The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-12-15
THE W0RsTED STOCKING.
A True STORY.

"Father will have done the great chimney
tonight, won't he mother F." said little Tom
Howard, as he stood waiting for his fathers
breakfast, which he carried 10 him ut his
work every morning.
He said he hoped oil tho scaffolding
would be down tonight" answered his
mother, and that II be fine sight; for |
never like the ending Of those great chin.
neys-it's SO risky thy father g to be
the last up"
"Eh, then, but II go and sec him, and
help 'em give shout aiore he comes down."
said Tom. .....
"And then" continued his mother, "if
oil goes right, we are to have frolic TO-
morrow, and 20 into the country, and take
our dinners, and spend oil day amongst the
woods"
Hurrah." cried Tom, as he ran OF TO his
fathers place of work, with can oi milk
in enc hand and some bread in the oiher.-
His mother stood ut the door watching him
as he went merrily whistling down the
street, and then che thought Of the dear
father ho was going to, and the dangerous
work he was engaged in, and then her heart
found its sure refuge, and she prayed to God
10 protect and bless her treasures.
Tom, with light heart, pursued his way
10 his father, and, leaving him his breakfast,
went to his own work, which was ut some
distance. In the evening, on his way home,
he went round to see how his father was
getting on. James Howard, the father, and
number of other workmen had been build.
ing one Of those lofty chimneys, which, in
our great manufacturing towns. almost
supply the place Of our other architectural
beauty. This chimney was one o! tho
highest and most tapering that has ever
been erected and as Tom, shading his eyes
from the rays of the slanting sun, looked up
to the top oft in search OF his father, his
heart almost sank within him at the appalling
height. The sca1olding was almost all
down the men ut the bottom wero removing
the last beams and poles. Toms father
stood alone on the top He looked all round
to see that everything was right, and then
waving his hat in the air, the men below
answered with long, loud cheer, little Tom
shouting as loud rs any OF them. As their
voices died away, however, they heard q Q
very different sound "A cry Of alarm and
horror from above 1.-The rope! The
rope! r" The men looked round, and coiled,
upon the ground lay the ropc, which, before
the scafolding was removed, should have
been fastened to the chimney, for Tom 8
lather to como down by The scaflolding
had been taken down without their remem-
bering to take the rope up. There was n
dead silence. They all knewit was impossible
10 throw the rope up high enough to reach
the top Of the chimney or If it could il
would hardly have been safe. They stood
in silence and dismay, unable to give any
help or think of any means OF safety.
And Toms father. He walked round and
round the little circle, tho dizzy height
seeming every moment to grow more fearful,
and the solid earth further and further from
him. In the sudden panic no lost his
presence Of mind, and his senses almost
Jailed him. lie shut his eyes he felt, as
! If the next moment, he must be dashed 10
pieces on tho ground below. ..
The day had passed as industriously and
swiftly as usual with Toms mother at home.
She was always busily employed for her
husband and children in some way or other ;
and to-day she had been harder at work than
usual, getting ready fo- The holiday to.
morrow. 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 10 ;
his face was as white as ashes and he could
hardly get his words out. Mother! moth.
erI He canna gel DOWN.
"Who lad' Thy fathcr'" asked his
mother.
"They We forgotten to leave him the
rope" answered Tom, still scarcely able 10
speak. His mother started up horror struck,
aud stood for moment as if paralyzed, then
pressing her hands over her face, rs II to
shut out the horrible picture, and breathing
prayer to God for help, she rushed out ol
the house
When she reached tho place where he,
husband was ut work, q crowd had collected
round the foot OF the chimney, and stood
there quite helpless, gazing up with faces
full of sorrow. He says no III throw
himself down." exclaimed they, as Mrs,
Howard came up. "Ho is going to throw
himself down."
"Thee munna do that, lad" cried the
wife, with clear, hopeful voice :" thee
munna do that. Wait a bit. TAX OF thy
stocking, lad, and unravcl II, and let down
the thread with bit Of mortar. Dost hear
mo joni" r...u. :.
Tho man made sign Of assent, for II
seemed as il he could not speak and, tax
ing OF his stocking, unrayelled tho worsted
thread, row alter row. The people stood
round in breaihless silence and suspense,
wondering what Toms mother could be
thinking Of. and why she sent him in such
haste for tho carpenters ball Of twine.
"Let down ono end Of tho thread with 9
Bit of stone, and keep East hold Of tho other, VI
cried she TO her husband. Tho little thread
camo waving down the tall chimney, blown
bithcr and thithcr by tho wind, but ut last
| Il reached tho outstrolohed hands that wers
waiting for 1t. Tom held the ball of string
while his mother tied one end to tho worstct
thread. Snow pull II up slowly" crict
she to her husband, and she gradually
unwound tho string as the worsted gently
drew II up. II stopped the stripg hat
reached her husband. I" Now hold the string
Cast. and pull 1t up," cried she. and the strins
grew heavy, and hard to pull, for Tom and
his mother had fastened the thick rope tt