Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-25
A Little Hero.
One of Grace Grceawood's Prctt

4 OtOI fCS.
In the city of Hartford, Conn.
lives the hero Of the true story I an
about to relate, but no longer little. ;
as the perilous adventure which made
him famous in his native town happen
ed several years ago.
Our hero was then a bright. active
boy Of 1.-THE son of Il mechanic In
the severe winter of 1885 the father
worked in factory, about a mile faon
his home. and every day the boy car
rled him his dinner across piece Of
meadow land.
One keen, frosty day he found the
snow on this me adow nearly two fee,
deep. and no traces of the little foot.
path remaining. Yet he ran as fass as
possible, plunging through drifts, keep
ing himself warm by various exercises,
and brave cheerful thoughts.
When in the midst of a meadow
nearly half mile from home, he sudden.
ly felt himself going down, down!
He had fallen into a we'll lie 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 rested on the bottom of
the we'll, 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;
hnt all ia vain, as it was impossible to
make himself heard from such a depth
and at such distance from any house.
So at last he concluded that if he was
saved at al he must save himself, and
began at once, as he was getting extreme
ly cold in the water SO he went to
work.
First he drew himself up the plank
and braced himself against the we'll.
which was Of brick, and quite smooth.
Then, with his feet against the other,
he worked himself up by the most fear
full exertion, about one half the distance
to the top. Here he was obliged to
breath and gather up his energies for
the work yet before him. Far harder
was it than all he had gone through,
the side being from that point all covered
thick ice, he must cut with his knife
grasping places for his fingers slowly
and carefully all the way up.
1t was most 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 lie could never get out
alone.
Doubtless the Lord heard his voice
calling from the deep, and pitied him.
He breathed into his heart vet larger
measure of calmness and courage, and
strengthened him to work out his own
deliverance.
After this our little hero cut his
way upward inch by inch. His wet
stockings frcze 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.
crawl"d out into the snow, ard lay
down for moment to rest, painting out
his breath in little white clouds on the
clear. frosty air.
His clothes soon froze to his body,
but he no longer suffered with cold, as,
full of JOY and thankfullness, 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 listen
ing, with tears in bis eyes to the
thrilling story which his son had to
relate to him.
[ have not heard Of the "hero'' for
two or three years, but [ trust that he
is growing up into brave heroic man,
and l 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.
[ trust that this brave Soy found
and brought up from there his truth:
"God helos those who help them
selves