The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-06-18
Prom Chambers JouInsl n Popuiar Literature.
A Perilous Hour.


but being Of bold, dangerloyIpg turn,
ran away to sea before my lime was out,
After some years of knocking about, got
ttrrr ~ q rlrarat ify ,,rf- Eru,irr '-~,ts1
and determined 20 stick 10 tlie shore, got
work with a builder whose peculiar Tiue lay
IN erecting tall ohimneys. had always q
very cool head, and could stand on eleya-
tions that made most men dizzy, and 30
was soon iayoriie hand with my master.
We had on one occasion 10 fasten a light
ming conductor which had sprung near tho
top Of a very high chimney, aud Mr., Staining
chose myself and one James Coly to do H.,
an the most daring Of bis men. About half
a dozen Of Us went that morning with q
hand cart containing the necessary ropes
bocks, the Kite, and box or cradle Hay-
ing flown the Kite, and dropped ia line
scross tie top Of the chimney, We soon drew
up d rope, at the end Of which was block,
through which ran the line vhs.s5y We we're
90 be drawn up
Cory had only been married fortnight
and as We stepped into the cradle, the men
hlntedngly asked him II he hadn't last dy-
ing speech 10 leave for his wife, and then
Mr. Staining having shaken hands with us,
and bid us be cool and steady, We were drawn
slnwly M II Wns Known nll over town that
the conductor was to be- fixed, though, as the
day Was not namcd ! .l,d not expect Se
should have had many spectators but as We
got higher. and the view opeDsl "nder our
feet, saw that the streets were already
throngcd with starers. Colly was very quiet
and when | waved my cap y the people, he
said snappishly that this was 40 time for such
folly, and that he thought ! might think Of
better things than how to amuse these ga
ping fools. who, he dared say, desired no
better fun than TO see Va meet with an acci-
dent.
had come uP tG the beSr &c.. tiTIukIuE'
indeed, nothing about the dppgcr We incur
red but as We drew nearer and nearer to
the top, and had nothing, as il seemed, be
longing 10 this world near TO US but this
strhining rope, began to see the peril Of the
undertaking, What Colly thought Of it, ]
don't know-hc sat at the bottom Of the era
die never lnaAing out. though / told him he
would better 10 Keep his eyes about him. No
that he might grow used to the height
Good heaven what was this Here We
were within yard Of the top projecting fo-
ping, and still they were winding away, With
out Stacking speed in the least guessed
in a moment that they mistook our height,
and that with the great purchase Of that
vindss the rope would be broken when the
cradle came to the blnck sprang up, and
catching the rope, climbed hand over hand
to the opening Colly, too, sprang up and
followed me. lie, too, got sofei and still
they went on winding up, winding up, ill
the rope sung again SiIh ire strain there
was upon it.
Then it snapped and cradle, hauling-line.
and the main rope with its block, fell down.
Thus were we two men left in most despe
RATE situation.
Poor Coly was dazed with AFright and
the moment he got On the coping, which was
only foot-Snd.a-haf broad, he called out
"Where can pray? where can kneel and
pray?" and so l said, very Solemnly, "Sit
down, Jemi God will hear Us if we pray to
him sitting down"
The color Of his face wac q transparent
blue and It was distorted and twi,ching, as
il he was in it. His eyes wv.s very wild,
and drawn into a squint, and he couldn't sit
steady, but swayed his body backward and
forward, so that felt certain that he must
topple over. ..,-'
"Come, Jem, lad" I said, thinking to take
the fright off him, tits bad enough, but il
can't be mended. Hitch up Bit and put
.our arm round the rod may be n win stea
dy you"
"Where are your and where is this rod ?"
he asked, in a 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 selfpreservation said, Don't 60 near
him but then.I remembered bis new-wedded
wife, and that taking him all through, he was
always a very decent fellow and l thought
howl should have liked him. TO have dsne If
had beeh IN his casei so / determined to
run q bit Of risk in his fnvor. OF course,
burst not get on my feet; but working my
self on by my hands, got to him, and put
ting my arm round his waist, and telling him
as cheerily as could to keep cool, I got him
with his arm round the rod. 1t had, howev-
er, sprung The stapIfng for FIVE yards down,
and was so loose that il swayed with him,
and expected any minute to see him falling
head and heels down, and the rod tearing
away with him.
There was great hustle down below peo-
pie were running round the yard and pushing
to get in, but as yet there we're but some
score Of men at the foot of the chimney, and,
by cl6se looking saw them put somebody
on board, and carry him gently away to-