Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1855-01-13

and swiftly as usual with Toms mother
at home. She was always busily cm-
ployed for her husband and children in
some way or other; and today she had
been harder at work than usual, getting
ready for the holiday tomorrow. She
! had just finished all her preparations and
her thonghls were silently thanking God
for her happy home, and for al! the bles-
I sings of life, when Tom ran in; his face
vas as white as ashes; and he could hard.
| ly get his words out. Mother Moth
er lie cannot get down.
who, Lao Thy father . asked mis-
mother.
They've forgotten to leave him the
rope answered Tom, still scarcely able
to speak, His mother started up horror
struck, and stood for moment as if par
alized; then pressing her hands over her
face, as if TO shut out the terrible picture,
and breathing prayer to God !or help,
she rushed out of the house.
When she reached the place where her
husband was at work; crowd had coilec-
ted round the foot of the chimney, and
stood there quite helpless, gazing up with
faces full Of sorrow. He says he'll
throw himself down. exclaimed they, as
Mrs. Howard came up. He's going to
throw himself down.
Thee must not DO that, lad ! cried the
wife, with a clear hopeful voice; thee
must not do that. Wait bit. Take Off
! thy stocking, lad, and unravcI it, and let
down the thread with bit of mortar.
! Dost thou hear me, Jem 2
The man made a sign of assent, for il
seemed as if he could not speak; and, ia
king off his stocking, unravelled the wor-
sted thread row after row. The people
stood around in brealhless silence and sus
perse, 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 ;he thread with
| bit Of stone, and keep fast hold 10 the 9th
er," cried she to her husband. The lit
lie thread came waving down the tall
chimney, blown hilher ana thither by the
wind, but at last it reached the outstretctl-
ed hands that were waiting for it. Tom
held the bail of string, while his mother
tied one end of it to the thread. Now
pull 1t up slowly cried she TO her hus-
band, and she gradually unwouGd the
string as the worsted drew it gently up.
1t stopped--the string had reached her
husband. Now hold the string fast and
pull it up cried she, ard the string grew
heavy and hard to pull, for Tom and his
mother had fastened the thick rope to ii.
They watched il gradually and slowly un-
coiling from the ground, as the string was
drawn higher.
There was but one coil left. 1t had
reached the top. 'Thank God Thank
God ? exclaimed the wife. She hid her
face in her hands in silent prayer, and
tremblingly reioiced, The rope was up.
The iron to which it should be fastened
was there all right; but would her hus-
band be able TO make use Of them 3
would not the t:emor Of the past hour
have so 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 eXer-
cised over him. She die not know the
strength that the sound of her voice, so
calm and steadlast, had filled him with
as if the little thread that carried HIM the
hone of life once more, had conveyed some
portion of that faith in God, which moth
ing ever destroyed 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 disquie;ed within me ?
Hope thou in God She could DO moth
inc more for her husband, and her heart
turned to God, and rested or him as on a
rock.
There was great shout. Hes safe,
mother, he's SAFE cried little Tom.
.Tho'st saved me, Mary said her nus
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 if the strong arm Of her hus-
hand had no, held her up, she would have
fallen 10 the ground the sudden JOY, al
ter such great fear, had overcome her.
.Tom,' said his father, let thy mother
lean on thy shoulder, and we will take her
home And in their happy home they
noured forth their thanks to God for his
great goodness; and their happy life to,
9ether felt dearer and holier for the peril
i had been in, and for the nearness that
the danger had brought them unto God,
And the holiday next day,--was 1t not
indeed thanksgiving day.--Engl'SH D.
S. Magazine.
Dobbs says he would have died oil