The National tribune., 1880-06-01
A Little Hero.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

In the city of Hartford Conn., lives the hero of the true
story am about to reate-but no longer little the
perlous adventure which made him famous In his native
town happened several years ago. se& p t8Aks asvA
Our hero was then bright active boy OF foarteen--
the Of mechanic La the winter of 1885, the
father worked in 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 this meadow nearly feet deep, and no
of the foot path remaining Yet he as fast
possible, punging through drifts, keeping himself
9y M ssags cheerful thoughts
the house, he suddenly felt himself going down. down
He had fallen into we'll He sank down, down, into
There he grasped hold of plank which had fallen into
the we'll he went down. One end of this rested on the
water The poor lad shouted for help until he almost
speechless, but all in vain, it impossible to make
himself heard from such depth and at such distance
from any house So at last he concluded that if he
saved at all he kimse aud begin at once as
he getting extremely cold in tewater SO he went
to work.
First he drew himself up the plank and braced himself
against the top of it and wall of the WELL which was of
brick and quite smooth Then ne pulled off his coat and
taking his pocketknfe he off his boots that he
might go work Co greater adv antage Then with his
feetagainst side of the WE'LL andhis shoulders against
erton about half of the distance to the TOP Here he
obliged pause take breath, and gather up his
energies for the work yet before him. Far harder was
than all he had gone through for the side being that
point covered with ice he must with his knife grasp
ing places for his fingers, slowly and carefully, all the
way up. af18 a @8e 8 A 8t@ ,SI8sf
It was almost hopeless attempt but it was all that he
could do And here the little hero lifted up heart to
God and prayed ferveny for help, fearing that could
never get out alone Doubtless the Lord his voice
calling from the deep, and pitied him. He wroaght no
miracle to him, but he breathed into his heart yet
larger of caimuess and courage strengthening
him TO work out his own deliverance. M R
After his the little hero his way upward inch by
inch His wet stockings roze to the ice and kept his
feet from slipping but his shirt quite from his
shoulders he reached the top He did reach at last
crawled out into the snow aud laid down for moment
to respanng out his breath in little white clouds on
the clear frosty air He had been two and half
in the we'll His clothes foze his body but he no
longer suffered with cold as full of Joy and tbankfulness
he to the factory, where his father waiting and
wondering. W s rt4f
The poor man had TO go without his dinner that day
but you may be he cared but little about that while
listening with in his eyes the thrilling story his
sou had relate TO him. He have been proud of
the boy that day, as he wrapped him in his own
overcoat and took him home TO mother" And how that
mother have wept and smiled the a and kiss
! ed him and thanked Sod for him
have not heard of the 'hero' for three years
but trust he is growing up into brave, heroic man.
and hope he will forget the heavenly Friend who
did forget him the hour OF bis great need There
is old saying that truth lies at the hottom Of WELL
trust that this brave boy found and brought up from
there this truth" God helps those who help them
/ selves
In is said of Sir Isaac Newton's nephew, who was a