The weekly Ottumwa courier., 1860-05-10
a Eitila Hero.


the hero of the true history am about to re-
late-but no longer 'little," as the perilous
adventure which male him for time famous
! in his native town, happened several years
ago.
Onr hero was then bright active boy of
! fourteen the son of mechanic In the
severe winter Of lS-, the father worked in
a factory, about mile and a half from his
home, and very day the boy carried him
his dinner across a wide piece of meadow
| land.
One keen, frosty day he found the snow
on the meadow nearly two feet deep, and no
traces ofthe lttle-foot path remaining. Yet
he ran on, as fast as possible, plunging
through drifts keeping himself wa-m by
vigorous exercise and brave, cheerful
! thoughts.
When in the midst Of the mcadow-fjIl'v
half mile from any house, he suddenly felt
himself going down, down, down! He had
fallen into well!
lie sank 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 of the well-the
otherrose about four feet above the surface
Of the water.
The 7oor la1 shouted for healp until he
was hoarse and almost speachless, but all in
vain, a. it was impossible for him to make
himself heard for such a debth. ani at such
distance from any house. SO at last he
: concluded that if he was to he saved at all
nc must save himself, and begin at once, as
he was getting EXTREMITY cold in the water
So he went to work.
| First, he drew himself up the plank AMI
brased himself against the top Of it and the
wall of the WELL which was of brick and
quite smooth. Then he prlled off his coat,
and taking out his pocket knife, cut off bis
boots that he might work to greater advan-
tage. Then, with his feet against one side
OF the wall, and his shoulders against the
other, he worked his way up, by the most
fearful excrlion, about half the distance to
the top. Here he was oblioel to pause,
take breath and gather up his energies for
the work yet before him. Far harder was
it than al he had gone through, for the side
Of the well being from that point completely
covered with ice he mu 1t cut with his knife,
graspng places for his fingers, slowly and
carefully, all the way IN.
:, 1t was almost a hopeless attempt, but it
was all thai he could do. AMI here the lit
tie hero lifted up his heart to God and pray
, ell fervently for help, fearing he could new
er get ont alone.
) Doubtless the Lord heard his voice, calling
from the dceps, and ptied him. He
. wrought no miracle to save him, but breath
ed into his heart a yet larser measure of
calmness and courage, strengthened him to
work out his own deliverenca. II is in this
way that God oftenast answers our pray
ers, when we call upon him in time of
trouble.
After tins the little hero Ell. his way up-
ward inch by inch. His wet stockings froze
to the ice AMI kept his feet from slipping, but
his shirt was quite worn from his shoulders,
, ere he reached the top.
He did reach it at last-crawlel out into
the snow, anl lay down for moment to
rest-panting out his breath, in little white
clouds, on the clear frosty air.
lie hal been too hours ant h1It' IN the
,cell
His clothes soon froze to his body, but he
no longer suffered with the cold, as full of
joy anl tllan<fnlness, le ran to tn, factory,
where his good father was waiting anl won
, dering.
| The poor man was o',ligedto q, without
his dinner that day, but you may be sure he
cared little about that, while listening with
tears in his eyes to the thrilling story his son
hal TO relate to him.
| lie must have been very proud of the boy
that day, as he was, wrapped him M in his
own warm ovorcoat, and took him home to
mother"
And how that mother must have wept and
; smiled over the lad, and kissed him and
thanked God for him
have not heard Of the 'littlo hero" for
two or three years, but trust he is growing
up into brave, heroic man, and hope he
will never forget the heavenly friend who did
not forget him in the hour of his great
need.
There is an olisaying that truth lies at
the bottom of a well.
trust that this brave boy founl and
brought mp from there this truth-God
helps those who help themselves.
An Irish housemaid, who was sent to call
a gentleman to dinner, found him engaged in