"Yes," answered Dan merrily; "and long ones and short ones, and thick
ones and thin ones. Besides, if I had the strongest and biggest legs
in the world, I don't think I should be happier than I am."
"But wouldn't you like to be a hero--the same as I am going to be?"
asked Joshua.
"We can't all be heroes. You go and fight with lions; I will stop and
play with birds. I couldn't tame lions; but I _can_ tame birds." Which
he could, and did.
Dan was fond of speaking about lions because his name was Daniel; and
many and many a time had he and Joshua read the wonderful story of
Daniel in the lions' den. Joshua did not know much of the Bible until
Dan introduced it to him, and read to him in his thin sweet voice the
marvellous romances in that Book of books.
"There was a hero for you!" exclaimed Joshua admiringly, referring to
the biblical "I wonder what made him so brave."
"Because he was doing what he knew to be right," replied Dan.
"I dare say," was the acquiescent rejoinder.
"And because he was not afraid to speak the truth even to Belshazzar;
and because, above all, he believed in God. So God delivered him."
"All because he was doing right," said Joshua.
"All because he was doing right," repeated Dan. "I'm not a bit brave;
that is because I am lame, perhaps. If I was thrown into a lions' den
I should die of fear--I am sure I should; but if I was thrown into a
birds' cage, full of strange birds, I would soon make friends with
them; they would come and eat out of my hand in no time."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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