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

there quite helpless, gazing up with tace
fulIof sorrow.
He says he'll throw himself down." ex
claimed they, as Mrs. Howard came up
He is going to throw himself down.
Thee munna do that, lad % cried tht
wife, with clear, hopeful voice; ''thee nun,
nas.lo that. Wait bit. TAX off thy stock
fings, lad, and unravel it, and let down The
thread with bit of mortar. Dost hear me
Jen?''
The man made sign of assent, for il
seemed as il he could not speak; and taking
off his stockings unravelled' the worsted
thread, row after row. The people stood
arSnnd in breathless silence and suspense,
wandering what Toms mother could be
thiaking Of, and why she sent him in such
hate for the carpenters ball of twine.
Let down one end of the thread with a
biSof stone, and keep fast hold of the other, p
crlyd she to her husband: The little thread
cape waving down the tall chimney blown
hfaer and thither by the wind, but at last
itseached the outstretched hands that were
waiting for it. Tom held the ball of string,
willie his mother tied one end of it to the
werstcd thread.
Now pull it up slowly" cried she to her
husband, and she gradually unwound the
sting as the worsted drew it gently up
Hsstopped, the string had reached her hus-
bsnd. ''Now hold the string fast, and pull
tap" cried she, and the string grew heavy
ard hard to pull, for Tom and his mother
bad fastened thick rope to it. They watch
Ee4it gradually and slowly uncoiling from
81 round, as the string was drawn higher
There was but one coil left. It had reach
z the top. ''Thank God thank God p
Elaimed the wife. She hid her face in her
nds in silent prayer, and, trembling, re-
I ced. The rope was up. The iron to
fich it should be fastened was there all
.fght; but would her husband be able to
axe use of them? Would lot the terror
as the past hour have SO unnerved him, as
5oprevent him from taking the necessary
measures for his safety? She did not know
the magical influence which her few words
had exercised upon him. She did not know
tie strength that the sound Of her voice, so
calm and steadfast, had filled him with-as
the little thread that carried him the hope
&tlife once more, had conveyed to him some
III a;eA aethine
ever destroyed or shook in her true heart
She did not know, that, as he waited there.
the words came over him, ssWhy art thou
cast down, o. my soul and why art thou
disquieted within me? Hope thou in God. :"
She lifted 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 rock.
There was great shout. *'He's safe,
mother, he's safe! p cried little Tom.-
''Thou'st saved me, Mary" said her hus-
band, folding her in his arms. '.But what
ails thee thou seem m'st more sorry than glad
about it." But Mary could not speak and
il the strong arm of her husband had not
held her up, she would have, fallen to the
ground the sudden joy after such great
fear. had overcome her. :. "Tom, let thy
mother lean On thy shoulder" said his fa-
ther, :tand we will take her home." And
in their happy home they poured forth their
thanks to God for his great goodness, and
their happy life together felt dearer and
holier for the peril it has been in, and for
the nearness that the danger had brought
them unto God. And the holiday next
day-was it not, indeed, thanksgiving
day?