The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-09-08
THIS IS A GOLD STAR LETTER

To Decor Brady:
 Although you don't know it you are a very old friend of mine I read you daily, quote your teachings on all occasions and strive always to practice what you preach
 During the past year l nave often thousht U should like to tell you about most exciting in cident in my life, but the mother of four small children doesn't often find uninterrupted mo- ments for correspondence.
 l So far as rainfall Is concerned this is often a l dry country. My husband felt he was doing his | bit when he constructed a six acre dam on my | fathers farm I hadn't seen the place for sev- eral months and didn't know that after the dam had been completed my husband dug hole | II feet deep near a well to keep the dam water from overlowing into the well. I was working in a garden nearby when my seven year old asked to go wading. I gave permission, telling him he was not to go beyond a certain point, as felt ne would De sale III tHe shallow water
 Not long afterward my five year old daughter screamed that "Els fell in!" He had stepped off into that 11-foot hole must have stood for several seconds, then started to run straight toward him. I suddenly realized that could get to him more surely 1T l approached rom another point ran back through many rods of shallow water and plunged into the hole and found him floating just under the surface, head down I have never been able to. swim and can't swim to-day. My toes were five feet from the bottom. Yet did not sink. wore an old | fashioned stiffly starched sun bonnet. swal- lowed much dam water but got none in my nose I grabbed my boy by the wrist with my right hand and somehow turned toward the edge of the hole. I slapped the water feebly  l if hadn't sunk yet perhaps l could stay that way till some help arrived had screamed at daughter to run for daddy before l entered the hole. Then thought: "Dr Brady has said that even if a child has been under water an hour the child may be saved by artificial respiration. If cap keep afoat l can save Ellis" | Suddenly I thought "A person in the water must do something with his feet" began to do something with my feet and touched the edge of the hole. got out and into the shallow i. and was limp like rag. Dry ground was many yards away. was very tired. sat down in the water with my knees folded under me and pulled my boy across my lap keeping his face out of the water and his arms stretched out above his head I tried to press down with my hands on the small of his back and follow di- rections I had read in your column. l don't know how well did it in that awkward posi- tion. but suddenly he breathed and then began | to cry exactly he did when he was born. Twenty hours afterward he was as active as a seven year old could be expected to be- If you have read this long story have talk en up too much of your time and l suppose it Is valuable, but I thought you might be glad to know that South Dakota mother feels that to you and God she owes the life of her eldest son.
 New Testament miracles seem true to me now ; Sincerely,
 1 K- K. 1 Glad to know it? When I started your story
 ma am l pretty well. In fact had just passed examination with a standing of about 9s.2 per cent good health. But beofre finished
 [ was suffering with bad attack of hay fever or something. I'll say 1t is the nnest Illness I've | had in quite while.
 Il May l not offer timely advice now II Why not make up your mind that before the
 summer Is over You and every other member | of your family shall know how to swim? It l Is a valuable accomplishment. Nobodys' edu- cation is quite complete without 1t, even in a dry country.
 l (Note: Several other readers have thanked God and Dr Brady for something. This is the | first one who has acknowledged my priority
 like that)