The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-06-25
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From Chambers Journal
THE PERILOUS HOUR.

I was apprenticed to a decorative
painter, but being of bold, danger
loving turn, ran away to sea before my
time was out.
After some years of knocking about, l
got tired of maritime life, and having
married and determined to stick to the
shore, l got work with builder whose
peculiar life lay in erecting tall chin
neys. ! had always very cool head,
and could stand on elevations that made
most men dizzy, and SO l was soon a
favorite hand with my master.
We had on one occasion to fasten
lightning-conductor which had sprung
near the top of very high chimney, and
Mr.. Staining choose myself and one
James Colly to do it, as the most daring
of his men. About half a dozen Of us
went that morning with hand-cart,
containing the necessary ropes, blocks,
the kite, and box or cradle. Having
flown the kite, and dropped its liuo across
the top of the chimney, we soon drew up
a rope, at the end of which was block,
through which ran the line whereby we
were to be drawn up.
Colly had only been married a fortnight;
and as We stepped into the cradle, the
men bauteringly asked him if he hadn't a
last dying speech to leave for his wife
and then Mr.. Staining having shaken
hands withus, and bid us be cool and
steady, VIC were drawn slowly up. 1t
was known all over the town that the
conductor was to be fixed, though, as the
day was not named, l did not expect we
should have had many spectators; but
as we got higher, and the view opened
under our feet, | saw that the streets
were already thronged with starers -
Colly was very quiet and when | waved
my cap to the people, he said snappishly
that this was no time for such folly, and
that he thought might think of better
things than how to amuse these gaping
fools, who, he dared say, desired no
better fun than to see US meet with an
accident.
had come up in the best heart,
thinking, indeed, nothing about the dan
ger we incurred but as we drew nearer
and nearer to the top, and had nothing,
as it seemed, belonging to this worldnear
us but this straining rope, began to
see the peril of the undertaking. What
Colly thought of it, | don't know-he
sat at the bottom of the cradle, never
looking out, though I told him he would
do better to keep his eyes about him, so
that he might grow used to the height.
Good heaven what was this !? Here
we were within yard of the top pro-
jecting coping, and still they were wind
ing away, without Stacking speed in the
least | guessed in moment that they
mistook our height, and that with the
great purchase of that windlass the rope
would be broken when the cradle came
to the block. 1sprang up, and catching
the rope, climbed hand over hand to the
coping. Colly, too, sprang up and fol-
lowed me. He, too, got safe and still
they went on winding up, winding up,
till the rope sung again with the strain
there was upon it.
Then itsnapped, and cradle, hauling
Zine, and the main rope with its block,
fell down. Thus were we two poor men
left in most desperate situation.
Poor Colly was completely dazed with
alright; and the moment he got on the
coping, which was only foot-and-a-half
broad, he called out, &C Where can |
pray? where can | kneel and pray 2" aud
so | said, very solemnly, ssSit down,
Jem; God will hear us if we pray to
him sitting down."
The color of his face was transparent
blue and it was distorted and witch
ing, as fhe was in fit. His eyes we're
very wild, and drawn into squirt, ana
he couldn't sit steady, but swayed his
body backward and forward, SO that |
felt certain that he must topple over.
"Come, Jem, lad" said, thinking
to take the fright off him sits bad
enough, but it can't be mended. Hitch
up bit, and put your arm round the
rod-may lie it will steady you"
"Where are you ? and whore is this
rod1" he asked, in very hollow voice,
though he was looking straight at me,
and the rod was only foot or two to his
left. BY this knew that he was gone
blind with the fright; and self-preserva-
ton said, Don't 60 near him; but then
L remembered his new welded wife, and
that, taking him all through, he was
always decent fellow; and l thought
how | should have liked him to have
done, if had been in his case SO l de-
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