The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-11-05
Thrilling Adventure.
The following thrilling sketch is from an
English Magazine:

''''S>'''''
"fHt!cr will haze done the great chimney
'o-n'% t, wont he mothcr.' said little Tom
my Howard, as he stood waiting for his
father" breakfast which he carried TO him
at his w"!ls every morning.
lie said he hopcl that all The scafloll
ing would be down 10 night" answered the
A"'h"r, ''anl t!:at'll be Il fine sight for
never liked the clr!iug Of those great chin,
ncys; it is 50 risky, for father to be the last
up.'
"ih, then, but I'll 90 and seek him, and
help 'cm to give Il shout atorc he comes
down." said Tom.
".tnl t!'"n," continued the mother, 'sif nj!
goes on right, we are to have Il rrolic to-
morrow; AMI 90 into the country, and take
GU: dinners, and srcr,l i'll the day in the
woo,.~.'
''!iurrai,.' cric,l Tom, rs he ran off 10
his iat!ic''s place Of work, with Il can of
mill; in one han! and some brcal in the
either. His mother stood 1T the door.
wa'"'.;ns Kim rs he went mcrr,ly wiisl!in-
down The street, and She thought Of the dear
i.:;'.cr he w;;s going TO- and the dangerous
""i" II: WAS engaged in; and then her
heart sought lis sure refuge, and She prayed
20 G'',i To protect and Llvss her treasures.
Tom wi;ha light heart pur. ucA his
WAY 30 III, father, and leaving linn his
breakfast went 10 his own work, which WAS
u: some distance In the evening, on his
way home, he went around 10 sec how his
father was getting on.
James Howard, the f:.t!lcr, and nunbcr
Of ether workmcn, had been building one of
those lofty chimncvs, which in our great
manufacturing towns almost supply the
place Of other architectural beauty. The
chimney WAS Of the highest and most taper
'i":; t!iat had ever been erected, and us Tom
s:iadcd his eyes from the slanting rays of
tic setting sun, lookc,l up in search Of his
father, hi, heart almost sank within him at
the appalling height. The scallvld was al
most down; the men ut the bottom were
removing the last beams and poles. Toms
father stood alone at the top.
lie ;llcm lookcl around to sec that every
thing was right, and then, waving his hat
III the air, the men below, answering him
Will! long, loud cheer, little Tom shouting
rs loud rs any Of them. As their voices
!:ed away, however, they heard a different
sound, Il cry Of alarm and horror from above
"Thc rope! the rope" The men looked
around, and coiled upon the ground, lay
the rope, which, before the scaffol,ling was
removed, should have been fastened to the
chimney, for Toms father to come down
by! The scafoling had been taken down
without remembering to take the rope up.
There was dead silence. They all knew it
impossible to throw the rope up high
enough, or skiifui enough 20 reach the top
Of the chimney, or if it could, it would hard
ly be safe. They stood in silent dismav,
unable to give any help or think of any
means ofsa?cty.
And Toms father. H. walked round
an1 round the little circle, the dizzy height
seemed more and more fearful, and the
solid earth further and further from him.
In the s'''l'len panic he lost his presence Of
miHd, and his senses failed him. lie slut
his eyes; he felt us if the next moment he
must be dashed to pciccs on the ground be-
low.
The day passed as inlustrious!y as usual
with Toms mother at home. She was al
ways busiIy employed for her husband and
children i'll some way or other, and to-day
she had been harder at work than usual,
getting ready for the holiday to omorrow.
She bad just finished her arrangements, and
her thoughts were silently thanking God
for the happy home, and for all these blcs-
sings Of life, when Tom ran in.
His face was as white as ashes. and he
could hardly get his words out: "Mother
mother! he cannot get down.
wi no, lad! thy father!' asked the
mother"
"Thev have forgotten to leave him the
rope" answered Tom, still scarcely able to
speak. The mother started up, horror
struck, and stood for moment as if par
alyzed; then pressing her hands over her
face, rs if TO shut out the terrible picture
and breathing prayer to God for help, she
rushed out of the house.
When sho reached tho place where her
husband was at work, crowd gathered
around the foot Of the chimney, and stood
quite helpless, gazing up with faces full of
sorrow.
"IIe says he'll throw himself down."
"Theo munna do that. lad," cried the
wife with clear hopeful voice; "theo
munna do that Wait bit. Take Off thy
stocking, lad, and unravel it, and let down
the thread with n bit of mortar.-Dost thou