Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-03-16

then her heart found lis sure refuge, and
she prayed to God TO protect and bless
her treasures.
Tom, with a 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, the father, and a number Of
other workmen had been building one Of
those lofty chimneys, which, in our
great manufacturing towns, almost sup
ply the place Of our other architectural
beauty. This chimney was one Of the
highest and most tapering that has ever
been erected; and as Tom shading his
eyes from the rays Of the slanting sun,
looked up to the top of it in search of
his father, his heart almost sank within
him at the appalling height. The scat-
folding 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 everything was right, and
then waving his hat in the air. the men
below answered with long, loud cheer,
little Tom shouting as loud as any of
them. AS their voices died away how
ever, they heard very different sound
a cry Of alarm and horror from above i!
The rope. the rope! = The men look
ed around and coiied upon the ground
lay the rope, which before the scafleld-
ing was removed. should have been fas-
tened to the chimney, for Toms father
to come down by The scaffoldlng had
been taken down without their remem-
berlng to take the rope up. There was
dead silence. They all knew it was
impossible to throw the rope up high
enough to reach the top OF the chimney {;
or if it could it would hardly have been
safe. They stood in silence and 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, aud the solid earth further
and further from him In the sudden
panic he lost his presence of mind, aud
his senses almost failed him. He shu,
his eyes; he felt, as if the next moment,
he must be dashed to pieces OH the
ground below.
The day had passed as induslrlously
aud swiftly as usual with Toms mother
at home. She was always busily em.
ployed for her husband and children in
some way or other, and to-day she had
been harder at work than usual, getting
ready for the holiday tomorrow. She
had Just finished all her preparations, and
her thoughts were silently thanking God
for her happy home and for all the bless
lngs Of life, when Tom ran in his face
was as white as ashes {; and he could
hardly get his words out. Mother
mother lie Gamma get down.
Who lad' Thy falher! 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 moment as II par
alized then pressing her hands over her
face, as if TO shut OUT the horrible pic
,ure, and breathing prayer to God for
bep, she rushed out of the house.
When she reached the place where
her husband was at work, a crowd had
collececd at the foot of the chimney,
and stood there quite helpess, gazing up
with faces full Of sorrow. lie says he'll
throw himself down. exclaimed they, as
Mrs Howard came up. Hes going to
throw himself down.
Thee munna do that lad cried the
wife. with clear hopeful voice; thee
munna do that Wait bit. Take of
thy stocking lad, and unrayel it, and lei
down the thread with b!t of mortar
Dos, hear me Jemn
The man made sign Of assent for il
seemed as if he could not speak /; anC
taking off his stocking, unraveled the
worsted thread row after row. The peo
pie stood round in brea,hless silence anl
suspense, wondering what Toms mother
could be thinking of, and why she Sent
him in such haste for the carpenters bal
Of twine.
Let down one end Of the thread with
bit of stone, aud keep fast hold OF the
other cried she TO her husband. The
little thread came waving down the tai
chimney, blown hther and thi.htr by the
wind, bu, at last il reached the outstre,ch
ed hands that were waiting for it, Tom
held the ball of string, while his mother
tied one end TO the worsied thread
Now pu Il it up slowly cried she TO he'
husband. and she gradually unwound the
string as the worsled gently drew it up
1, stopped--the string had reached hel
husband. Now hold the string fast, anc
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 sl"wl
uncoilng 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 hel
face in her hands in silent prayer. and
,remblingly rejoicsd. 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 ,hem?-
| would not the terror or the past hour