St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-09-25
A Little Hero.

In the city of Hartford. Conn.,. lives
the her" of the true story am about Il"
relate hut II" longer little A. the
pcrilnu~ adventure which made him
famous in his native town happened
SEVERAL wears ago.
our her" WAS then Il bright active
hoy of fourteen the son of Il mechanic.
In the severe winter ot I-:EJ. the father
worked ia II factory. about Il mile from
his home. and every day the boy car
licd him his dinner across Il piece of
meadow land.
Ouc keen frosty day he found the
STOW ON his meadow nearly two feet
deep. and nn tIICc~ at the little foot
path remaining. Vet he ran on as fast
rs p"~>ihlr. phmging through drifts.
Lrcpin" himself warm 10y NI%uIo'> cN-
"rri>'.. and brave. cheerful Thoughts.
When in the midst of the m,.IdoN.
fully hall Il mile from the lr"H~c. he sad
denly felt himself going down. down,
He had fallen int" Il we'll. lie sank
down. down into the dark. icy water.
bat rose Immediately To the surface
There he gr;I>p,G hold of Il plank which
had fallen into the we'll rs he went
down. Ouc end of This rested ON the
inuI feet above the surface, of the water.
The poor lad shouted for help until
hr Was huaI>c and almost Spccchlc>>
hut all in vain. ~ il waS impossible 10
make himself heard from such Il depth.
and at such distance from ANY house.
80 AT last he concluded that if he was
saved at all he must save himself. and
begin at once. rs he was getting cX-
irn,.IN cold inihc water. SO he went
Ia work.
First he drew himself up the plank
and hraccd himself against the top If
II and the vail of the we'll. Whiri, Wal
"t liirk and quite >m"oih. Then he
pulled oil his coat. and taking ont his
p"ckct knife he cut oil his boots. that
h,. might 90 To- work Ia greater ad,an-
tagc. Then, with his feet against on.
side "t the we'll. and his shoulders
against he other. he worked his WAY
Hp. hN the most fearful cNCItiuIi. about
half the distance 1" the top. Here he
was Obliged To pause, to take breath
and gather up his energies i"i the work
Vet h,iorr him. Far har,lci WAS il tl:u
all he had gone through. for the side.
being from shat point covered with ice.
he must cut with his knife. gra>piug
places for his fingers. slowly and :'alc-
luill all the way mp.
1t WIS almost Il hopeless attempt. hUt
II was all he could do. And hclc the,
little her" lifted up his heart l." toni
and prayed tcrvcntll Ion help. fcaIing
that he could never get ont alone.
Doubtless the Lord heard his voice.
calling from the deep. and pilicd him.
lie wrought Ia" miracle. t" save him.
lat he hrcathrd int" his heart Il Vet
i,r:,,r measure of calmn,.>> and courage.
strengthening him I" VOL, "ut hi> own
dcliVcrancr.
After this The little her" cut his WAY
upward. inch 10y inch. His wet stock
ing, iruIc To the ice and kept his t,"f
from slipping. hut his shirt wa~ quite
worn from his shoulders ere he reached
the top.
He did reach 1t at last crawlr,l ont
int" the SNOW. and lay down for u no
mrnt to rest painting ont his breath in
little white clouds on the clear frosty
air.
lie had been two hnul> and a-hait in
the we'll
His clothes soon fyuIc 10 his bod .
blt he no longer suffered with cold. rs
fall ot Joy and thankflIlnc>>. he ran to
the factory where his father WAS wait
iug and wondering.
The poor man had To =" without his
dinner that day. hut You may he sure
he cared little about that. while listen
m" with tears in his eyes +" the thrilling
story his son had /" relate l." him.
He must have been proud OF the boy
that day. a> h" wrapped him III his owl!
warm over coat. and took him home to
"mnrhrr.
And how that mother must have weep;
and smiled "\cI the lad. and kissed him
;urd thanked tod for him.
have not heard of the, little hero
iuI tW" "r three Ncai>. but Trust he Is
CROWN" up into u brave. heroic man.
;ud hope he will ncNcr forget tn,
Heavenly tricud via" did n"t forget him
III the hour oi his great need.
There is an old SAY in" that truth lie
al the bottom of Il we'll.
trust thai tins brave boy fouad Hno
hl"u%ht up from there This truth:
'H'"d helps lh">c VIII" help themselves.
Gtdcc GttcHToo,i