Kenosha tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1855, 1855-03-29
A Thrilling Sketch.


an English Magazine:
Father will have done the great Chin
ney o-night, 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.
lie said he hoped all the scafolding would
be down tonight answered the mother,
and thatll be a fine sight; for never like
the ending of those great chimneys; it's SO
risky; thy father, is to be the last up
'Eh, then. but J ii go and see him, and
help 'em give shout sfore he comes down,
said Tom.
And them continued the mother, If all
goes on right, We are TO have frolic to-
morrow, and 60 into the country, and take
our dinners, and spend all day amongst the
woods.
'Hurrah!' cried Tom, as he ran off 10 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 whilstling 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 round to see how his
father was getting on. James Howard tie
father, and a number ofother workmcn, had
been building one of those lofty chimneys,
which, in our great manufacturing towns,
almost supply the place Of other architec,u-
raj beauty. This chimney was one of the
highest and most tapering 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
height. The scafolding was almost all
down; the men at the bottom were rcmov-
Ing the last beams and poles. Tom faith
er 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 a long, long
cheer, little Tom shouting as heartily as
any of them. AS their voices died away
however they heard 4 very different sound
a CRY Of alarm and horror from above"
The rope. tho rope' The men looked
round and. coilcd upon the ground lay the
rope. which before the scaffolding as remov-
ed should have been fastened to the top of
the chimney, for Toms father to come down
BY! The scatfolding had been taken down
without their remembering TO take the rope
up. There was dead silence. They all
knew i. was impossible to throw the rope
up high enough. or skillfully enough to
reach the top OF the chimney; or iii could,
it would hardly have been safe They stood
in silen. 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
seeming every moment to grow more fearful
and the solid earth 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 had passed as industriously and
as swiftly as usual, with Toms mother at
home. She was always busily employed
for her husband and children. in some way
or other; and to-day she had been harder
q. work than usual, getting ready for the
holiday tomorrow. She had just finish