Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-07-14
Gboitt MlisttIImp.
(From Chambers J.urnal)
A PERILOUS HOUR.

was apprenficed to decorative painter
brit being of bold. ger-loving turn,
ran away to sea before my time was out.
After some years of knocking about, gol
tired of a maritime life, ard having married
and determined to stick to the shore. got
work with builder whose peculiar line lay
in erecting tall chjmneys. had always a
cool head, and could stand on elevations
that made most men dizzy. and SO | was
soon fsvorite hand with my master.
We had on one occasion, to fasten q
lightning conductor, which had sprung, near
the top of very high chimney, and Mr..
Staining chose myself and one james Colly
to do it, as tho most daring of his men,
About half d, zen of US went that morning
with iandcart, containing the necessary
ropes, blocks, the kite. and box or cradle.
Having flown the kite, and dropped its line
across the top Of the chimney, we soon drew
up a rope, st the end of which was block,
through which ran the line whereby We
were to be drawn up.
Colly had only been married fortnight,
and as we stepped into the cradle, the men
banteringly asked him if he hadn't last
Tying speech to leave for his wife; and then
Mr.. Staining having shaken bands with US,
and bid us be cool and steady, we 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, | Gid 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, be said snappishly that this was
no time for such folly, and that he thought
I might think of better things than how to
amuse these gaping fools, who, he dared to
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 danger we incur
red; but as We drew nearer and nearer to
the top, and had nothing, as it seemed, oe-
longing to this world near US, bat this straiD-
ing rope, began to see the peril OF the un-
dertsking. What Colly thought of it, | do
not know;-he sat at the bottom of cradle,
never looking out, though told him that
he would do better to keep his eyes about
him, 70 ths: he might get used to the hight.
What. What wes thisl Here we were
within yard OF the top projecting coping.
and still they were winding away without
stacking speed IN the least! / guessed in q
moment that they mistook our hight. and
that with the great purchase OF the windlass
the rope would be broken when the cradle
came to the block. sprang up and catch
ing the rope. climbed hand over hand to the
coping. Colly, too, sprsng up and followed
me. He. too, got .afe; and still they went
on winding up, winding up, until the rope
iGng again ssith the strain there was upon
It.
Then it snapped, end cradle, haulIng-line
and the main rope, with its block, fell down
Thus were we two poor men eft in mos'
desperate situation.
Poor Colly was completely dazed with
affieht; and the moment he got on The
Coping, which Was only foot and hal
broad, he called out: "Where can | pray
where can kneel and pray! :" and SO said
yery so'emnly: "Sit dowr, Jem; God will
hesr US if we pray to him sitting down."
The color of his face was of Transparent
Blue; and it was distorted and twitching, al
II he was in ft. His eyes were very wilt
khd irswn into squint, and he couldn'
sit steady, but swsyed his body backward
and forward, 30 that felt certain that h
must topple over. ..
sCome. Jem, lad said, thinking to taxi
the fright off him; sits bad enough. but
can be mended. Hitch upa a bit, and pu
your arm around the rod-msybe it will
steady you."
"Where are youl and where is this rod!
be asked in very hollow voice, though b
was looking straight at me, and the rod wa
only foot or two to his left. BY this
knew that he was gone blind with fright
and self-preservstion said, Don't 60 nea
him; but then remembered his new-wed
aed wife, and that taxing him ali throus
lie was always a very decent fellow; and
thought how should have liked him I
asvo done ;f had beeIi in his case, SO