tested the halter, and patted the horse continually. It was a very important thing to drive two miles in the dark for one's father and bring him home from the nine o'clock express. Add to this situation the excitement of an excursion, and Donny de Mone felt that life lacked nothing more to the position and the dignity of manhood. Besides, Donny was very fond of his father, and had not seen him for two weeks. [Illustration: "THE BOY TESTED THE HALTER, AND PATTED THE HORSE."]