Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-09-17
A Little Hero.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

>O@'NN>NsASN@tt
lives the hero of the true history am
about to relate,-but no longer little"
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 fourteenth son of a mechanic. In
worked in factory about mile and
half from his home, and every day the
boy carried him his dinner, across a wild
piece of meadow land.
One keen, frosty day, he found the
snow on this meadow nearly two feet
deep, and no trace of the little footpath
remaining. Yet he ran on as fast as pos
sible, plunging through drifts, s,-keeping
himself warm by vigorous exercise and
brave, cheerful 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 we'll
He sunk down into the dark ice 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 rested on the bottom of
the well, the other rose 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 to make
himself heard from such depth, and at
such a 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 it was getting extreme
ly 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 we'll, which was
brick, and quite smooth. Then he pull
ed off his coat, and taking out his pock-
ct knife, cut off his boots, that he might
work to greater advantage. Then, with
his feet against one side of the well, 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 long
breath, and gather up his energies for
the work yet before him. Far harder
was it than all he had yet 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 hopelese attempt, but
it was all that he could do. And here
the little hero lifted up his heart to God,
and fervently prayed for help, fearing he
could never get out alone.
Doubtless the Lord heard his voice,
calling from the deeps and pitied. He
wrought no miracle to save him, but
breathed into his heart yet larger mea-
sure of calmness and courage, strength
ening him to work out his own deliver
ance. 1t is in this way that God often
est answers our prayers, when we call
upon him in time of trouble.
After this the little hero worked his
way upward, inch by inch. His wet
stockings froze to the ice and kept his
feet from slipping, but his shirt asquite
worn from his shoulders ere he reached
the top.
He did reach it at last, ,-crawled out
: into the snow, and lay down for mo.
! ment to rest, painting out his breath in
|, little white clouds on the clear frosty air
He had been two hours and half in
t the well
His clothes soon froze to his body, but
d he no longer suffered with the cold, as
e full of joy and thankfulness, he ran tc
!, the factory, where his good father was
n waiting and wondering.
It The poor man was obliged to go with
# out his dinner that day, but you may be
: sure that he cared little for that while
+ listening, with tears in his eyes, to thu
v thrilling story his son had to relate t.
h him.
e He must have been proud of the boy
n that day, as he wrapped him up in hi
le own warm overcoat, and took him home
% to mother"
e And how that mother must have wep
l. and smiled over the lad, and kissed him
Ic and thanked God for him!
IS Whenever you buy or sell, let or hire
ID make clear bargain, and never trust t.
" ave shan't disagree about trifes."
Is
! If you want your neighbor to know