The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-04-26
A Thrilling Adventure.

Father will have done the great chimney
tonight, won't he mother Z said little Tom
INV Howard as he stood waiting for bis faith
err a breakfast which he carried to him at his
work every morning. =,
He said he hoped the scafolding would
he down to night, answered the mother,
and that'll be a fine sight; for never like
the ending Of those great chlmneys; 1t Is SO
risky for father to be up last
Oh, then but Ill 60 and seek him; and
help them to give shout before he comes
down, said Tom.
And then, continued the mother, If all
goes on right, we are to have frolic to-mor-
row and 20 into the country and take our
dinner, and spend all the day long IN the
woods
III .rrah 7 cried Tom as he ran off to his
fathers place of work, with can Of milk IN
one hand and some bread in the other. His
mother stood at the door watching him, as
he went merily whistling down the street,
and she thought Of the lear father he was
going to, and the dangerous work he was
engaged in; and then her heart sought its
sure refuge, and she prayed to God to protect
and bless her treasures.
Tom with light heart pursued his way
to his father, and leaving him his breakfast
went to his own work, which was at some
distance. In the evening on his way home,
he went around to see how his father was
getting along.
James Howard. the father and number
OF other workmen, had been building one Of
those lofty chimneys which, in our manufac-
turing towns, almost supply the place of
other architectural beauty The chimney
Al nd 20 hot
had ever been erected and as Tommy shaded
his eyes from the slanting rays of the setting
sun, and looked up in search of his father,
his heart sank within Linn at the appalling
sight. The scafold was almost down, the
men at the bottom were removing the beams
| and poles Toms father stood alone at the
top
He then looked around to see that every
thing was right, and then waving his hat in
the air, the men below answered him with a
long loud cheer, little Tom shouting as loud
as any Of them. As their voices died away,
however, they heard different sound a cry
| of horror and alarm from above.
The men looked around and coiled upon
the grould lay the rope, which before the
scaffolding was removed should have been
fastened to the chimney, for Toms father to
come down by! The scafolding had been
taken down without rcmemhring to take the
rope up. There was a dead silence. They
all knew it was impossible to throw the rope
| up high enough to reach the top of the chin
ney, or even if possible, it would hardly be
sale They stood in silent dsmay unable tt
give any help or think of any means Of
safety.
And Toms father. He walked round ant
round the little circle, the dizzy heigh
seeming more and more fearful and tht
solid earth further and further from him -
In the sudden panic he lost his presence o
mind, his senses failed him. He shut hi
eyes, he felt as if the next momenthe mus
be dashed to pieces on the ground below.
The day passed as industriously as usua
with Toms mother at home. She was al
ways buslly employed for her husband Of
children in some work or other, and to day
she had been harder at work than usual
getting ready for the holy day to morrow -
She had Just finished her arrangements, anC
her thoughts were silently thanking God fol
the happy home, and for all these blessings
when Tom ran in.
| His face was white as ashes, and he could
hardly get the words out Mother! Mother
he cannot get down!
Who, lad, thy fatherT asked the moth
er.
they have forgotten to leave him the
rope, answered Tom, still scarcely able t.
speak,
The mother started up horror struck, ant
stood for a IN oment paralysed, then pressin:
her hands over her face as if to shut out thu
terrible picture, and breathing PRAYER t.
God for help she rushed out of the house.
When she reached the place where he
husband was at work, crowd gathered
around the foot of the chimney, and stood
quite helpless, gazing up with faces full 0
sorrow
He saws he'll throw himself down
Thee munna do that lad,' cried the wife
with clear hopeful voice: thee munna d.
that, wait bit Take off thy stockings, lad
and unravel it, and then let down the threa'
with bit of mortar. Dost thou hear me
JemY
The man made q sign OF assent; for
seemed as if he could not speak, and takjn;
OF his stocking unraveled the worsted yarn
row after row. The people stood around il
breathless silence and suspense, WONDERING
what Toms mother could be thinking of
and why she sent him in such haste for tn
carpenters ball of Irvine.
Let down one end Of the thread with a hi
Of stone, and keep fast hold Of the other
cried she to her husband The little threa,
came waving down the tall chimney, blow
hither and thither BY the wind, but it reach
ed the outstr.tched hands that were waitin
il Tom ED the bali of twine while hi
mother tied one end Of it to the thread.
Now pull it slowly cried she to her hus
band, and she gradually unwound the strIn
, until it reached her husband. Now, hol
, the string last and pull cried she, and tn
, string got heavy and hard to pail for Toi
aud his mother had fastened thick rope t
. it. They watched it gradually and slow
uncoiling from the ground, and the strin
, was drawn higher.
There was but one coil left 1t had reach
, ed the top. Thank Godr exclaimed tn
wife. She hid her face in her hands j
, silent prayer, and trembling :ejoced. Th
iron - which it should be fastened was ther
all right-but would her husband be able
make use of it? Would not the terror {
the mast have so unneryed him as to preser
him from taking the necessary measures f.
safety She did not know the magical in
fuence which her few words had exercise
over him. She did not know the strengt
| that the SOuNu Oh ucE SOlSC, eo SeAAsu 49,
steadiasr, had filled him-as IT the threa
that carried to him the hope OF life once NOR
had conveyed to him some portion oil tina
faith ia God which nothing ever destroye
or shook ia her pure heart She did nc
!, know that az she waited there, the word
came over him, Why art thou cast down,
my soul, why art thou disquieted within ms
hope thou in God She lifted her heart
| God for hope and strength, but could d
! nothing more for her husband, and her heal
. turned to God and rested ON him rs on
, rock.
There was o great shout Hes SAT
: mother; he's safef cried Tom.
..Thon hast saved my life, my Mary, sal
~ husband, holding her in his arms.
.Rt what ails YOU thou seemest mol
sorr, then glad about it.
! But Mary could not speak, and il Il
| .trong arm az har hu. band had not held b,