East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-10-01
A Little Hero.

In the city OF Hartford, Connecticut
lives the hero Of the true story | am
about TO relate--but no longer little, v
as the perilous 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 a mechanic. In
tho severe winter of IS, the father
worked in factory about inile and a
half from his home, and every day the
boy carried him his dinner, across wide
piece Of meadow land.
One keen, frosty day he found the snow
on the meadow nearly two feet deep, and
no traces Of the little oot-patl remain
ing. Yet he ran on as fast as possible,
plugging through drirts--kceping him
self warm by vigorous exercise, and
brave, cheerful thoughts.
When in the midst of the meadow
fully half mile from any house, lac sud
denly felt himself going down, down,
down! he hdd fallen into weW
lie 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 lie went down.
One end of this rested 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 speeches., 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
to be saved at all he must save himself,
and began at once, as he was extremely
cold in the water. So he went to work.
First, he threw himself up the plank
and braccd 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 advantage. 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 exertioR,
about half the distance to the top Here
he was obliged to 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 hopeless attempt, but it
was all that he could do. And here the
little hero lifted up his heart to God and
prayed lervently for help, fearing he
conId never get out alone. ..'
Doubtless the Lord heard his voice,
calling from tho deep, and pitied him.
He wrought no miracle to save him, but
breathed into his heart yet larger meas
ure of calmness and courage, strengthen
ing him to work out his own deliverancc.
1t is in this way that God oftenest an
swers our prayers, when we call upon
hin, in tiuIv Of t,vuJlv. ~ ~.
After this, the little hero cut his way
upward inch by inch. His wet stockings
froze to. the ice and kept his feet from
slipping, but his shirt was quite torn from
his shoulders, ere he reached the top.
lie did reach it at last-crawled out
into the snow, and lay down for moment
to rest--panting out his breath, in little
white clouds, on the clear frosty air.
Hehdd been t'cO hours and a half IN the
weH
His clothes soon froze to his body
but he no longer suffered with the cold,
as, full of JOY and thankfulness, he ran
to the factory, where his good father was
waiting and wondering.
The poor man was obliged to go with
out his dinner that day-but you may be
sure he cared but little about that, while
listening, with tears in his eyes, to the
thrilling story his son had to relate to
him. . -...
He must have been very proud of his
boy that day as he wrapped him up in
his own overcoat, 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 "little hero"
for two or three years, but trust he is
growing up into brave heroic mainland
| hope he will never forget the Heavenly
Friend who did not forget him in the
hour of his greatest need
There is an old saying that truth lies
at the bottom of well. 40
/ trust that this brave boy found and
brought up from there this truth--God
helps those who help themsclves.--- Grace
Greenwood