The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-11-13

w lIOLE NO. iii
. dismay, unable 70 give any help or think oi
{ any means of safety.
Aud Toms father. lie walked round an,
! round the little circle, the dizzy height seem
ed more and more fearful, and the solid eartl
{ further and further from him. ln the suddeI
panio be lost his presence Of mind and hi
senses failed him. lie shut his eyes, he fr
~ " the next moment hs must be dashed q
pieces on Ihe ground below,
The day passed as industTioualy as usua
with Toms mother at h0me. She was alway,
busily employed Tor heT husband and children
10 some way or other, and to-day ,he had
been harder NJ work than usual getting rea-
I dy for the holiday tomorrow, She had jusf
/ finished her arrangements, aud her thoughts
we're silently thanking God for the happy
home, and for all these blessings Of life, when
| Tom ran Ia,
Ills face was as white as ashes, and be
could hardly get hs words out "Mother -
mother he cannot get down"
"Who, lad thy father ?" asked the moth
or,
"They hAve forgotten 10 leave him the
rope answered Tom, ttill scarcely able 70
speak The mother started up, horror struck,
ana stood fuT. a moment ~ II paulyzed 8
then pressing her hands over her face, az II
10 shut out the terrible picture, aud breath
ing prayer 10 God for help, sEe rushed out
OF the house.
When she reached the place whore her
husband was AZ work, crowd gathered
around tho foot Of the chimney, and stood
quite helplcss, gazing up With faces full Of.
sorrow.
"lle says he'll throw himself down"
"lliee munna do that, l,f. +" cried the wife. F.
With clear, hopeful voice "the munna do ,
that VIII bit, Take oil thy Atocking. .
lad, aud unraVel t., and let down the thread 4
with biz OF mortar. Dost thou hear INC,
Jom ?"
The man made Sisn Of assent for il |.
'eemed a. if lac could not speak-and taking
Oh his stocking, unrayelled the worsted yarn,
row after row, The people stood around IN
silence and suspense, wondering
hat Toms mother could bc thinking of aud
Why she sent him ia such haste for The car.
,ent,r's bail Of twine.
"lct down one end OF the thread with
III OF stone, hnd.keop fast hold of the other"
'ued she to her husband. The little thread
anne waving down the tall chimney, blown
ilther and ihiihtr by the wind, but II reached
he outslrctehed hands that were awaiting
l. Tom held the ball OF tNinc. while his ,,
mother tied one end Of il to tho worsted :
bread. I
"N0W pull Il slowly" cried abe 10 her has.
and, and she gradually unwound the Suing 4
Intil Il reached her husband. "Now hold The !
lrins last and pull Il up" cried she, aud the :
iring grew heavy and hard to pan, tor Tom
nd hla mother had iastenod a thicA rope To
!. They watched It gradually aud slowly :
nooi'ing FROM the ground as t,ic string Nas y
fawn higher.
There was but ono coil ef.. IL had reach y
d the tol. Thank Cod thank God" eX. u
Iainird The wife. She hid her face ia her y
de 10 Il MAKE si use oftF Would not the ter q
)r of the past hour 10 have unneryed him :,
\ TO prevent him from taking the necessary a.
icasurcs for his Saiety9 She did not know Il
ne magical influence which her few words J.,
ad exercised over him. She did not know :
he strength that the sound of her voice, so 7
aim and steadfast, had flied him with--as :,
tho little thread that carried him the hope =
life once more, had conveyed 10 him some
ortiou Of that faith in God which nothing
yer destroyed or shook in her pure heart. e
ho did not know that as she waited there y
he words came over him, "Why art thou d
ast down, o my soul, and why art thou dis 81
uetcd within me hope thou in God" She u
ned her heart TO God for hope aud strength al
ut could do no mora for her husband, aud a
cr heart turned TO God and roSted on him o.
s on rock.
There was a great shout "lIe's safe, moth u
+, he's safe" cried little Tom. h
Thou hnst saved my life, my Mary" said ?
er husband folding her in his arms. "But b
that ailoth thee thou seemest more sorry
han glad about it,. But Mary could not l'
peak, and if the strong arm OF her husband !,
ad not held her up she would have fallen to Il
he grsund-the sudden joy after such great o
var had overcome her.-"'lem, let thy moth 81
r lean on Thy shoulder" said the father, "und
.o will carry her homen And in their han y
y houo thcy poured forth their thanks to Il
iod for his goodness, aud their happy life o
ogclhcr felt dearer and holier for the peril X
. had been in, and the nearness of the dan a
er had brought them unio God. And the c
olidsy next dNy--wds itnot indeed thanks I
living day9