Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-01-28
A THRILLING SIX ETCH.


A THRILLING SKETCH.
The following thrilling adventure is from
an English Magazine:
"Father will have done the great CHM
ney tonight, won't he mother?'' said little
Tom Howard, as he stood waiting for his
fathers breakfast, which he carried to him
at his work every morning.
''He said he hoped all the scafolding
would be down tonight answered the mo-
ther, sand that'n bea fine sight; for never
like the ending Of those great chimneys its
SO risky, thy fathers to be the last u p"
''Eh, then, but I'll go and see him, and
help 'em to give shout afore he comes
down." said Tom.
'sAnd then,' continues the mother, eff
all goes on right, we are to have a frolic to-
morrow, and go into the country, and take
our dinners, and spend all day in the woods. y
'.Hurrah p cried Tom, as he ran off to]
his fathers place of work, with a can of
milk in one hand and some bread in the 9TH
er. His mother stood at the door watching
him as he went merrily whistling down the
street, and then she thought of the dear fa-
ther he was going to, and the dangerous
work he was engaged in, and then her heart
sought its sure refuge, and she prayed to]
God to protect and bless her treasures.
Tom, with 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 toasee how his father
was getting on. James Howard the father,
7rr1-7
-bmiding one Of these lofty chimneys, which,
in our great manufacturing towns, almost
supply the place of other architectural beau
ty. This chimney was of the highest and
most tapering that had ever been erected,
and as Tom, shading his eyes from the
slanting rays of the setting sun, looked up
in search Of his father, his heart, almost
sank within hin, at the appalling height
The scafolding was almost 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 eve
rything was right, and then waving his hat
in the air, the men below answered him
with a long, long cheer, little Tom shout
ing as heartily as any of them. AS their
voices died away. however, they heard
very different sound-a cry Of alarm and
horror from above! 1.-The rore! the rope H'I
The men looked around, and, coiled upon
the ground lay the rope, which, before the
scafolding was removed, should have been|
fastened to the top of the chimney for Toms
father to come down by! The scafolding
had been taken down, without their remem-
bering to take the rope up. There was a
dead silence. They all knew it was impos-
sible to throw the rope up high enough, or
skllfully enough to reach the top of the
chimney OR if it could, it would hardly
have been safe. They stood in silent dis
may, unable to give any help OF think of
any means Of safety.
And Toms father He walked round
and round the little circle, the dizzy hei ghtl
seemed every moment togrow 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
He 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 at home. She was all
ways busily employed 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 her preparations, and
her 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 ashes, and he
could hardly get his words out: Mother
mother! he cannot get down -
ssWho, lad? thy father?" asked his moth
err
.'They 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 para
lyzed; then pressing her hands over her
face, as if to 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 gather
ed round the foot of the chimney and stood