Year: 1860

NA"Ne NANeN"VyA WlAbeo NAg AollDMAHF P
little story-and a true one itis-for The
Little Pilgrim, child's paper. She gets
the facts from an incident described in
the Hartford Daily Times some years
ago, as having happened in Colts Mead
ows:


In the city Of Hartford, Connecticut
lives the hero Of true story I am about
to relate--but no longer "little," as the
perilous adventure, which made him for
a time famous in his native town, hap
pened several years ago.


Our hero was then a bright active boy
Of fourteen-tho son Of a mechanic
Iu the severe winter of 49,, the father
worked 10 a factory, about a mile and
a half from his home, and every day the
boy carried him his dinner across a
wide piece Of meadow land,


One keen, frosty day, he found the
snow on this meadow nearly two feet
deep, and no traces of the little foot
path remaining Yet he ran on, as fast
as possible, plunging through drifts
keeping himself warm by vigorous eX-
ercise, and brave, cheerful thoughts.


When in the midst of the meadow
fully half n mile from any house, he
suddenly found himself going down,
down, down. lie had fallen into a we'll!


lie sunk down into the dark, icy wa
ter, but rose Immediately to the sur
face. 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 hOarse and almost spcechlcss,
but all in vain, as it was impossible for
him to make himself heard from such a
depth, and at such distance from any
house So at last he concluded that if
he was to be saved at all he must save
himself, and began at once, as he was
getting 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
pulled off his coat, and taking out his
pocket knife he cut of his boots, that
he might work to greater advantage
Then, with his feet against one side Of
the we'll and his shoulders against the
other, he worked his way up, by the
most fearful exertion, about half the
distance to the top. Here he was oblig-
cd to pause, 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 of the well being
from that point completely covered with
ice, he must cut with his knife, grasp.
ing-pIaces for his fingers, slowly and
carefully, all the way up.


1t was almost a hopeless attempt, but
it was all that he could do. And here
the little hero lifted up his heart to God
and prayed fervenny for help, fearing
that be could never get out alone.


Doubtless the Lord heard his voice,
calling from the deep, and pitied him.
lie wrought no miracle to save him, but
broathed into his heart a vet larger meas
ure of caImness and courage, strength
ening him to work out his own deliver
ance. 1t is in this way that God often
est answers our prayers, when we cal
upon him in time Of trouble.


After this, the little hero cut his way
upward, inch by inch. His wet stock.
ings fruze to the ice and kept his feel
from slipping, but his shirt was quite
worn from the shoulders, ere he reach.
ed the top


He did reach it at last--crawled our
into the snow, and lay down for a mo.
ment to painting out his breath
in little white clouds, on the clear frosty
air


lie had been two hours and a half in
the well


His clothes soon rrozo to his body
but he no longer suffered with the cold
as full Of joy and thanklulness, he rar
for the factory, where his good father
was waiting and wondering.


The poor man was obliged to 60 with
out his dinner that day; but you may
be sure he cared little about that, Will,
listening, with tears in his eyes, to tht
thrilling story his son had to relate
to him.


He must have been very proud of
the boy that day, as be wrapped him
up in his own warm overcoat, and tool
him home to "mother."


And how that mother must have wep
and smiled over the lad, and kissed
him, and thanked God for himI


have not heard of the "little hero
for two or three years, but trust h,
is growing up into a brave, heroic man
and 1 hope he will never forget tht
Heavenly Friend who did not forge
him in the hour of his great need


There is an old saying that truth lie
at the bottom of a we'll.


trust that this brave boy found anC
braught up from there this truth: Go,
helps those who help themselves