Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-10-05
A LITTLE HERO.

ing little story land a true one it is) for
the Lille Pilgrim, ehild's paper. She
gets the facts from an incident described
in the Hartford Daily Times, some years
ago, as having happened in Colts Mea-
dows:
In the city of Hartford, Connecticut,
lives, the hero Of the true History l am
about to relate-but no longer little as
the perilous adventure, which made him
for a time famous in his native town,
happened several years ago.
Our hero was then bright active boy
Of fourteen-the son Of a mechanic. In
the severe winter Of 18--, the father
worked IN factory, about a mile and a
half from home, and every day the boy
carried him his dinner, across a wide
piece Of meadow land.
One keen, frosty day, he found the
the snow on this meadow nearly two feet
deep, and no traces of the little footpath
remaining. Yet he ran on, as fast as
possible, plunging through the drifts
keeping himself warm by vigorous ex-
ercise, and brave and cheerful thoughts
When in the midst of the meadow
fully half mile from any house, he sud
denly felt himself going down, down
down! He had fallen into we'll
He sunk down into the dark icy water
but rose Immediately to the surface
There he grasped hold of a plank, which
had fallen into the well as he went down
One end Of this was on the bottom
Of the well, the other rose abou
four feet above the surface Of the water
The poor lad shouted for help until h
was hoarse and almost speechless, but al
in vain, as it was impossible for him t
: make himself heard from such a deptl
and at such distance from any house
So at last he concluded that if be was t
be saved at all, ne must save himself
and begin at once, as he was getting ex
tremeIy cold in the water. So he wen
to work.
First he drew himself up the plank
and br4ced himself against the top of i
and the wall Of the well, which was {
brick, and quite smooth. Then he pull
ed off his coat, and taking out his poke
knife, cut off his boots, that he migF
work to greater advantage. Then, wit
his feet against one side Of the well, an
his shoulders against the other, lie worl
ed his way up, by the most fearful exc
ton, about half the distance to the tol
Here he was obliged to stop, pause, tax
breath, and gather up his energies f
the work yet before him. Far hard,
was it than all he had gone through, f
the side Of the well being from that poll
81 completely covered with ice, he must CT
with his knife, grasping places for his fl
gers, slowly and carefully all the way U
1t was almost hopeless attempt, b
it was all he could do. And here Il
little hero lifted up his heart to God, al
prayed fervently for help, fearing
could never get out alone.
1t, Doubtless, the Lord heard his vol
r" calling from the deeps, and pitted hi
He wrought no miracle to save him,
breathed into his heart a yet larger mes
ure Of calmness aud courage, strengt
ening him to work out his own delivt
ance. 1t is in this way that God ofte
est answers our prayers, when we c.
upon him in time Of trouble.
After this, the little hero cut his W
upward, inch by inch. His wet stockin
froze to the ice, and kept his feet fro
slipping, but his shirt was quite wo
from bis shoulders ere he reached I
top.
He did reach it at last, crawled out
to the snow, and lay down for nome
- to rest, painting out his breath in lit
white clouds on the clear frosty air.
he lad been t0o hours and a-half
The l0eH
His clothes soon froze to his body,
he no longer suffered with the cold,
.e3 full Of JOY and lhankiulness, he ran
n. the factory, where his good father "
=, waiting and wondering.
ID The poor man was obliged to go wi
III. out his dinner that day, but you may
=, sure he cared little about that, while
-. tening with tears in his eyes to the thr
!, ing story his son had related to him.
lie must have been very proud of
tT boy that day, as be wrapped him up
>, his own warm overcoat, and took
=, home to mother
-, And how that mother must have W
- and smiled over the lad, and kissed h
and thanked God for himl
----~~s~--
LIFE WITHOUT LoyE.-We sor