St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-01-08
A Little Hero.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

BY GRACE GREENWOOD.
In the city of Hartford. Conn. lives
the hero of the true stony | am about
to relate, but no longer little. as the
pcrilous adventure which made him ft
nous in his native town happened Sev-
eral Years ago.
Our hero was then IL bright. active
boy of fourteen -thc son ola mechanic.
In the severe winter of 1875 the father
worked in Il factory about Il mile from
his home, and every day the boy cal
ried him his dinner across Il piece ot
meadow land.
One keen. frosty day he found the
snow on this meadow nearly two feet
deep. and no traces of the little foot
path remaining. Yet he ran on as fast
us possible, plunging through drifts.
keeping himself warm by vigorous eN-
ercise, and brave, cheerful thoughts.
When in the midst of the meadow.
nearly half Il mile from home, he sud
denly felt himself going down. down !,
He had fallen into Il well. He sank
down, down into the dark. icy water.
but rose Immediately to the surface
There he grasped hold of Il plank which
had fallen into the well is he went
down, one end of this rested on the
bottom of the well. the other rose
about four feet above the surface of
water.
The poor lad shouted for help until
he was hoarSc and almost SpeechlesS ::
but all in vain. as it WAS impossible to
make himself heard from such Il depth
and ut such Il distance from any house.
So at last he concluded that if he WIS
saved at all he must save himself. and
begin at once, as he was getting eX-
tremely cold in the water. so he went
to work.
First he drew himself up the plank.
and braced himself against the wall of
the well, which was of brick. and quite
smooth. Then he pulled of his coat,
and taking ont his pOcket-kmitc he cut
off his boots that he might go to work
to greater advantage. 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 fear
full eXertion, about one half the dis
tancc 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 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 Il 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,
He breathed into his heart yet lar
ger measure of calmness and courage.
strengthening him to work out his own
dcliverance.
After this our little hero cut his way
upward inch by inch. His wet stock
ings frOZe tn the ice and kept his feet
from slipping, but his shirt was quite
worn from his shoulders ere he reach
ed the top. He did reach it ut last
crawled out into the snow. and laid
down for moment To rest. painting ont
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 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, hut you NAV he sure
he cared little about that. while listen
ing with tears i'll his eyes to the thrill
ing story which his son hal "a relate to
him.
| have not heard of the hero for
two or three Years, hut trust that he
is growing np into u brave, heroic man,
and | hope he will never forget the
Heavenly Friend who did not for
get him in the hour of his great
need.
There is an old saying that truth lie,
at the bottom of a well.
trust that this brave boy found and
brought up from there this truth God
helps those who help themselves"