The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-12-19
a EittIe Hero.

Grace Greenwood writes the following little
st0ry-and true one it s-for the Little Pill
grim, chiid's paper She gets the facts from
an incident described in The Hartt0rt DGiI1
ISn1tS 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 'tttle,' as the perllous adventure,
which made him fer he time famous in his ma
tive town, happened several years ago. Our
| hero was then bright, active boy, OF fourteen
! years-the Son OF a mechanic. In the severe
winter OF Is, the father worked in Il factory,
about mile and half from the house, and
every day he boy canned him his dinner, across
Il wide piece Of meadow lard.
One keen frosty day, he found the snow on
TINS meedoF nearly two feo. deep, and no traces
OF the little foor-path remaining Yet he ran
on, as fast as possible, plunging through drifts
keeping himself warm by the most vigorous ex-
ercise, aid brave, cheerful thoughts,
When i'll the midst of the meadow foil half
mile from any house, he suddenly felt himself
going down, down, down! He had fallen INTO
well! lie sunk down into the dark, lev wa
ter, but arose immediately to the surface There
ne graSped hold OF plank which had fallen
into the we'll as he went down One end of
this rested on the bottom OF the well, while the
other-lose 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
1t was impossible for him to make himself heard
from such depth, and at such distance from
any house 81 at last he concluded tina if he
was to be saved at all, he must save himself,
and began at once as he was getting extremely
cold III the water. So he went 10 work
First he drew himself up to the plank, and
braceJ himself at the top OF it and the wall of
I "a hRrSlE - l.
come quite smooth. Then he pulled off his coat,
and taking cut his pocket knife cut off his boots
that he might work to greater advantage. Then
with his feet against one side of the wall, and
his shoulder 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
pause, take breath and gather up his energies
tor the work yet before him. Far harder was
1t than all he had gone through, for the side of
the wall being from that point completely COW
cred with ice, he must cut, with his kuife grlst
ing places TOT his fingers, slowly and carefully,
all the way up.
1t was almost a hopeless attempt, but it was
all that he could do. And here the little hero
lifted up his heart to God and prayed fer
Vently tor help, fearing he could never get out
alone.
| Doubtless the Lord heard his voice calling
from the deep, and pitied him. He wrought
no miracle 10 save MIN, but breatbed into hls
heart yet larger measure of calmness and cour.
age, Strengthening him to work out his own de-
! liveranCe.
After this the little hero cut his way upward
inch by inch His wet stockings froze to the
ice, aud KEPT h feet from Shipping, but his shirt
was quite worn ON his shoulders ere he reached
the top. He did reach it at last-crawled out
into the snow, and lay down moment to rest,
painting out his breath in little white clouds on
the clear, frosty air.
He had been taco hours and half in the ,oeU !
His clothes soon iroze to bis body, but he no
longer suffered with the cold, as, full of 10y and
thankfulness, he ran to the factory, where his
good father was waiting and wondering
The poor man was obliged TO 90 without his
dinner that day, but you may be sure he car ed
little about that, while listening with tears in
his eyes to the thrilling story his son had to re-
late TO him.
He must have been very proud Of the boy
that day. as he wrapped hum in his own warm
ovefcoat. and took him home to mother.
And how that mother must have wept and
smiled over the lad, and kissed him, and thank
ed God tor him.