The Youngest of the Heroes
Willie Stillwell
is only thirteen years old, and he lives in
Bellaire, Michigan. One day he was playing with other
children on the banks of the little river which flows
by his home.
Suddenly there was a cry of alarm. Ruth Schoolcraft,
who was a head taller than Willie, had become too
venturesome, and had fallen into the water. The strong
current bore her quickly from the shore; but Willie
Stillwell, without stopping to think, leaped bravely to
the rescue. Many of the boys were stronger swimmers
than he, but there were few who equaled him in courage
and determination. He knew that unless he was very
careful the struggling girl would carry him down with
her. So he approached her warily, and seizing her by
the hair, held her face above the water. Then, with
his other hand, he swam safely to the shore bringing
the half-drowned girl with him.
When the commissioners heard of Willie Stillwell's
brave deed, they sent him a bronze medal. They also
set aside two thousand dollars to provide for giving
him a course in electric engineering at college.
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