The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1875-02-10
A LITTLE HERO.

/
adventure which made famous in his native
town happened several years ago.
Our hero was then bright active boy
Of iourteen--the son of a mechanic. lr
the severe winter Of 1885 the father work.
ed in a factory. about mile from bis
home, and every day the boy carried bin
bis dinner across piece Of meadow land
One keen frosty day, he found tie snow
on the meadow nearly two feet deep. and
no aces Of the little footpath remaining
Yet be ran on US fast as possible. plungine
through the drifts, keeping himself warm
by vigorous exercise aud cheerful thoughts.
" hen in the midst Of the meadow, full
ly halfa mile from the house, he sudde lily
ie.t himself going down, down! @
lie had fallen into n well. He sank
down. down into the dark icy water, but
rose Immediately TO the surface. There
he grasped hold Of a plank winch had fall
len into the well as lie went Gown. One
end Of this resting on the bottem Of the
well--the other RISE about four feet above
the surface Of the water.
The poor lad shouted for help nntil he
was Loar+e aud almost speechIess, but all in
vain. as il was impossible TO make himsel:
heard from such a depth, aid at such II
distance from any house. SO u. last he
concluded that il he was saved Il. all, he
must save himself. and begin at once. as
he was getting extremely cold in the wa
ter.
First he drew himself up the plank. and
Traced himself up against the top Of it aha
the wall of tue veil, which was of brick
and quite .mooth. Then be pulled of his
coat, and. taxing out his pocket Knife. lie
cut Of hls boots, that he might 20 To work
to greater advantage. Then, with his feet
against one side OF the well. aud his shoul
ders against the other, he worked his way
NJ. by the most fearful exertion, about
half the distance to the top. lie was O..
bliged 10 pause to take breath aud gather
mp bis energies for the work yet before
him. lar harder was it than all lie bad
gone through. for the sides being from that
height covered with ice. lie must. with his
knife Gu: grasping places for his fingers,
slowly aud carefully all the way up.
II was hopeless attempt. but it was all
that be could do. Aud here the little he
70 lifted up his heart to God and prayed
feryently for help. fearing that be could
never get out alone.
Doubtless the Lord heard his voice, call
from the deep. aud pitied him. lie
wrought no miracle to save him, but lle
hreathed into Ills heart vet larger meas
ure Of calmness and courage, strengthen
ing him to work out his own celiyerance.
After this, the little hero cut bis way up.
ward. inch by incf. His wet stockings
froze to the ice. aud kept his feet from
slipping. but his shirt was quite worn from
his shoulders ere he reached the top.
lie did reach 10 ut last-crawled out in.
to the snow, and laid down for a moment
to rest--lantiDg ont his breath in little
white clouds on the clear frosty air.
lie had been two hours aud half 10 the
we'll. @- s....
His clothes soon froze TO his hody, but
he no luager suffered with cold. rs full Of
joy and thankfuluess. be ran to the factory.
where bis father was waiting aud wonder
ing
The POOR man had to 20 without his din
ner that day. bat you may be sure he
cared little about that. while listening
with tears ir his eyes 10 the thrilling story
bis sou had to relate TO aim.
lie must have been proud Of the boy
taat day. as lie wrapped him IN his own
warm oyervuat aud took him home 10 no-
ther.'
And how that mother must have wept
and smiled over the lad, and kissed hin
aud thanked God for him.
have not heard Of the little hero for
two or three years. but I trust he il grow.
ing up Into brave. hero rnan. and ! hope
he viii never forget the heavenly Friend
who did not forget him 10 the hour Of his
crest need.
There Is an old saying that truth lies at
the bottom uf we'll.
trust tbai this brave boy found aud
br ,ught up IRON there this truth: 'tiod
helps those WHO help themselves. '--Grtce
GfecHtrOod.
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