Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-06-17

rays of the setting sun, looked up in searcl
of his father, his heart almost sank within
him at the appalling height. The scafclt
was almost down; the men at the bottom
were removing the last beams and pole
Toms father stood alone at The top.
He then looked around 10 see that eve
ry thing was right and then, waving hi.
hat in the air, the men below answered
him with a long, loud cheer, little Ton
shouting as heartily as any of them. A.
their voices died away, however, they heart
different sound, cry of alarm aud hor
ror from above. "The rope! the roper
The men looked around, and coiled upor
the ground lay the rope, which before the
scaffolding was removed, should have beer
fastened TO the top of the chimney, fol
Toms father to come down by! The scaf
folding had been taken down without re-
membering to take the rope up. There
was dead silence. They all knew it i'm.
possible to throw the rope up high enough
or skillful enough to reach the top of the
chimney or if il could it would hardly be
safe. They stood in silent dismay, unable
TO give any help or think of any means Of
safety.
And Toms father. He walked round
and round the little circle, the dizzy height
seemed more and more fearful, and the solid
earth further from him. In the sudden
panic he lost his presence of mind, and his
sense failed him. He shut his eyes; he
felt as if the next. t.moment he must be dash
ed to pieces ON the ground below.
The day passed as industriously as usual
with Toms mother at home. She was al
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 arrangements,
and her thoughts were silently, thanking
God for the happy home, and for all these
blessings of life when Tom ran in.
His face was white as ashes, and he
could hardly get his words out: "Mother!
mother! he cannot get down."
"Who, lad? thy fathers" asked the mo-
ther.
"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 paral-
lied; then pressing her hand 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, a crowd gathered
round the chimney and stood there quite
helpless gazing up with face full of sor-
row.
"He says he'll throw himself down"
"The munna do that, lad," cried the wife,
with clear, hopeful voice; "the munna do
that. Wait Bit Take off thy stock
ing, lad, and unraNed and let down the
thread with bit of. mortar. Dost thou
hear me Jem."
The man made sign of assent; for it
seemed as if he could not speak-and TAX
ing off his stockings, unrayeled the worsted
yarn 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.
"Let down one end of the thread with
bit of stone, and keep fast hold of the 9th
err" cried she to her husband. The little
thread came waving down the tall chin
ney, blown hither and thither by the wind,
but it reached the out streatched hands
that were waiting it. Tom held the ball of
string, while his mother tied one end of it
to the worsted thread.
.Now pull it slowly" cried she TO her
husband, and she gradually unwound the
string until it 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 fas
tened thick rope to it. They watched it
gradually and slowly uncoiling from the
ground, as the string was drawn higher.
There was but one coil left. 1t had
reached the top. Thank God, Thank
God exclaimed the wife. She hid her
face in her hands in silent prayer, and
tremblingly rejoiced. The iron to which
it should be fastened was there all right
but would her husband be able 10 make
use of it? Would not terror of the past
hour so have unnerved him as to prevent
him from taking the necessary measure for
his safety! She did not know the magic
al influence which her few words had exer-
cised over him. She did not know the
strength that the sound of her voice so calm
and steadfast, had filled him with, as if the
little thread that carried him the hope
of life once more, had conveyed to
him some portion of that faith in
God, which nothing ever destroyed or
shook in her pure neart. She did know
that as size waited there the words came
over him, "Why art thou cast down, o my
soul, and why art thou disquieted with me!
hope thou in God" She lifted up her
heart 10 God for hope and strength, but
could do nothing more for her husband,
and her heart turned 10 God, and rested
on him rs on a rock.
There was great shout. Giles safe,
mother he's safe!" cried little Tom.
"Thou hast saved my life, my Mary"
said her husband, folding her in his arms,
"But what ails thee? thou seemest more
sorry than glad about it."
Rut MaIy could not sneak, and If