The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1858-04-08

died away, However, they heard a different
sound, a cry of alarm and horror from
abnve. The rope! the rope The men
looked around. and coiled upon the ground
lay the rope, which. before the scsfiolaino
was removed, should have been fastened to
the top of the chimney, for Toms father 10
come downibyl The scaffoldinp had been
taken down, without remembering to take
the rope up. There was dead silence.
They all knew ], impossible to throw the
rope up high enough, or sklfully enough, to
reach the top of the chimney. or if il could.
IL would hardly have been safe. They stood
IN silent disinay, unable to give any help or
think of any means of safety.
"And Tom'srfather He. walked round
and round the little circle, the dizzy height
seemed every moment TO grow more fearful.
and the solid earth further and further from
him. In the sudden panic he lost his pres.
ence OF mind. and his senses failed him
lie shut his eyes he felt as if the next mo.
ment he must be dashed TO pieces on the
ground below. - )
The day passed as industriously as usual
with TOMS mother al home. She was al.
ways busily employed for her husband and
children in some way or other. and TODAY
she bad been harder at work than usuai
getting ready ssSc+ he hc!:asy .c-merrnw =
She hal just finished her preparations, and
her thoughts were. silently thanking God
for her happy home, and for all the bles-
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 downp
90 Who, lad u thy father9' asked the
mother.
"' They have forgotten to leave him the
rope answered Tom, still scarcely able to
speak. The mother started up, horror
struck, and stood for a moment as if para.
lyzed then pressing her hands over her face
as if 10 shut out the terrible picture, and
breathing prayer to God for help, she
rushed OUT of the house.
When she reached the place where her
husband was at work, crowd had gathered
round the foot of the chimney, and stood
here quite helpless, gazing up with faces
full Of sorrow.
O. He SAYS he'll throw himself down. ex.
claimed they, as Mrs. Howard came up
He is going TO throw himself down.
a. Thee munna do that, lad!' cried the
wife, with q clear, hopeful voice thee nun,
ma do that. Wait a Bit Take off thv
stocking, lad. and unravel it, and let down
the thread with bit Of mortar. Dost thou
hear me, Jem 2 @
The man made a sign Of assent; for il
seemed as if he could not speak-and tax.
ing off his stockings, unraveled the worsted
thread row after row. The people stood
around in breathless silence and suspense
wondering what Toms mother could be
thinking of, and why she sent him in
such haste for the carpenters ball Of twine
"'L 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 hither and thither by the wind, but
il reached the oulstretched hands that were
waiting for it. Tom held the ball of string
While his mother tied one end Of it to the
worsted thread ar,
Now pull it up slowly cried she to her
husband, aud she gradually unwound the
string rs the worsted drew it up 1t stop.
ped, the string bad reached her husband
Now, hold the string fast, and pull it up
cried she, and the string grew heavy and
hard to pull, for Tom and his mother had
fastened a ihiek rOpe 10 it. They, watched
it gradually and slowly uucoilng from the
ground, as the string was drawn higher.
s"There was but one coil left. Ii had
reached.lle top. Thank God thank God 2
exclaimed the wife. She hid her face in her
hands in silent PRAYER, and. trembling, re-
jpiced. The iron to which it should be fas-
tened was there all right--but would her
husband be able TO make use of them ?--
Would not the terror Of the past hour have
so unnersed him as to prevent him from
taking The necessary measure for his safety ?
She did not know tho magical influence
which her few words had exercised upon
him.. She did moi know tha strength that
the sonnd of her voice. so calm and stead.
fast, had filed him wilh--as if the little
thread that carried him the hope Of life once
more, had conveyed to him SONS portion Of
that faith in God, which nothing ever de-
stoyed or shook in he, true heart. She did
not Epow that Is he waited there, the words
same over him, Why, art thou cast down,
Q, my soul, and why art thou disquieleel
within met Hope thou in. God She lift.
ed up, her heart to God for hope and
strength. She could do nothing more for
her husband, and her heart turned to God
and rested on him as on a rock.
. H"