The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-03-07
IN ADVANCE
N UNI B ER 4

/ 'SNNhSd IIlc pldCc Wnore her
husband was at work, crowd had eol-
lected round the foot of the chimney, and
stood there quite helpless, gazing up with
faces Of sorrow.
lie says he'll throw himself down"
exclaimed they, as Mrs. Howard came
up. "He is going to throw himseJf
down."
lhee munna do thlt, lad 2" cried the
wife, with clear, hopeful voice, "thee num-
ma 40 that. Wait bit. TAX off thy
stocking lad, and unravel it, and let down
the thread with bit of mortar. Dost
hear me Jem?"
lhe man made sign of assent, for it
seemed as if he could not speak; and tax
ing off his stocking unraveled the worst
ed thread row after row. The people
stood round in breathless silence and sus.
pense, 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 thread with
bit of stone, and keep fast hold of the
other" cried she to her hus band. The
little thread came waving down the tall
chimney, blown hither and thithcr by the
wind, but at last itreached the outstretch-
ed 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
husband, and she gradually unwound the
string as the worsted drew it gently ur.
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
bad 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. It had
reached the top. "Thank God y' exclaim-
ed 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 lie able
to make use Of them would not the
terrer of the past hour have 70 unnerved
him, as to prevent him from taking the
necessary measures for his safety? She
did not know the magic influence which
her few words had exercised over him.
She did not know the strength that the
sound Of her voice, so calm and steadfast
had filled him with--as if the little thread
that carried him the hope of life once more
had conveyed to him some portion of that
faith in God, which nothing ever destroy
ed or shook in her true heart. She did
not know that, as he waited there, the
words came over him, "Why art thou
cast down, o my soul and why art thou
disquieted within me9 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 on a rock.
There was great shout. "He's safe,
mother, he's safe," cried little Tom.-
"Thou'st saved me, Mary" said her hus-
band, folding her in his arms. "But what
ais thee Thou seem'st more sorry than
glad about it."
But Mary could not speak and il the
strong arm Of her husband had not held
her up, she would have fallen to tho
ground-the sudden JOY, after such great
fear, had overcome her.
"rom," said his father, "let thy mother
lean on thy shoulder, and we will take
her home"
And in their happy home they poured
fourth their thanks to God for Ills great
goodness and their happy life together
felt dearer and holier for the peril it had
been in, and for the nearness that the dan.
ger had broaght them urto God. And
the holiday next day--was it not, indeed,
Thanksgiving day