National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-09-03
for the Aunne.
4 Little Hero.


cut lives the hero of the true history
| an about to relate,-but no longer
little, as the perilCus adventure,
which made bi4n fer time famous
iu his native town, happened several
years ago.
Our hero was then bright active
boy of fourteen, the son of me-
chanio. In TIE severe winter of 1S-,
the father wc.ked in a factory, about
mile anG d Eaif from home, and
every day the boy carried him his
dinner, across o wide piece Of mead
ow land.
! One keen, frosty Cay, he found the
snow on the meadow nearly two
feet deep, and no traces oi the little
footpath remaing. Yet he ran on as
fast as possible, plunging through
driftS,-keeping himself warm by
vigorous exercise and brave cheerful
thoughts.
When in the midst of the meadow,
fully half g mile from any house, he
suddenly telt himself going down,
down, down He had fallen into
well! lie sank down into the dark
ice water, buG arose Immediately to
the surface. There he grasped hold
of IL plank, which had fallen into the
well as he 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
speechless, but al in vain, as it was
impossible for him to make himself
: heard from such depth land at such
distance from any house. So at
last he concluded that if he was to
he saved at all, ,he must save himself,
and begin at once, las he was getting
extremely cold in the water. So he
went to work.
First he drew himself upon the
plank and braced him3elfagainst the
top of it and the wall Of the we'll,
which was of brick and quitesriooth.
!, Then he pulled off his coat, md TAX.
ing out his pGclletknife, cut off his
; boots, that he might work to great
; er advantage. Then, with his feet
, against one side OF the wall, and his
: shoulders AGAINST the other, he
i. worked his way up, by the most
fearful eEertior, about half the dis.
! tance to the top. Here nc was
- obliged to pause, take breath, and
= gather up his energies tor the work
y vet before him. Far harder was il
. 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 tor bis fingers, slowly and
=, carefully all the way up.
q 1t was almost hopeless attempt,
. but it was all he could do. And
= here the little hero lifted up his
i heart to God, and prayed fervently
y u for help, fearing he could never get
=. out alcue. Doubtless the Lord heard
- his voice, calling from the depths,
- and pit.ed him. He wrought nc
- - miracle to save him, but breathed in
~ ~ to his heart n yet larger measure oil
~ calmncss and courage, strengthened
!, him to work out his own deliverance
"a 81 1t is in this way that God ottenest
"a answers Out prayers, when we cal
~ upon him in time of trouble.
10 After this, the little hero cut his
way upward inch by inch. His wet
Ia stockings frozc to the ice and kept
VI VI his feet from slipping, but his shirt
, was quite worn from his shoulders
= ere he reached the top.
w -, He did reach il at last,-crawlet
4 out into the snow, and lay down fOl
NJ NJ u moment to rest, painting out hi
Nv -, breath in little white clouds on th'
an frosty air.
: +" He had been t,co hours ard a hal
I'll IN the lcot}! !
~ His clothes SCon fr0ze to his body
rma m but he no LONGER suffered with til,
ri cold, IA full Of JOY and thanlfulness
~ he ran to the factory,Where his 2oot
moa w. father was waiting and wondering
~ The poor mar was obliged 10 g
49, without his dinner that day but yol
vi may be sure he cared little aboa
no that, while listening, with tears il
IN. nus eyes W ilc titlii'hS 9VoiS hiS 'o'
~" had t. rel.. TO him. He must hav
~ been very proud Of the boy that day
inf as he wrapped him up in his ow
rI warm ovcrccat, and took him HON
to his mother
or And how that mother must hav
w. w. went and kissed him, and thanke
tcr r God for hint Little Pilgrim.