Litchfield enquirer., 1857-01-22
EDwARD c. GOODWIN, Editor and Publisher.
The W0rsted Steel okings,

l Howard, as he stood waiting for his fathers breakfast, which he carried to hiil at his work every morning. E5 ra l He said he hoped all the scadolding would
 be down tonight" answered his mother, { and
 that'H be a fine sight; for never like the end
 ing of those great chmneys it's so risky thy
 fathers's to be the last up." .e. l Eh, then, but I'll go and see him, aRd help 1 'em give shout afore he comes down." said ! Tom.
 And tlen,n continued his mother, if all goes on right, we are to have froiic to nor row, and go into the country, and take our dinners and spend all day amongst the woods"
 Hurrah p 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 tlle door, watching him as he went merrDy whistliDg down the street, aud then she thought of the dear father he was going to, and the dangerous work he was en- gagged u and then h.r heart sought its sure refuge, and she prayed to God to protect and bless her treasures. .s-
 Tom, with a light heart pursued his way to his father, and leaving him li.s breakfast, went to his own work, which Was at some distance. In the evening, on his way home, he went round to sec how his father was getting on James Howard, the father, and d number of other workmcn, had been building one of those lofty chimneys which, in our great manufacturing towns, almost supply the place of other arch!- teetural beauty This chimney was one of the highest aud most tapering that had ever been erected and as Tom, shading his eyes from the slantng rays of the setting sup looked up to the top in search ot his father, his heart almost snnk within him at the appalling height. The scaifu!ding was almost all down the men at the bottom were removing the last beams and poles. Toms father stood alone on the top. II locked all around to see that every thing was right and then waving his hat ill the air the men below answered him with t. long, loud cheer, little Tom shouting as heartily as any of them. As their vo.ces died away, however, they heard very different souud-a cry of alarm and horror from above! "The rope the rope p The men looked round, and. coiled upon the ground, lay the rope, which be- fore the scaffoding Was removed, should have been fastencd to the top of the chimney for Tom's father to come down by The scailold- ing had been taken down without their rcme,l- bering to take the rope up. There was dead sileuce. They all knew it was impossible to throw the rope up high enough, or sk;ifuIly enough to reach the top of the chimney or if it could it would hardly have been stte- 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 seeming every moment to grow more fearful and the solid earth further and further from him. In the sudden panic he lost his presence of 'nfad, and his senses almost failed him. He shut lis eyes: he felt as if the next moment he must be dashed to pieces on the ground below.
 The day had passed as ildu>trionsly and as swiftly as usual with Toms mother at home. She was always busy employed for Ter hns- band and children, in some way or other; and to day she had been harder at work than usual getting ready for the holiday to-morsow. She had just finished he; preparations, and her p:ous thoughts were silently thanking God for her happy home, and for all the blessings of life, when Tom ran in. His face was as white as a shes, and he conld hardly get his words out i; "Mother mother! He canm. get down."
 "Who, lad Thy father ?'' asked lis mother.
 "Th:y've forgotton to acave him tho ropr," answered the boy still scarcely able to speak His mother started up, horror-struck. and stood ict a 'hSuShSi "' u taAti 1SN1 ehSh tiSNcfiS her han>ls over her face as if to shut out the terrible picture, and breathing a prayer to G God for assistance, she rushed out of the house. When she reached the place where her hus- band was at work,a crowd had collected round the foot of the chmncy, and stood there quite helpless, gazing up with their faces fall of sorrow.
 He says hell throw himself down. ox- claimed they, as Mrs Howard came up. "He says he is going to throw himself down. "rhee munna do that, lad!" cried the wife, in clear hopeful voice; ' thee munna do that Wait bit-Tak of thy stocking, lad, and un- raycl it, aud let down the thread with bit of mortar. Dost hear me, Jean !"
 The man made sign of assent, for it seems as if he could not speak, and, taking of his stocking, unraveled the worsted thread, row after row. The people stood around in breath . less siseuce and suspense, wondering what Toms mother could be thinking of, and why she sent him ia such haste for the carpenters bail of twiae.
 "Let down one end of the thread with bit of stone and keep fast hold of the other" cried she to her husband. The little thread came waving down the tall chimney, blown hithcr and thither hy the wind, but at last it reached the outstretched hands tha. 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" cries she to her husband, aud she gradually unwound the string as the worsted drew it gently up. It stopped-the string had reached her husband. 2" Now hold the string fast and pull it up,a cried she and the string grew hard and heavy to pull. for Tom and his mother had fastened the rope to it They watched it gradually assi slowly uncoil- i ing from the ground as the staipg was drawn kichaE