Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-10-26
A Little Here,


little story land a true one it is) for the Lit
tie Pilgrim, childs paper. She got the
facts fron an incident described in the Hart
ford Daily Times, some years ago, as hay
Ing happened in Colts Meadows;
In the city Of Hartford, Connecticut, lives,
the hero of the true history am about to
relate--but no longer little as the perilous
adventure, which made him for time fam
ous in his native town, happened several
years ago.
Our hero was then bright active hoy Of
fourteen--the son of a mechanic. In the
severe winter of l8--, the father worked in
a factory, about mile and half from home,
and every day the boy carried him his din
ner across wide piece of meadow land,
One keen, frosty day, he found the saow
on this meadow nearly two feet deep, and
no traces of the lttle footpath remaining,
Yet he ran on, as fast as possiblet plunging
through the drifts-keeping himself warm
by vigorous exercise, and brave and cheer
full thoughts.
When in the midst of the meadow, fully
half mile from any house, he suddenly felt
himself going down, down, down! He had
fallen into 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 we'll as he went down. One end of
this was on the bottom Of the well, the other
rose about four feet above the surface of the
water,
The poor lad shouted for help until he
was hoarse and almost speechless, but all in
vain, as it was impossible for him to make
himself heard from such depth, and at
such distance from any house. So at last
he concluded that if he was to be saved at
all, he must save himself, and begin at once,
as he was getting extremely cold in the
water. So he went to work.
First he drew himself up 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 off his coat.
and taking out his pocket knife, cut off his
boots, that he might work TO greater advant-
age. Then, with his feet against one side
of the well, and his shoulders against the
other, he worked his way up, by the most
! fearful exertion, about half the distance to
the top. Here he was obliged to stop, pause,
take breath, and gather up his energies for
the work yet before him. Far harder was
it than all he had 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 all the way up.
1t was almost Q hopeless attempt, but il
was all he could do. And here the little
hero lifted up his heart TO God, aud prayed
feFyeatly for help, fearing he could never
get out alone.
Doubtless, the Lord heard his voice call
ing from the deeps, and pilied him. He
wrought no miracle to save him, but breath
ed into his heart a yet larger masure of calm
ness and courage, strengthening him to worl
out his own deliverance. IL is in this way
that God eftenest answers our prayers, wher
we call upon him in lime Of trouble.
After this, the little hero cut his way up
ward, inch by inch. His wet stocking
froze TO the ica, and kept his feet from slip
ping, but his shirt was quite worn from hi
shoulders ere he reached the top.
He did reach il at last. crawled out int
the snow, and lay down for moment I,
rest painting out his breath in little whit
clouds on the clear frosty air.
lie had been two hours and d-haJf an III
,s,a, Ills cIot'Ics soou ffoze TO his body
but he no longer suffered with the cold, Al
full of JOY and thankfulness, he ran TO IN,
factory, where his good father was waiting
and wondering.
The poor man was obliged to 40 withou
his dinner that day, but you may be sure b,
cared little about that, while listening witt
tears in his eyes TO the thrilling story hi
son had related TO him.
He must have been very proud of the
boy that day, as he wrapped him up in BIZ
own warm overcoat, and took him home tc
fmother.
And how that mother must have wep
and smiled over tho lad, and kissed him
and thanked God for him
! RonFISG.-Never find fault with girls
} very young girls in particular, if they ar,