The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-10-05
A Little Hero,

Grace Greenwood wrote the following
little story--and a true one 1t is--for the
Little Pilgrim. She gets The facts from
an incident described by the Hartford
Daily Times, some years ago, as having
happened in Colts Meadows
In the city OF Hartford, Connecticut! lives
the hero OF the true history am about
to relate, but no longer "liltle," as the
pcrilous adventure which made him for
time famous in his native town, happened
several years ago.
Our hero was then bright, active boy
Of fourteen, the son Of mechanic. In
the severe winter Of l8-, the father
worked in a factory, about mile and
half from his home, ard every day the
boy carried him bis dinner across piece
OF meadow.
One keen. frosty day.he found the snow
on this meadow nearly two feet deep,
and no traces OF the little foot. path re.
naming. Yet he ran as fast as possible,
plunging through drifts - keeping himself
warm by vigorous exercises, and cLceeful
thoughts.
When in .he midst Of she meadow,
fully half mile from any house, he sud
denly felt himself going down, down =
he had fallen ino well
He sunk down into the dark, icy water,
but rose Immediately TO the surface
There he grasped hold Of plank, which
had fallen into the well as he went down.
One end OF this rested on the bottom, the
other rose about four feet above the sur.
face Of the water. ....
The poor lad shouted for help till he
was hoarSe and almost speechless but
all in vain, as i; was impossible for him to
make himself heard from such depth,
and at such a distance from any house.
So at last he concluded that, il he was 10
be saved as ALL he must save himself,
and begin at once. as he was getting *
tremely cold in the water. So he went 10
work.
First he drew himself up on the plank,
and braced himself against the top Of it
and the wall Of the well, which was Of
brick and quite smooth. Then he pulled
of his coat. and, taklag out his pocket
knife, cut off his boots, tina: he might
work TO greater advantage. Then, with
!
his shoulder against the other, he worked
his way up by the most fearful exerlion,
about half the distance TO the top. Here
he was obliged TO pause. take breath, and
gather up bis energies for the work yet
before him. Far harder was i, than he
had yet gone through for the side Of
the well being from that point completely
covered with ice, he must cut with his
knife grasping places for his fingers,
slowly and carefully ali tho oay up.
1t was almost hopeless attempt, but
it was all that he could do. And here
the little hero lifted up his heart to God,
and prayed fervently for help, fearing he
could never get out alone.
! Doubtless the Lord heard his voice calling
from tho depths, and pitiod him. IIo
wrought no miracle to save him, but brcathod
into his heart yet larger measure of calm.
moss and courage. strengthening him to work
out his own deliverance. 1t is in this way
that God answers our prayers whom wo call
upon him in timo of trouble
After this tho littlo hero cut his way up
ward, inch and inch. His wet stocking
froze to the leo ana kept his feet from slip
ping, but his shirt was quito torn from hil
shoulders orc he had reached tho top.
He did reach it at last-crawted out into
the snow, and lay down for moment to rost
painting out his breath in little white clouds
on the clear, frosty air.
He had boen two hours and half in the
we'll
His clothes soon frozo to his body. but he
no longer suffered with the cold. as full oI
Joy aud tbaDEfulnoss, no ran to tho factory
whero his good father was waiting and
wondering.
Tho poor man was obliged to go withou
his dinner that day, but you may be sure h,
cared little about that. while listening with
tears in his eyes, to tho thrilling story hi.
son bad to relate to him.
Ho must have been worry proud Of tho boy
that day, as no wrapped him up in his own
warm Ovorcoat, md took him homo ,o
mother.
And how that mother must have wop'
and smiled over tho lad, and kissed him, and
Thanked God for him