Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-01-04

moment as if paralized; then pressing her hand
over her face if to shut out the terrible picture,
and breathing prayer to God for help, she rushed
out of the house. .s @
| When she reached the place where her hus-
band was at work, crowd had collected round the
foot of the chimney. and stood there quite help
less, gazing up with faces full of sorrow "He
says he'll throw himself hown," exclaimed they,
as Mrs. Howard came up. "He going to throw
himself downi"
Thee munna do that, lad!" cried she with
clear, hopeful voice; "thee munna do that Wait
bit. Take off Sthy stocking, lad, and unravel it,
and let down the thread, with bit Of mortar
Dost hear me, Jem!"
The man made a sign of assent, for it seemed
as if he could not speak; and taking off his stock
ing unravelled the worsted thread, row after row.
The people stood round in breathess silence and
suspense, 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 kept fast hold of the other" cried she
to husband. The little thread came waving down
the tall chimney, blown hither and thither by the
wind but at last it reached the outstretched 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 up. 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 had fastened the thick
rope to it. They watched it gradually and slow
ly uncoiling 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 trembl:ngly rejoiced The rope
was up. The iron to which it should be fastened
was there all right; but would her husband be able
to make use of them! would not the terror of the
past hour have so unnerved him, as to prevent him
from taking the necessary measures for his safe
ty! 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 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, my soul, and why
art thou Disputed within me! Hope thou in God"
She lifted up her heart to God for hope and |
strength. She cauld do nothing more for her hus-
band, and her heart turned to God, and rested on
him rock.
There was great shout. "He's safe, mother, |
he's SAFE" cried little Tom. "Thou'st saved me,
Mary" said her husband, folding her in his arms.
"But what ails thee! Thou seem'st more sorry |
than glad about it, But Mary could not speak;
and if the strong of her husband had not held |
her up, she would have fallen to the ground-the
sudden joy, after 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 poured forth their /
thanks to God for nis great goodness; and their |
happ life together felt dearer AMI boiler for the /
Pearlit had been in, and for the nearness that the
danger had brought them unto God. And the
holidsy next day,-was it not indeed n thanksgiy-
ing day!-[ English s. s. Magazine.