The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-11-05
A Little Hero.

Little Hero.
In the city of Hartford, Conn, lives
the hero OF the true story [ am about to
relate-but no longer SO little" as the
perilous adventure which made him IA
nous in his native town happened sew
eral years ago. 421 a.-
Our hero was then bright, active
boy of fourteen-the son of mechanic
In the severe winter of 1885, the father
worked in factory, about mile from
his home, and every day the boy carried
him his dinner across a piece of
meadow land.
One keen, frosty day he found the
snow on the meadow nearly two feet
deep, and no traces of the little foot
path remaining. Yet he ran on as fast
as possible, plunging through the drifts,
keeping himself warm by vigorous ex-
ercise and cheerful thoughts.
When in the mist of the meadow,
fully half mile from the house, he sud-
denly felt himself going down, down.
He had fallen into a well. He sank
down, down into the dark icy water, but
rose Immediately to the surface. There
he grasped hold Of plank which had
fallen into the well as he went down.
One end Of this resting 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 all in vain, as it was impossible to
make himself heard from such depth,
and at such distance from any house.
So at last he concluded that if he was
saved at all he must save himself, and
begin at once, as he was getting ex-
tremely cold in the water.
First he drew himself up the plank,
and braced himself against the top of it
and the wall of the we'll, which was of
brick and quite smooth. Then he
pulled off his coat, and, taking out his
pocket knife he cut off bis boots that he
might 60 to work to greater advantage.
Then, with his feet against one side of
the well, and his shoulders 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 to take breath and
gather up his energies for the work yet
before him. Far harder was it than all
he had gone through, for the sides being
from that height covered with ice, he
must with his knife, cut grasping places
for his fingers, slowly and carefully all
the way up.
It was almost q hopeless attempt, but
it was all that he could do. And here
the little hero lifted up his heart to
God and prayed fervently for help,
fearing that he could never get out
alone.
Doubtless the Lord heard his voice.
calling from the deep, and pitied him.
He wrought no miracle to save him, but
he breathed into his heart yet larger
measure of calmness and courage,
strengthening him to work out his own
deliverance.
After this, the little hero cut his way
upward, inch by inch. His wet stock.
ings froze to the ice and kept his feet
from slipping, but his shirt was quite
worn from his shoulders ere he reached
the top. IL %4 81
He did reach it at last -crawled out
into the snow, and laid down for mo
ment to rest-panting out his breath in
little white clouds on the clear, frosty
air. ~ 1911
He had been two hours and half in
the well. ~ -O 81 +.
His clother soon froze to his body,
but he no longer suffered with cold, as
full of Joy and thankfulness, he ran to
the factory, where his father was wait
ing and wondering.
The poor man had to go without his
dinner that day, but you may be sure
he cared little about that, while listen
ing with tears in his eyes to the thrill
ing story his son had to relate to him
He must have been proud of the boy
that day, as he wrapped him in his owl
warm overcoat and took him home tc
"mother." loIe
And how that mother must have weep
and smiled over the lad, and kissed hin
and thanked God for him.
/ have not heard of the "little hero
Tor two or three years, but I trust he il
growing up into brave, heroic man
and I hope he will never forget thu
heavenly friend who did not forget hin
in the hour of his great need.
There is an old saying that truth Ee'
at the bottom of well.