Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-03-01
NO. 8.
A LITTLE HERO.

lu the city OF HaFtiofu, ", lives tue
hero of the true story ! am about to re-
late--but no longer "little," as Che per-
ilcus adventure which made him famous
in his native town happened several
years ago.
Our hero was then a bright, active
boy of 1.-THE son of a mechanic. In
the severe winter of 1886 the father
worked in a factory about mile from
his home, and every day the boy carried
him his dinner across piece of meadow
land. One keen frosty day, he found
the snow on this meadow nearly two feet
deep. and no traces of the footpath re-
naming. Yet he ran on as fast as pos
sible, plunging through drifts, keeping
himself warm by vigorous exercise, and
brave, cheerful thoughts. When in the
midst of the meadow, fully half q mile
from the house. he suddenly felt himself
going down, down.
He had fallen into q well. He 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 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 almost
speechless, but all in vain, as it was i'm
possible to make himself heard from such
depth. and at such distance from any
house. So at last he concluded that if
he was saved at all be must save HIM
self, and begin at once, as he was get
ting 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 well. which was Of
brick and quite smooth. Then he pull
ed off his coat, and taking out his pOck-
ct knife he cut off bis boots, that he
might 60 to work to greater advantage.
Theh, with his feet against one side
of the well, and his shoulders against
the other, he worked his way up. by the
most fearful exertion. about half the dis
tance 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 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. Doubt
less 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 out his own
deliverance.
After this, the little hero cut his way
upward inch by inch. His wet stock
ings 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-crawl-
ed out into the snow, and lay down for
a moment to rest-panting 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 aud thaukfulness, he
ran to the factory, where his father was
waiting and wondering.
The poor man had to go 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 relate to him. He
must have been proud of the boy, that
day. as he wrapped him in his own warm
over-coat and took him home TO moth
err" And how that mother must have
wcpt and smiled over the lad. and kiss
ed him and thanked God for him -
Grace Greenwood.