Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-02-02
The Worsted Stocking-A True Story

Father will have done the great Chin
ney tonight, won't he mother q said lit !
tic Tom Howard, as he stood waiting for
his fathers breakfast, which he carried to
him at his work every morning.
lie said he hoped all the scaholding
would be done tonight answered his
mother, and that will he fine sight for
| never like the ending Of those great
chimneys-it's SO risky-thy father is the
last to be up
'Eh, then, but I'll go and see him, and
help 'em to give shout afore he comes
down. said Tom.
And then,' continued his mother, If
all go,s right, we are to have frolic to-
morrow, and go into the country, take all
our dinners and spend all the day among
the woods 3.
'lIurrah ! cried Tom, as he ran off TO
his fathers place of work, with a can of
milk in one hand and some bread in the
other. His mother stood at the door
watching him as he went whistling down
the street, and then she thought of the
dear father he was going to, and the dan
gerous work he was engaged in, and then
her heart sought its sure refuge, and she
prayed to God to protect and bless her
treasures.
: Tom with light heart, pursued his
way to his father, and leaving his break
fast, went to his own work, which was at
some distance. In theevening on his way
home, he went round to see how his faith
er was getting on. James Howard, the
father, and number of other workmen,
had been building one of those lofty Chin
neys, which i'll our great manufacturing
towns, almost supply the place OF other
architectural beauty. This chimney was
was one of the highest and most tapering
that has ever been created and as Tom,
shading his eyes from the rays of the set
ting sun, looked up to the top, in search
OF his father, his heart almost sank with
in him at the appalling height. The scaf-
folding was almost all down the men at
the bottom were removing the last beams
and poles. Toms father stood alone on
the top. He lookel all around to see that
everything was right, and then waving hi,
hat in the air, the men below answered
him with long, loud cheer, little Tom
shouting as heartily as any of them. As
their voices died away, however, they
heard very different sound--a cry o
alarm and horror from above! 'Tht
rope! The ropc!' The men looked
round, and coiled upon the ground lay the
rope, which before the Sc affolding was re-
, moved, should have been fastened to come
down by! The scaffolding had been taker
down, without their remem5e ing to takt
the rope up. There was a dead silence
They all knew it was impossible to throw
the rope up high enough to reach the toy
of the CHIMNEY, or if lie could it would
have been hardly safe. There they stoot
in silence and dismay, unable to give any
, help or think of any means of safety.
!, And Toms father He walked rounc
and round the little circle, the dizzy height
seemed every II oment to grow more fear
r full, and the solid earth further and furthc
from him. In the sudden panic he los
his presence of mind, and his senses almos
| failed him. He shut his eyes; he felt a.
) if the next moment he must be dashed to
pieces on the ground below.
The day passed as industriously ant
swiftly as usual with TOMS mother a
f home. She was always busily employed
for her husl and and children, in SOM
f way or the other; and to-day she had
been harder at work then usual, getting
ready 70: the holiday tomorrow Sh,
had just finished all her preparations, ant
, her thoughts were silently thanking Gor
for her happy home, and for all the bless
ings cf life, when Tom ran in his fac,
as white as ashes, and he har lly could ge
his DIS out: Mother Mother H,
cannot get down
i who lad? Thy father?' asked hi
, mother.
Thy have forgotten to leave him tn,
rope answered Iom, still scarcely abl.
to speak. His mother started up, horror
| struck, and stood for moment as if par
, alyzed then pressing her hands over he
face, as if to shut out the terrible picture
and breathing prayer to God for help
she rushed out of the house.
When she reached the place where he
husband was at work, crowd had collect
cd round the foot of the chimney, an
stood there quite helpless, gazing up will
faces full of sorrow. 'He says he'll throw
himself down., exclaimed they, as Mrs
Howard came up. lie is going to throw
himself down.
Thee munna do that, lad!' cried thu
; wife, with clear, hopeful voice: The,
Emunna do that. Wait bit. TAX of
thy stocking, lad, and unr.vel it, and le
down the thread with bit Of mortar
Dost hear me, Jem?? %
5 The man made sign of assent, for i
seemed as if he could not speak, and tax
ing off his stocking, unraveled the worsteG
thread, row after row. The people stood
f round in breathless silence and suspense
wondering what Tome mother could b,
: 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 husband. The lit
tie ethread came waving down the tall chin.
ney, blown hither and thither by the wind
. but at last it reached the outstretched
hands that were waiting forit. Tom held
the ball of string, while ibis mother Tied
ono end oft to the worsted thread. Now