Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-11-23
THE WORsTED STOCKING.
A TRUE STORY

THE WORsTED STOCKING.
TRUE STORY.
Father will have done the great chimney to-
night, won't he, motherl said little Tom How
ard, as he stood waiting for his fathers break
fast which he carried to him at bis work every
morning.
He said he hoped all the scafodng would
be down tonight answered his mother, 'and
that II be fine sight; for never liked the end
ing of those great chimncys,-it's so risky-thy
fathers to be the last up
Eth, then, but I'll go and see him, and help
'em to give a shout afore he comes down. said
Tom.
And then,' continued his mother, IF all
goes right, we sre to have a frolic tomorrow,
and 90 into the country, and take our dinners,
and spend all the day amongst she woods
Hurrah cried Tom, as he ran off to his fa-
thers place of work, with can Of milk in one
hand, and some bread in the other His mother
stood at the door watching him, as he went mer
rily whistling down the street, and then she
thought Of the dear father he was going to, and
the dangerous work he was engaged in, and
then her heart sought its sure refuge, and she
prayed to God to protect her treasures.
Tom, with light heart pursued his way to
to his father, and leaving him his breakfast ,went
to his own work, which was at 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 work
men, had been building one of those lofty chin
neys which, in our great manufacturing towns,
almost supply the place Of other architectural
beauty. This chimney was one of the highest
and most tapering that had ever been erected,
and as Tom, shading his eyes from the slantng
rays of the setting sun, looked up to the top in
search of his father, his heart almost sunk with
in him at the appalling height. The scafolding
was almost all down; the men at tho bottom
we've removing the last beams and poles. Toms
father stood alone on the top. Ho looked around
to see that every thing was right, and then wa
wing his hat in the air, the men below answered
him with long, loud hearty cheer, little Tom
shouting as heartily as any Of them. As their
voices died away, however, they heard very
diGoront sound-a cry Of alarm and horror from
above! The rope! The rope!' The meu
looked round, and, coiled upon the ground lay
the rope, which, before the scaTolding was ro
moved should have been fastened to the top Of
the chimney, for Toms father to come down by
The scafolding had been taken down, without
their remembering to take the rope up, There
was dead silence, they all knew it was i'm
possible to throw the rope up high enough, o.
skillfully enough, to reach the top of the chin
ney Or if they could, it would hardly hav'
been safe. They stood in silent dsmay, unabl
to give any help, or think of any means of safe
ty.
And Toms father. lie walked round ant
round the little circle, the dizzy height soemin,
to grow every moment more and moro fearful
and the solid earth farther and farther from him
In the sudden panic he lost his presence of mind
nd his senses almost failed him. He shut hi
eyes he felt as if, the next moment, he must b.
dashed to pieces on the ground below.
The day had passed rs industrously AM
swiftly as usual with Toms mother at he
cheerful home. She was always busily EN-
ployed for her husband and children in som
way or other and to-day she had been harde
at work than usual getting ready for the holi
day tomorrow. She had just finished all he
preparations, and her thoughts were silentl
thanking God for her happy home, and for al
the blessings Of life, when Tom ran in his fac
was as pale us ashes, and he could hardly &c
his words out. Mother Mother! lie cam
get down
who, lad Thy father asked his mothel
They've forgotten to leave him the rope
answered Tom, still scarcely ablo to speak,
His mother started up, horror-struck, and stoo
for moment as if paralyzed then pressin
hor hands over her face, as if to shut out tn
terrible picture, and breathing prayer to Go
for help, she rushed out of the house.
When she reached the place where her hul
band was at work. crowd had collected roun
the foot of the chimney, and stood there quit
helpless, gazing up with faces full Of sorrow--
lie says he'll throw himself down. exclaime
> they, as Mrs. Howard came up, He's goin
: to throw himself down.
D Thee munna do that, lad cried the wifi
3 with clear, hopeful voice thee munna d
: that Wait u bit. Take of thy stocking, lax
> unravel it, and let down the thread with b
: Of mortar. Dost thou hear that Jem?'
| The man made a sign of assent, for it SCENE
} as if he could not speak and, taking of b
!, stocking, unravelled the worstod thread row a
5 ter row. Tho people stood round in breathle
silence and suspense, wondering what Tom
+ mother could be thinking Of, and why she sel