Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-28
5f(isfeIlalltous.
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.

Father Will have done the great chimney
tonight, won't he mother 2 said little Tom
my Howard, as he stood waiting for his
fathers breakfast which he carried to him t
his work every morning.
'sHe said that he hoped that all the scat
folding would bs down tonight" answered
the mother, land that'll be fine sight; for
| never like the ending Of those great CHM
neys it is so risky for father to be the last
up"
ooh, then, but I'll go and seek him and
help'm to give shout afore he comes down."
said Tom
"And then" continued the mother, eff
all goes on right, We are to have froljc to
morrow, and go into the country; and take
out dinner and spend all the day long in the
woods"
SsHurrah p 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 merrily wbistling down the street
and she thought Of the dear 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 pro-
tect and bless her treasures.
Tom with a ligh. heart pursued his way
to his father, and leaving him his breakfa fast
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 vas
getting on.
James Howard, the father and number
Of other workmen. had been building one
Of those lofty chimueys which, in our man
ufacturing towns, almost supply she place
of other architectural beauty The chin
ney was Of the highest and most tapering
that had ever been erected, as Tom shaded
his eyes from the slanting rays of the setting
sun and looked up in search Of his father,
his heart sank witbin him at the appalling
sight The scaffo-d 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 if every
thing was right. and then waving his hat in
the air, the men below answered him with
lnog 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
ground lay the rope, which before the scat
folding was removed should have been fast
ened to the chimney, for Toms father to
come down by! The scaffolding had been
taken down without remembering to take
The rope up. There was dead silence
They all knew it was impossible to throw
the rope up high enough to reach the top Of
the chimney, or even if possible it would
hardly be Safe They stood in silent dis
may, unable to give any help Or think Of
any means of safety,
And Toms father. He walked round and
round the little circle, the dizzy height seem
ing more and more fearful, and the solid
earth further and further from him. In the
sudden panic be lost his presence of mind,
his senses failed. He shut his eyes he
felt as if the next moment he must be dash
ed to pieces on the ground below.
The day passed as industriously as usual
with Toms mother at home She was al
ways busily employed for her husband and
children in some way Or other, and TO- day
she had been harder at work than usual,
getting ready for the holiday tomorrow. -
She had just finished her arrangements, and
her thoughts were silently thanking God for
the happy home, and for all those blessings,
when Tom ran IN.
His face was as white as ashes ard be
could hardly get his words out.
who, lad-thy father 2 asked the moth
err.
They have forgotten to leave him the
rope,' answered Tom, still scarcely able to
speak. The mother started up horror struck,
and stood for moment as if paralyzed, then
pressing her hands over her face, as If to
Shut out the terrible picture, and breathing
a prayer to God for help, she rushed out Of
the house.
When she reached the place where her
husband 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"
Thee mnnne do that lad cried the wife
with a clear hopeful voice, thee munne do
that-wait BIT Take off thy stocking,
lad, and unravel it, and let d own the thread
with a BIT Of mortar. Dost thou hear me,
Jem p
The man made sign Of assent-fo it
seemed as if he could not speak-and ia
king off his stocking, unraveled the worsted
Iyarn row after row. The people stood