The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-07-19
THE TALL CHENEY.

wasapprenticcd to decorative painter,
hut being Of bold, danger-loying turn, |
ran away to sea before my time was out.
After some years of knocking about, |
got tired Of 4 maritime life, and having
married and determined to stick to the
shore, got work with 4 builder, whose pc
culiar line lay in erecting tall chimneys.
had always very cool head, and could
stand on elevations that made most men Ciz-
zy, and So | was soon favOritc hand with
my master.
We had on one occasion to fastcn a light
ming conductor which had sprung near the
top Of 4 very high chimney, and Mr. STAN
ing chose myself and one James Colly to DO
it, as the most daring of his men. About
half dozen of us went that morning with
a hand cart, containing the necessary ropes,
blocks, the kite and box or cradle. Hav-
ing flown the kite. and dropped its line
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 been married a fortnight; and
as We stepped into the cradle, the men ban
teringly asked him if he hadn't last dying
speech TO leave for his wife aud then, Nr
Staining having shaken hands with Us and
bid us be cool and steady, we Were drawn
slowly up Ii was known all over the town
that the conductor was to be fixed, though
as the day was not named. did not expect
We should have had many spectators; but
as We got higher. and the view opened un-
der our feet, saw that the streets were al
ready thronged with starers. Colly was
very quiet and when waved my cap to
the people, he said snappishly that this was
no time for folly, and that he thought |
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, think
ing. indeed nothing about the danger We
incurred but as we drew nearer and nearer
to the top, and had nothing, as it seemed. be,
longing to this world near to us but this
straining rope, began TO see the peril OF
the undertaking What Colly thought Of
it, don't know-hc sat at the bottom OF
the cradle, never looking ont. though told
him he would DO better to keep his eyes
about him, So that he might grow used tc
the height.
Good Heaven what was this Here We
were within yard Of the top projecting co
ping, and still they were winding away
without Stacking speed in the least guess
ed in moment that they mistook oul
height, and that with the great purchase oi
the windlass the rope would be broken whcr
the cradle came to the block, ISprang up
and catching the rope, climbed hand over
hand to the coping. Colly, too, sprang "
and followed me. He. too, got safe. auC
still they went on winding up, winding up
till the rope sung again with the strain there
was upon it
Then it snapped, and cradle, hanling-linc
and the main rope with its block fell down
Thus were We two poor men left in a mos
desperate situation.
Poor Colly was completely crazed with af
fright; and the moment he got on the cop.
ing. which was only Got and half broad
he called out:
Where can pray? Where can knee
and pray"
And so l said. very solemnly
"Sit down, Jem; God will hear us ii We
pray to him sitting down."
The color of his face was Of a transparent
blue, and it was distorted and twitehlng, a:
if he was in fit His eyes were very wild
and drawn into a squint. and he couldn't 81
steady, but swayed his body backward anG
forward, 50 that l felt certain that he mus
topple over. =,
Come, Jem, lad" | said, thinking Il
take the fright off him, its bad enough
but can't be mended Hitch up a bit, anC
put your arm round the rod--may be it vii
steady you -.
Where are you. and where is the rod
I l. ,l-.J =, n 1,o.r bollou VOICE thouVh hs