The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-04-09

made. The preparations were perfected
and his younger brother was taken into the
enterprise.
When all in the house were asleep, ant
the star, gave just light enough to guide
and none to expose the performance, with
prevention and punishment among the chan
ces, the two little fellows left their bed, ane
descended the roof Of the front building I'll
they dropped themselves upon that OF the
kitchen. Here the clothes-ine, providently
slowed away during the day for the purpose
was lying ready in coil, with stone secure
ly tied at one end.
what is the stone for, Elisha?'
'Why, you see, Tom, the stone is dip
sey. call it a dypsey, "a young science OF
exploration, and nomenclature to match
already because I'm going to throw It into
the fue, SO that il will run down into the
old furnace, carrying the line down with 1t,
and then can slip down and fasten II there
Now for heave. The chimney-top Is al-
most too high for me. II Is pretty near
twenty ieet, | should think: but I'll do IT.
Failures to reach the height, then failures
TO direct the dip Of the falling stone, iol.
lowed in long succession; but this gave
practice, and practice makes perfect. At
last one throw more lucky than the rest, and
the rumble in the chimney, and the run OF
the line announced success. Down through
the trsp-door went Elisha, and, aRer secur-
ing the end at the furnace, he ascended to
the roof again, and was ready. But stop q
litile,-the chimney is a very narrow stack
il stands outside OF the gable, and there Is
4 chance tina, the climber may swing out
and get forty or fifty feet Of clear air be-
tween him and the pavement below. This
must be cared for and little Tom Is duly
instructed and planted firmly, with the slack
Of the rope in hand, to keep Elisha on the
right side Of the chimney, so that u the
bricks on the edge give way and q tumble
betide, he may come down oil safe and nice
upon the roof. All these arrangements made
and the contingencies 40 well provided for,
the rope is seized, the feet planted against
the chimney, and hand over hand, up. goes
the aspirani, till the top Is within reach but
the perch is not 30 easily attained, even when
the full height OF the stack Is msstered.-
One hand on top brick to draw himself up
by 1t, and 1t yields in its loosened bed! -
That won't do. With hard strain he gets
his elbow over the edge, and SO much Of the
doubled arm within for good broad hold,
and then daintily and carefully wrggling
up the little body, he is up, seated on the
top m
'Oh, Tom, what a nice place this is III
get down into the fue to my waist, and pull
you up, too. Just make loop in the rope,
and I'll haul you in. Don't be afraid, lit Is
80 grand up here
hut the strength was not quite equal TO
the will and TOMS chance had to be sur
rendered.
The descent was about Us dangerous, tho
not quite as difficult as the ascent. And
then all that remained was to hide the tracks,
which required another descent to the base
ment, thorough washing Of the rope to
remove the SCOT Of the chimney and then,
ss the business OF the night was done, to
bed ria the roof and skylight again; and a
bright, happy consciousness on awaking in
the morning that he had done Il.
His child history is full Of this sort Of
incidents. Through them all runs the one
character Of physical hardihood, and steady
tense endeavor for doing everything that
seemed difficult Of accomplishment, without
other aim, or any aim at all beyond the mere
doing.