Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-10-29
A LITTLE HERO.

In the city of Hartford, Conn.,, lives the
hero of the true story [ am about to relate
but no longer "little," as the perilous adven-
ture which made him famous in his native
town happened several years ago.
Our hero was then bright active boy of
fourteen-the son Of mechanic. In the Sc
we're winter of 1885, the father worked in
factory, about mile from his home, and ev-
cry day the boy carried him his dinner across
a piece of meadow land.
One keen, frosty day he found the snow on
his meadow nearly two feet deep, and no traces
of the little footpath remaining Yet he ran
on as fast as possible, plunging through the
drifts, keeping himself warm by vigorous ex-
ercise, and brave, cheerful thoughts.
When in the midst of the meadow, fully
half mile from the house, he suddenly felt
himself going down, down!
He had fallen into we'll. He sank down,
down into the dark, icy water, but rose i'm
mediately 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 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 a distance from
any house. So at last he concluded that if he
was saved at all he must save himself, and be-
gin 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 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 his
boots, that he might 60 to work to greater ad-
vantage. Then, with his feet against one side
of the we'll, 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. For harder was it
than all he had gone through, for the side
being from that point covered with ice, he
must cut with his knife grasping places for
his fingers, slowly and carefully all the way up.
1t was almost a 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 cut
his own deliverance.
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 slipping 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 to rest,
painting out his breath in little white clouds
on the clear frosty air.
He had been two hours and half in the
we'll. His clothes soon froze to his body, but
he no longer suffered with cold, as full of joy
and thinkfulness, he ran to the factory, where
his father was waiting and wondering.
The poor man had to 60 without his dinner
that day, but you may be sure he cared little
about that, while listening with tears in his
eyes to the thrilling story his son had to re.
lated to him. He must have been proud of
the boy that day, as he wrapped him in his
own warm overcoat, and took him homo to
"mother" And how that mother must have
wept and smiled over the lad, aud kissed him
and thanked God for him.
I have not heard of the "littlc hero" for two
or three years, but trust he is growing up
into a brave, heroic man, and hope he will
never forget the Heavenly Friend who did
not forget him in the hour of his great need
There is an old saying that truth lies at the
bottom of we'll.
I trust that this brave boy found and
brought up from there this truth: "God helps
those who help themselves"
MAxIMs-Never be idle. If your hands
cannot be usefully employed, attend to the
cultivation of the mind. Always speak the