The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-08-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Little Hero,

In the city of Hartford, Connecticut.
lives the hero of the true history I am
about to relate-b1t no longer little" as
the periloas adventure, which made him
for time famous in his native town, hap
peped several years ago.
Cur hero was then a bright, active boy
of fourteen-the son of a mechanic. In
The severe winter of 18-, the father work
ed in a factory about mile and q half
from his home, and every day the boy car
ried him his dinner across a wide piece of
meadow land.
One keen, frosty day, he found the snow
on this meadow nearly two feet deep, and
no traces of the little foot path remaining.
Yet he ran on as fast as possible, plunging
through drifts-and keeping himself warm
ty vigorous exercise and brave, cheerful
noughts
When in the midst of the meadow, fully
hall mile from any house. he found HIM
self going down, down, downl He had
ksileI into well!
lie sank down into the dark ice water,
Tut rose Immediately to the surface. There
he grasped hold of a plank, which had
i;:i!en into the well as he went down One
,rI 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 speechiess, but all
40 vain, as it was impossible to make him.
self heard at such q distance from any
house. So at last he concluded that if he
was saved at all he must save himself, and
began 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 il
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 shoul.
ders 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 for the work yet before
him. Far harder was it than all he had
yet gone through, for the side of the well
with ice, he must cut with his knife grasp
ing places for his fingers, slowly and care.
fully all the way up.
1t was almost hopeless attempt, but it
was all that he could do. Ana here the
little hero lifted up his heart to God, and
prayed fervently for help, fearing he could
never get out alone.
Doubtless the Lord heard his voice, call
ing from the deeps, and pitied him. He
wrought no miracle to save him, but
breathed into his heart yet larger meas
ure of csimness and courage, strengthen
ing him to work out his own deliverance
1t is in this way that God oftenest an,
swers our prayers, when we call upon him
in time of trouble.
After this the little hero cut his way up
ward, inch by inch. His wet stockings
froze to the ice and kept his feet from slip
ping, but his shirt was quite worn from
his shoulders ere he reached the top.
He did reach it at last-crawled out into
the snow, and lay down for a moment tC
lest, painting out his breath in little white
sclouds on the clear, frosty air.
He had been two hours and half in tn,
well!
His clothes soon froze to his body, bu
he no longer suffered with the cold, as full
of JOY and thankfulness, he ran to the fac
tory, where his good father was waitin,
and wondering
The poor man was obliged to 60 withcu
his dinner that day, but you may be sur,
he cared little about that, while listening
with tears in his eyes, to the thrilling storl
his son had to relate to him,
He must have been very proud of tn
boy that day, as he wrapped him up in hi
own warm Overcoat, and took him home I,
"mother"
And how that mother must have wep
and smiled over the lad, and kissed him
and thanked God for him i-Graoe Green
GOOD