Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-11-30

possible 10 throw the rope up high enough, Ia
reach the top of The chimney, or if it could, ii
would hardly have been safe. They stood in ST.
lent dismay, unable 10 give any help, or think
of any means Of safety
And Toms father He walked round and
round the little circle, the dizzy height SEEM
Ing every moment TO grow more fearful, and
the solid earth further and further from him. -
In the sudden panic he lost presence of mind,
and his senses almost failed him. lie shut
his eyes; he felt as if, the next moment, he
must be dashed to pieces on the ground below
The day had passed as ndustriously and
swiftly as usual, with Toms mother at home.
She was always husily employed for her hus-
band and children is some way or other; and
to-day she had been harder at work than usual,
getting ready for the holiday Tomorrow. She
had just finished all her preparations, and her
thoughts were silently thanking God for her
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 Gamma get down.
Who, lad! Thy father Z! asked his moth
er.
They've forgotten to leave him the e~ope,
answered Tom, still scarcely able to speak
His mother started up, horror-struck, and stood
for moment if paralyzed; then pressing her
hands over her face, as if to shut ou, the terri
BILE picture, and breathing prayer to God for
help, she rushed ont of the house
Wherfs she reached the place where her hus-
band was at work, crowd had collected round
the foot of the chimney, and stood there quite
helpless, gazing up with faces full ofsorrow.-
He says he il throw himself down. exclaimed
they, as Mrs Howard came up. He's going
TO throw himself down.
Thee munna do that, lad = cried the wife.
with clear, hopeful voice; thee munna do that
Wait bit, TAX off thy stocking, lad. and
unravel it, ard let down the thread with bit Of
mortar. Dost hear that, Jeml'
The man made sign ofassent, for it seemed
as if he could not speak, and taking off his
stocking, unraveIed the worsted thread row
after row. The people stood round in breath
less silence and suspense, wondering what
Toms mother could be thinking of, and why
she sent him in such haste for the carpenters
ball of twine.
Let down one end Of The ,hread with bit
Of stone, and keep fast hold Of the other, cried
sba fo bor bnShond Tho I;t,Ia ,hrood oonoo
waving down the tall chimney, blown hither
and thither BY the wind, but at last il reached
the outstretched hands that were waiting for it.
Tom held the ball Of string, while his mother
tied one end of it TO the worsted thread
Now pull it up SLOWLY cried she TO her hus-
band, and she gradually unwound the string as
the wOrsted drew it gently up. 1t stopped
the string had reached her husband. Now
hold the string fast, and pull it up cried she,
and the string grew heavy, and hard TO pull
for Tom and his mother had fastened the thick
rope 10 it, They watched it gradually and
slowly uncoiling from the ground, as the string
was drawn higher.
There was but one coil left. II had reached
the top. Thank God Thank God = ex-
claimed the wife. She hid her face in her
hands in silent prayer, and trembling, rejoiced
The rope was up. The iron to which it should
be fastened was there all right; but would her
husband be able TO make use of them would
not the terror of the past hour have so unnerv-
ed him. as 10 prevent him from taking the nee
essary measures for his safety9 She did not
know the magic influences which her few
words had exercised over him. She did not
know the strength that the sound of her voice,
so calm and seadfast, had filled him wilh-as
is the little thread that carried him hope of life
once more, had conveyed TO him some portion
Of that faith in God, which nothing ever des-
troyed or shook in her true heart She did not
know that, as he waited there, the words came
over him, Why are thy cast down. 0, my
soul and why AFT thou dsquieted within me !!
Hope thou in Cod 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 or a rock
There was great shout He's safe, moth
er, he's SAFE cried little Tom. 'Thou'st
saved me, Mary, said her husband folding her
in his arms. But what ails theel Thou
seemest more sorry than glad about it, 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 joy, af
ter such great fear, had overcome her. Tom,
said his father, let thy mother lean on 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 lifetogether felt dearer and holier
for the peril it had been in, and for the near
ness that the danger had brought them unto
God And the holiday next day,-was it not
indeed thanksgiving day!-EngHsh S. S.
Magazine.
The MAsoNs OF CALIFORNIA "A cc0rGing
to the Masonic Register, the Grand Lodge of
CaI 4 4 ~oe,,I,,tinp Lac