Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-04-28
3 G9tillmg skettg,
THE WORSTED STOCKING.

THE following thrilling adventure is from
an English Magazine:
Father will have done the great chimney
| tonight, won't he mother ?" said little Tom
| Howard, as he stood waiting for his fathers
breakfast, which he carried to him at his
work every morning.
He said he hoped all the scaffolding would
be down tonight" answered his mother,
| and thatll be fine sight for never like
| the ending Of those great chimneys it's so
risky thy fathers to be the last up"
"Eh, then, but I'll go and see him, and
help em give a shout afore he comes down."
said Tom.
"And then," continued his mother, "if all
goes on right, we are to have frolc to-mor-
row, and go into the country, and take our
dinners, and spend all day amongst the
woods"
"Hurrah !" cried Tom, as he ran off to his
fathers 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 whstling 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 pro-
tect and bless her treasures
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 round to see how his father was get.
ting Oh. James Howard, the father and
| number OF other workmen, had been building
one OF those lofty chimneys which, in our
great manufacturing towns, almost supply
! the place OF other architectural beauty This
chimney was one Of the highest and most
| taperlng that had ever been erected and as
Tom. shading his eyes from the slanting rays
| OF the setting sun looked up to the top in
search of his father, his heart almost sunk
within him at the appalling height. The
scaiioldlng was almost all down the men
at the bottom were removing the last beams
and poles. Toms father stood alone on the
top. He looked all around to see that every
thing was right, and then waving his hat in
the air the men below answered him with
long, loud cheer. little Tom shouting as hear
tlly as any of them. AS their voices died
away, however they heard a very different
sonnd--a cry of alarm and horror from above
The rope! the rope !" The men looked
round and. coiled upon the ground lay the
rope, which before the scaffoldiug was reno
we'd. should have been fastened to the top of
the chimney for Toms father to come down
by The scaffoldng had been taken down.
without their remembering to take the rope
up. There was dead silence. They all
knew it was impossible to throw the rope mp
high enough, or skillfuly enough to reach
the top of the chimney or if it could, it
would hardly have been safe. They stood in
silent dismay, unable to give any help, or
think of any means of safety.
And Toms father. He walked round and
round the little circle, the dizzy height SEEM
ing every moment to grow more fearful, and
the solid earth further and further from him.
In the sudden panic he lost his presence of
mind: and his senses almost failed him. He
shut his eyes he felt as if the next moment
he must be dashed to pieces on the ground
below
The day passed as ndustrously and as
swiftly as usual. with Toms mother at home.
She was always busily employed for her hus-
band and children. in some way or other;
and to-day she has been harder at work than
usual, getting ready for the holiday to-mor-
row. She had just finished all her prepara-
tions. and her thoughts were silently thank
ing God for her happy home, and fur all the
blessings of life, when Tom ran in. His
face was as white as ashes, and he could
hardly get his words out Mother mother
He Gamma get down."
"Who lad ? Thy father p asked his 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 a moment as if paralized; then
pressing her hands over her face If to shut
out the terrible picture. and breathing pray
er to God for help, she rushed out OF the
house.
When she reached the place where her
husband was at work. a crowd had collected
round the foot of the chimney, and stood
there quite hopeless gazing up with faces full
of sorrow. "He says he'll throw himself
down." exclaimed they, as Mrs. Howard came
up. He is gong to throw himself down."
"Thee munna 70 that lad |" cried the
wife. with clear, hopeful voice: "thee mum
ma do that. Wait q bit. TAX of thy stock
ing. lad. and unrayel it, and let down the
thread with bit Of mortar. Dost hear me
Jemr
The man made sign Of assent. for II |
seemed as II be could not speak and, taking |
II bis stocking, unravslled the worsted |