Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-11-10
misteIlancous.
The worsted stocking.

"Father will have done the great chin
ney tonight, won't he mother?" said little
Tom Howard, as be stood waiting for his
fathers breakfast, which he carried to him
at his work every morning.
ale said he hoped all the scafolding
would be down tonight" answered bis
mother, "and thatl be fine sight; for l
never like the ending of those great Chin
neys-it's so risky-thy fathers 10 be the
last up" ....
"Eh, then, but III go and see him, and
help 'em to give a shout afore he comes
down." said Tom.
"And them" continued his mother, if all
goes right, We are to have a flolic to NOR
row. and go into the country, and take our
dinners, aud spend all The day amongst The
woods"
"Hurrahl" cried Tom, as he ran off to
his fathers place Of work, with n can Of
milk in one hand and some bread in the
other His mother stood at the door watch
him as he wen; mcrrly whistllug down the
street, aud then she thought of the dear
father be was going to, and the dangerous
work be was engaged in. and then her
heart sought its sure refuge, and she pray
ed to God to protect and bless her treas
ures.
Tom, with light heart, pursued his way
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,
be 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 lefty chimneys, which in
our great manufacturing towns, almost sup.
ply 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 bis eyes from the
slanting rays Of the setting sun, looked up
to the top in search of his father, bis heart
almost sank within him at the appalling
height. The scaffolding was almost all
down; the men at the bottom were remoy-
ing the last beams and poles, Toms faith
er 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 be-
low answered him with long, loud cheer
little Ton, shouting as heartily as any o
them. AS their voices died away, howev
er, they heard very different sounds
cry of alarm and horror from above! "Th'
rope The rope!" The men looked round
and, coiled upon the ground lag the rope
which, before the scaffolding was removed
should have been fastened to the chimney
for TOMS father to come down by! Th'
scatfolding had been taken down. withou
their remembering to take the rope up
There was dead silence. They all knew
il was impossible to throw the rope VI
high enough to reach the top of the chin
ney or if he could, it would hardly hav
(, been safe. They stood in silence and dis
may, unable to give any help or think G
any means of safety.
And Toms father. He walked roun
and round the little circle, the dizzy beigh
seeming every moment to grow more fear
full, and the solid earth further and furthe
/ from him. In the sudden panic he lost hi
presence of mind, and his senses almost fai
cd him. He shut bis eyes; he felt as j
the next moment. he must be dashed
piecns on the ground below.
; The day had passed as industriously an
: swiftly as usual, with Toms mother at hom'
She was always busiy employed for he
husband and children. in some way or otl
or; and to-day she had been harder {
work than usual, getting ready for the ho
iday tomorrow. She had just finished a
her preparations, and her thoughts wer
4 silently thanking God for her happy hom
and for all the blessings of life, when ToI
ran in; his face was as white as ashes an
he could hardly get his words out. "Motl
erl Mother! He Gamma get down."
"Who, lad9 Thy father?" asked h
IS mother. laar.t
"They've forgotten TO leave him ii
rope,' answered Tom scarcely able 10 spea
5 His mother started up, horror. struck, an
stood for moment as il paralyzed: the
i pressing her hands over her face, as if
" shut oat the terrible picture, and breathn
aprayer to God for help. she rushed OF
: Of the house. \.
r. When she reached the place where h
E husband was at work crowd had colec