Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-03-17
A BOy Hero.

In the city of Hartford, Conn. lives the
hero of the true story am about to relate
but no longer lttle.' us the perilou-
adventure which made him famous in hi
native town happened several years ago.
Our hero was then an active boy Of four
teen-thc son of Il mechanic. In the Sc
we're winter of 1885. the ftther worked in
L factory about Il mile from hi, home, and
every day the boy carried his dinner across
IA piece of meadow land. One keen, frosty
day he found the snow on this meadow
nearly tive feet deep, and no trace of the
foot path remaining. Yet he ran on us
fast us possible, plunging through drifts
keeping himself warm hy vigorous cXer-
else. and brave, cheerful thoughts. When
IN the midst of the meadow, fully half Il
mile from the house, he suddenly felt him
self going down.
He had fallen into a well. 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 rs he went down. One end
of this rested on the bottom of the we'll
the other rose about four feet above the
surface of the water. The poor lad shout
ed for help until he was aim st specch'ess
but all in vain, rs it was impossible to
make himself heard from such II depth.
and ut such 4 distance from any house
SO ut last he concluded lh,t if he was saved
at all he must save himself, and begin III
once. us he was getting extremely cold i'll
the water. 50 he went To work.
Firs; he drew himself up the plank, and
braced himself against the top of it IN
the wall of the we'll. which was of hric k
and quite smooth. Then he pulled off hi
coat, and taking ont his pocket knife he
cut off his boots that he mi yht 90 to work
TO greater advantage. Then. with his feet
against one side of the well. and hi
shoulders against the o;her, he worked his
way up by the most fearful cXcrtion, ,bout
half the distance to the top. Here he was
obliged t" pause to take breath. and gather
up his energies for the work Vet l.ciorr
him. Far harder was it than al he had
gone through. for the side being from that
point covered with ice, he must cut with
his knife gr:spinG places for his fingers
slowly and Garcia lv. all the way up 1t
Was almost u hopcleS, Il tempt, bu thai
WAS all he could do And here the little
hero liflrd up his heart to Go and p!alcd
frr>eniy for help. fearing hat he could
never oct out alone. Doubtl, S he Lord
heard his voice calling from the deep, and
| pltied him. lie wrought no miracle To-
5 we him, but breathcd into lii heart Il vct
| lirycr measure of ctlmI,.>> and 60 lr.trc.
Strengthening him to work out his on II
dcliver;tncr.
After this. the little hero cut hi, way up
ward inch by inch, His wet stockings
fIozc to the ice and kept his feet from y D.
ping. but his shirt WAS quite Worn from
his shoulders ere he reached the top. He
did reach it ut ll>t-crawl led out into til,
show. and lay down for Il moment to res
i painting out his blc tn in little Whit.
clouds on the clear fros;v air. He hau
been two hours and Il half in the wei
His clothes soon freze to his body. but he
no longer suffered with cold rs. f II of 10Y
and tiIanktuncss, he ran To HE factory
where his father was waiting and Won
dering.
The poor man had to 90 without hi.
dinner that day. but yon may be sure Il.
cared little about that. while listening Will
tears in his eyes to the thrilling story hi:
son had to relate to him. He must hay,
been proud of the boy that day. aS Ii.
wrapped linn in his own warm ovcrcoi,
and took hlIl home 10 his mother An,
how that mother must have wcpt an,
smiled over the lad, and kissed HIM an,
thanked God for him .-Grace GrccntrOod