The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-02-03


high enough, or skillful enough to reach
the top of the chimney, or if it could, it
would hardly be safe. They stood in 81
lent dismay, unable to give any help or
think Of any means of safety.
And Toms father He walked round
and round the little circle, the crazy
height seemed more and more fearful
and the solid earth further and further
from him. In the sudden panic he lost
4 his presence of mind, and his senses
failed him. He shut his eyes he felt
as if the next moment lie must be dashed
to pieces on the ground below.
The day passed as industriously as
usual with Toms mother at home She
was always busily employed for her hus-
band and children in some way or other,
and to-day she had been harder at work
than usual, getting ready for the holiday
on the morrow. She had just finished
her arrangements, and her thoughts were
silently thanking God for the happy
home, and for all these blessings of life,.
when Tom ran in
His face was as white as ashes, and he
could hardly get his words out "Moth
er, motherl he cannot get down."
Who, lad, thy father % asked the
mother. 4a
They have forgotten 10 leave him the
rope" answered Tom, still scarcely able
to speak. The mother started up, hor-
ror 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 prayer to God
for help, she rushed out Of the house.
When she reached the place where her
husband was at work, a crowd had gath
cred 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 munna do that, lad, )" cried the
wife, with clear, hopeful voice; 4" thee
munna do that. Wait bit Take of
thy stocking, lad, and unrayel it, and
let down the thread with bit OF mortar.
Dost thou hear me, Jem %
The man made sign Of assent for
it seemed as if he could not speak and
taking off his stocking, unraveled the
wors.ed yarn, row after row. The people
stood around in breathless silence and
suspense, wondering what Toms mother
could be thinking of; and why she sent
him in such haste for the carpenters ball
of twine.
:" Let down one end of the thread with
bit Of stone, and keep fast hold of the
other" cried she to her husband. The
little thread came waving down the tall
chimney, blown hither and thither by
the wind, but it reached the ousstretched
hands that were awaiting it. Tom held
the ball of twine, while his mother tied
one end Of it to the worsted thread.
Now pull it slowly" cried she to
her husband. "Now hold the string
fast, and pull it up" cried she, and the
string grew heavy and hard to pull, for
Tom and his mother had fastened thick
rope to it. They watched it gradually
and slowly uncoiling from the ground,
as the string was drawn higher.
There was but one coil left. 1t had
reached the top. " Thank God ! thank
God y exclaimed the wife, She hid her
face in her hands in silent prayer, and
trembling, rejoiced. The iron to which
it should be fastened, was there all right
but would her husband be able to
make use of it? Would not the terror
of the past hour so have unnerved him
as to prevent him from taking the neces-
sary measures for his safety She did
not know the magical influence which
her few words had exercised over him.
She did not know the strength that the
sound Of her voice, so calm and steadfast,
had filled him with--as if thelittle thread
that carried him the hope of life once
more. had conveyed to him some portion
of that faith in God which nothing ever
destroyed or shook in her pure heart
She did not know ths t as she waited there
the words came over him why art thou
cast down, o, my soul. and why art thou
disquieted within me ? hope thou in
God" She lifted her heart to God for |
hope and strength, but could do nothing
more for her husband, and her heart
turned to God, and rested on him as on
q rock.
There was great shout, " He's safe,
mother, he's safel'' cried little Tom.
Thou hast saved my life, Mary,
said her husband, folding her in his