Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-01-24
THE woRsTED STOCKING.
A True Story.


"Father will have done the great chin
ney tonight, won't he, mother 2" said
little Tom Howard, as he stood waiting
for his fathers breakfast, which he car
ried to him at his work every morning.
"He said he hoped all the Scatfolding
would be down tonight" answered his
mother, "and that'll be fine sight; for
never like the ending Of those great chin
ueys it's SO risky-thy fathers to be the
last up"
"Eh. then, but I'll go and see him, and
help 'em to give a shout afore he comes
down." said Tom.
"And them" continued his mother, elf
all goes right, we are to have frolic to-
morrow, and go into the country and take
our dinners, and spend all the day in the
woods"
"Hurrah p cried Tom, as he ran off to
his Iather's place of work, with can OF
milk in one hand and some bread in the
other. His mother stood at the door
Watching him as he went merrily whist
ling down the street, and then she thought
of the dear father he was going to, and
the dangerous 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 him his
breakfast, went to his own work, which
was at some distance. In the evening,
on his way home, he went around to see
how his father was going on. James
Howard, the father, and number of 9TH
er workmen, had been building one oi
those lofty chimneys, which in our great
manufacturing towns, almost supply the
place of other architectural beauty. The
chimney was one Of the highest and most
tapering that had ever been erected; and
as Tom, shading his eyes from the slant
ing rays of the setting sun, looking up to
the top in search of his father, his heart
almost sank within him at the appalling
height. The scaffolding was almost al
down; the men we're removing the lasr
beams and poles. Toms father stood
alone on the top. He looked all around
to see that every thing was right, anc
then waving his hat in the air, the mcr
below answered him with long, louC
cheer. Little Tom shouted as heartily a.
any OF them. AS their voices died away
however. they heard a very differen
sound-a cry Of alarm and horror from
above "The rope The rope !" Th,
men looked around, and coiled upon th
ground lay the rope, which, before tn
scaffolding was removed. should have beel
fastened to the chimney for Toms fathe
to come down by. The scafolding ha,
been taken down without their remember
ing to take the rope up. There was
dead silence. They all knew it was i'm
possible to throw the rope hi gh enough t
} reach the top of the chimney; or if the
could, it would hardly have been safe
They stood in silence and dismay, unabl
} to give any help or think of any means {
safety.
And Toms father. He walked roun
and round the little circle, the dizzy heiyt
seeming every moment to grow more feal
full, and the solid earth further and furthe
from him. In the sudden panic he 10.
T his presence Of mind, and his senses a
/ most failed him. He shut his eyes. q
felt as if the next moment he must
!. dashed to pieces on the ground below.
The day. had passed as Industrious an
81 Witty ss usual with Toms mother