The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-12-23

silent dlsmay, unable to give any help, or
think of any means of safety.
And Toms father. He walked round and
round the circle, the dizzy height sccminc
every moment to grow r'orc fearful and the
solid earth further and further from him. In
the sudden panic he lost his presence mind,
and his senses almost failed him. He shut
his eyes, he felt az if, the next moment he
must be dashed to pieces on the ground be-
low.
The day had passed as pleasantly and swift
ly as usual, with Toms mother at home
She was always busily employed for her hus-
band and children, in some wav or other; and
to-day she Rad been harder at work than u.u
al, getting ready for the holiday tomorrow.
She had just finished all her preparations,
and her thoughts were silently thanking God
for happy home. and for all the blessings of
life, when Tom ran in his face was as white
as ashes, and he could hardly get his words
out. Mother Mother, He cannot Get
down" "Who, lal: Thy father ask e.!
his mother
"They've forgotten TO leave the rope" an
swcrcd Tom, still scarce able to speak. IIi>
mother started up, horror-stru,k and stood
for moment as if paralvzcd: then rrc,>ir Q
her hands over her face, as if to shut out the
terrible picture, and breathing a PRAYER to
God for help. she rushed out of the house.
On reaching the place where her husband!
was at work. crowd haI collected round the
foot Of the chimney, and stood there quite
helpless, gazing up with faces full of sorrow
"lIc says he'll throw himself down." en-
claimed they. as Mrs Howard came up Hes
Going to throw himself down.
Thee munna do that. la!' cried the wife.
with clear, hopeful voice "thcc munna do
that. Wait a BIT TAX of thy >tockinr.la,l.
and unravcl II, and let lrwn y" thread with
hit of mortsr. Do. hear that .Tcln :"
The man made son Of assent. for it seem
ed as if he conl! not speak and. tax nr eli
his stocking. unravci!cl the vorstcI ,hrra.!
row after row. The people stool round in
brcath,c>S silence and suspense. wondering
what Toms mother could be thinking of. anl
why She sen, him in such haste for The car
pcntcr'S bal! oftwinc.
Let down one end Of the thread with III;
of stone, and keep fast hold Of The other. cried
Size 10 her husband. The little thread came
waving down he tail chimney. blown Mthcr
and thiihcr hv the w;nl. hut a; last !; reac !.v,l
t"o ont>tretrEod hands that were waitinc ~
receive it. Tom held the ball of s;rinc. while
his mother tied one end of It to The wor~,c,:
thread. Snow pull itup," cried she to her
husband, and she gradually unwounl The
string as the worstcd drew it gently up. 1t
stopped--thc string had reached her husband.
Nov hold the string fast, anl pull it up."
cried She. and thc string crew heavy. and
hard to pull, for Tom and his mother h:.! .:,s
tened the thick rope TO it. They watched it
gradually and Slowly uncoilnr from the
ground, as the string was drawn higher
There was but one coil left. 1t had reach,
ed the TOP. "Thank God" cxclaim-
ed the wife. She hid her ficc in her hands
in silent PRAYER, and trembling. rcioiccl -
The rope was up. The iron 10 which il ,houl!
be fastened was there ali right: but would
her husband he able to make use of them ::
would not the terror OF the past hour have so
unncrvcd hIm, as to prevent him from taking
The necessary measures tor his safety: Size
did not know the strength that the sound OF
her voice, 50 calm and s:cadast had filled
him with as if the little thread that carried
hn the hope OF life once more, had convened
to hnn some portion of that faith in God,
which nothing ever DESTROYED or shook in i,er
true heart. She did not know that. as he
waited there, these words came over him.
why art thou cast down, o nv soul ? and
why art thou d>1uctcd within me?
Hope thou in me? Hope thou in God
She lifted up her heart to God for hope
and strength. She could do nothing more
for her husband, and her heart turned to God
and rested on him as on rock.
There was great shout. ''lIes safe. moth
er, he's safe" cried little Tom. Thou hast
saved me. Mary" said her husband. folding
her in his arms. "But what als thec9 Thou
scem'st more sorry than glad" But Mary
could not speak; and if the strong arm of her
husband had not held her up, She would have
fallen to the ground the sudden iov, after
such crva. fear had overcome her. Tom,
SAID his father, ''let thy mother lean 2n thy
shoulder and we will take her home" And
in their happy home they poured forth their
thanks to God for His great goodness: and
their happy llfe together felt dearer and hol-
er for the peril it had been in. and for the
ncarncss that the danger had brought them
unto God. And the holiday next day, was it
not indeed {. thanksgiving day.-English s.
$. -Naga,ine.
RICHARD CGuE DE LION. - The follow
ing description of Richard the First, is from
an article in Tho North RritiSh Review Tho