Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-05-06
From an Eagtish .HagaSine.
A THRILLING lDTRlTIRE.

breakfast, which he carried to him al his work
every morning.
s'IIe said that he hoped that all the scaffold-
Ing would be down tonight" answered the
apther, sand thst'll be fine sight; fer new
er like the eading of those great ohimneys;
1t Is so risky fol father to be the last np."
ooh, then, bat III 90 and seek bin, and
help 'em 10 give shout atore he CONES down,"
said Tom
'sAnd them continued the mother, s'if al
goes on right, we are to have Iroiic to,moI-
row, and go into the country, and take our din
ner, and spend al The day in the woods.
ssIEurrah ~ cried Tom, as lie ran off to bis
fathers place OF work, with eau of nlk in
ona hand and some bread in the other. His
mother stood at the door, watching bin, Us be
went merrily whistling down the street, and
she thonght Of the dear father be was going TO,
aad the dangerous work he was engaged iu,
and then her heart sought it's sure refuge, and
she prayed 10 God TO protect aud bless her
treasures.
Tom with light heart pursued as way to
his father, and leaving him his breakfast, went
TO his own work, which was at some distance.
In the evening. on bis way home, be weat
around to see how his father was getting on,
James Howard, the father, and a number Of
9th ct workmen, had been building one of those
lofty chinneys, which, in our manufacturing
towns, almost supply the place of other archi-
tecturat beauty. The chimney was of the high
est and most tagering that bad ever been erect
ed, and as Tpn shaded bis eyes from the slant
ing rays OF the setting SUI, and looked up IN
search OF his father, bis heart sank within him
at the appalling sight. The scafold was al
uost down, the men a, the bottom were reno
wing the beams aud poles Toms father stood
alone at the top.
He then looked around to see that rYthing
was righ!, and then, waving his hat in the air,
the Ineu below answered him with long loud
cheer, Little Tom shouting as loud any Of
theul. As their voices died away. however,
they heard different sound, cry of horror
and alarm from above. The men looked around,
and coiled upon the ground lay the rope, which
before the se4ifolding was removed, should have
been fastened 20 the chimney, for TOMS father
TO come dogu by The scaffolding had been
taken down without remembering 10 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 chimney,
or even II possible, ii would hardly be safe
They stood III sileut dismay, unable to give any
help or thlak OF any means of safety.
And Toms father lie walked round aid
rouud tue little circle, the dizzy height seem
ing more and more fearful, and the solid earth
further and further FROM him. IN the sudden
panic he lost his presence of mind, his senses
failed him. lie shut his eyes; he felt as if TIE
next moment he must he dashed 10 pieces on
tle ground below.
Tho dav ,,Ssaa ,,-,,.l
with TOMS mother at home. She vas always
busily employed for her husband and children
IN some way OF other, aud to-day she had been
iardcr Ut work than usual, getting ready for
tue holiday tomorrow. She had just finished
her arrangements, and her thoughts were ST.
lsn'ly thanking God for the happy home, and
fer all tbose blessings, when Tom ran in
lIis face was white as ashes, and be could
hardly get his words out.
who, lad-thy father g. asked the mother.
''fhey have forgotten 10 leave him the rope,'
answered Tom, still scarcely able to speak.-
The mother started up, horror-suuck, and
stood fol- moment as if paraIs szed. then pres
sing her hands over her face, as to shut out the
terrible picture, aud breathing prayer to God
for belp, she rushed out of the house
When she reached The place where her hrs-
band was at work, crowd gathered around the
foot OF the chimney. and stood quite helpless,
gazing up With faces full of sorrow.
'He says he'll throw himself down.
'sThee munna do that, lad" cried the wife,
with clear hopeful voice; s'the munna do
that wait bit. Take off thy stocking, lad,
and uuravel II, and let down the thread with
bit of mortar. Dost thou bear me, Jem 2"
The man made sign of assent, for it SEEM
ed as if lie could not speak-and taking off his
stocking, unraveled the worsted yarn, row af-
ter row. The people stood around in breath
less silence and suspense, wondering what
Toms mother could be thinking of and why
she scHt him in such haste Tor the carpenters
ball of twine.
''Iet down Que end Of the thread with bit
of stone, and keep fast bold of the other,''
cried she to her husband. The little thread
came waving down the tall chimney, blown
hither and ihither by the wind, bur it reached
the outstretched hands that were awaitiug it. =
Tom hcld the ball of twine, while his mother
tied one end of il TO the thread.
''Now pull it slowly" cried she to her bus
band, and she gradually unwound the string
until it reached him. 'sNow, hold the string
fast, and pull it up, cried sho, and the string
grew heavy and hard to pull, for Tom aud his
mother had fastened thiek rope TO 1t. They
watched it gradually and slowly uncoiling from
tLa ground, and the string was drawn higher.
There was but one coil left. 1t had reached
the top. "Thank God :" exclaimed the wife.
She hid her face 10 her hands in silent prayer,
aud iremblingly rej diced. Ths iron to which
1t should be fastened was ther. oil right-but
would Ler husband be able to make use of IL
Would not the terror Of the rast hour have SO