Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-11-18
THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.


top. lie looked all around to see that everything
was right, and then waving his hat in the air, the
men below answered him with n long loud cheer
little Tom shouted as heartily as any of them. AS
their voices died away, however they heard q very
different sound--a cry Of alarm and horror from
above "The rope The rope !" The mon look
cd round, and, coilcd upon the ground lay tho rope,
which, before the scailolding was removed, should
have been fastened to the chimney, for Toms faith
or to come down by2 Tho scafolding had been
taken down, without their remembering to take
the rope up. There was q dead silence. They all
knew it was impossible to throw the rope up high
enough to reach the top of the chimney or if he
could it would have hardly been safe. They stood
in silence and dismay, unable to give any help or
think of any means af safety.
And Toms father. lie walked round and round
the little circle the dizzy heighth seeming every
moment to grow more fearful, and the solid earth
further and further from him. In the sudden
panic he had lost his presence of mind, and his
senses almost failed him. lie shut his eyes he
felt rs if the next moment he must be dashed to
pieces on the 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 chill
dren, in some way or other: and to-day she had
been harder at work than ust al, getting ready for
the holiday tomorrow. She had just finished all
her preparations, and her thoughts were silently
! bh"hhhihS wv IVA NV ''IIJ '
blessings of life, when Tom ran IN his face was
rs white MS ashes and he could hardly get his
words out. "Mother. Mother, lie Gamma get
down."
"Who, lad Thy father ?" asked the mother.
They've forgotten to leave him the rope" an
/, swcred Tom, still scarcely able to speak. Ills
mother started up, horror struck, and stood for a
moment as if paralyzed then pressing her hands
over her face, as if to shut out the terrible picture
and breathing a prayer to COP for help, she rushed
out of the house.
When she reached the place where her husband
was at work, a crOud had collected round the foot
of the chimney, and stood there quite helpless, gaz-
ing pwith a face of sorrow. ale says he'll throw
himself down" exclaimed they, as Mrs. Howard
came up. Gle is going to throw himself down"
thee munna do that, lad !" cried the wife with,
clear, hopeful voice; "thoe munna do that. Wait
a bit. TAX off thy stocking, lad and unravcl it.
and let down the thread with a bit of mortar
Dost hear me, Jcm %
The man made Il sign of assent, for it seemed
as if he could not speak; and, taking off his
row. The people stood round in breathless silence
and suspense, wondering what Toms mother could
be thinking of, and why she sent him i'll such haste
for the carpenters ball of Irvine.
LET down ono end of the thread with a bit Of
stone, and keep fast hold of the other" cried she
; to her husband. The little thread cam waving
down the tall chimney, blown hither and thither
/ by the wind, but at last it reached the outstretch
ed hands that were waiting for it. Tom held the
ball of string, while his mother tied one end of il
to the worsted thread. "Now pull it up slowly
{, cried she to her husband and she gradually un
! wound the string as the worsted drew it up. l
st~oppcd-the string had reached her husband
e. 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 to it. They watched it gradually and slowly
= uncOiling from the ground, as the string was drawn
higher.
There was but one coil left. 1t had reached the
top. Thank COP thank GoD!" exclaimed the
wife. She had hid her face in her hands in silent
f prayer, and trcmblingly 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 50 unnervcd him, as to prevent him
from taking the necessary measures for his safety
She did not know the magic influence which hei
p few words had exercised over him. She did no
know the strength that the sound Of her voice, st
calm and s~teadfast, had filed him with-as if TIN
, little thread that carried him the hope of life ono
4 more, had conveyed to him some portion OF tina
faith in Cop, which nothing ever destroyed o
h shook in her true heart. She did not know tina
rs he waited there, the words came over him,
. "Why art thou cast down. o my soul? and VIII,
art thou disquicted within me? Hope thou IL
COD" She lifted up her heart to COP for hope ant
strength. She could do nothing more for her hus
S band, and her heart turned to God. and rested OF
him rs on n rock.
There was a great shout. "IIe's safe, mother
he's safe" cried little Tom. "Thou'st saved me
Mary" said her husband, folding her in his arms
But what ails thee? Thou seem'st more sorry
than glad about it," b It Mary could not speak
ard if the strong arm of her husband had not helC
her up, she would have fallen to the g~round-th'
sudden joy, after such great fear, had overcome
her. TON, " said his father, 'let thy mother lear
on thy shoulder, and we will take her home the,
poured forth their thanks to COP for Ills grea
goodness and their happy life together felt dear
er and heller for the peril it had been in, and 70
the nearness that the danger brought them unit
Cop. And the holiday next day,-w0s it not in
s. deed a thanksgiving day ?-EHgtish s. S. Maya
zine.