San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-02
A CHILD's PLUCK.
Drawn Up from Deep Cistern
CIinging TO a PitchfOlk.

CIinging TO a PitchfOlk.
Providence journal.
Little Charles Lee Burden, the
Is months old grandson of Lee Burden
the seamless wire manufacturer, and
Charles II. Thurber, the agent of the
Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty
10 Children, is being petted and
caressed by the citizens of Elmwood,
both q musical prodigy and more
particularly in recognition of his
wonderful presence oil mind and
courage in the presence Of death by
drowning which he recently dis.
played under the most trying circum-
stances even to one of maturer years.
Charley was visiting Grandpa Bur-
don on Greenwich street few days
ago, and, clad in q summer ulster
and q tight-fiJting bonnet, was play
ing in the yard, accompanied by his
grandmother. There is q cistern in
the yard 10 feet in depth, about S feet
III circumference and containing
feet of water. It is supplied with an
iron cover, and precautions had been
taken to have lie securely fastened.
Charley, with the inquisitive tenden
cies which bright and persistent
temperament invariably produce, de
cided to make an investigation. His
grandmother lett him for an in
slant, and the child, in some unex
plainable manner, either succeeded
in fitting the cover by partly raising
IL or else he stepped on the edge il
was raised sufficiently to al opening
through which the adventurous in-
FAINT was precipitated. The grand
mother returned to the spot where
she had left him. but he had disap-
peared. She called out to him, but
no response was heard. She made q
circuit of the grounds, but no trace OF
she thought Of the cistern, and seeing
that the cover was button side up
she removed it from the opening, and
WAS terrified to discover Charlie float.
ing on the surface of the water. He
had probably fallen into the cistern
feet foremost and his clothing had
buoyed him up, so that he was able
to float temporarily. The frantic
grandparent called to him and he re.
sponded bravely. She besought him
to raise his head q little, and then
called out to the gardener to come to
the rescue. Peter hastened to the
spot and in his perplexity could moi
devise an immediate plan of action.
Mrs. Burden realized the dire peril
Of the situation, and seeing small
pitchfork near by she seized it, and
with Peter's assistance made q des
perate effort to fasten it into the
Infants clothing. The cistern WAS
dark, and it was with extreme diff
Guilty that the exact location of the
child could he descerned. All the
while the grandmother was urging
Charlie TO keep up courage aud
utterIDg words of loving solicltute,
and the little fellow responded with
lisping assurances Finally the
handle OF the pitchfork was thrust
within reaching distance, and Charlie
was hidden to cling fast to it. He lie
8 vigorous, we'll developed boy, and
he quickly clasped his little hands
around the staff and chung to 1t with
logged determination.
Slowly and steadily the weight
was lifted to the su rface Of the eisterns
and the wet aud dripping figure was
clasped in the arms or his deliverer's.
Charlie was cool and self-possessed,
and was quickly taken into the house
and supplied with an outfit of dry
clothing, and hot drink was admins
tered to him. He lisped that he was
pretty wet but that be was q smart boy
because he swimmed in the water.
Then he asked to be taken home to
Grandpa Lee, and while being trun-
died along in his carriage he launch.
ed forth with his favorlte song,
John Browns body lies molderiDg
in the grave" with infantile fervor
and enthusiasm: When he reached
the house he proceeded to give a
quaint and amusing story of his mis-
hap, and demanded q new suit of
clothes in place of those. which had
been wetted in the we'll. It is need
less to say that he has been supplied
with the suit and he Is holding re.
captions daily to sdmirfng callers, to
whom he relates his version of the
accident and regards it as sort of
joke. The littls fellow will probably
abandon the repetition of the experl
ment, but his miraculous escape,
coupled with his GOODNESS and pluck
promises to make him the youthful
| hero OF ElmWood for some time,