Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-06-24
From Chamber. journal of Popular /.
PERILoUs HOUR.

"A a lAAAA4001 NV H.
| wss apprensieed to decorative paint
er, bat being Of bold, danger-loving
turn, I ran away to sea before my time
was cut
Aiter some years Of knocking about,
! got tired Of mara.ime life, and hav-
ing married and determined TO stick to the
shore. got work with builder whose
peculiar line lay in erecting tall ehimneys.
| had always a very cool head. and could
sssaaa Ca erevassOsss ssss. sssossi
dizzy, and so / was a favorite hand With
my master.
We bad on one occasion to fasten
lightning conductor which had sprung
near the top of very high chimney and
Mr.. Staining chose myself and one James
Colly to do il as the most daring of his
men. About half dozen of us went
that morning with hand-cari, containing
the necessary ropes, blocks, the kite, and
box or cradle. Having flown the kite,
and dropped its line across the chimney,
we soon drew up a rope, at the end of
which was a block, through which ran
the line whereby we were to be drawn
up
Colly had only been married fort
night and as we stepped into the cradle.
the men banteringly asked him if be
hadn't last dying speech to leave for
his wife and then Mr.. Staining having
shaken hands with US, and bid US be cool
and steady, we were drawn slowly up
1t was known all over town that the
conductor was 10 be fixed, though as the
day was not named, | did not expect we
should have many spectators but as we
got higher, and the view opened under
our feet, saw that the streets we're al
ready ihronged with starers. Colly was
very quiet; and when | waved my cap
to the people, be said snappishly that this
was no time for such folly, and that he
thought ! might think of better things
'han bow to amuse those gaping fools,
who, be dared 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, belonging TO this world near to
Us but this straining rope, | began to see
the peril Of the undertaking What Col
ly thought Of il | don't know--he sat at
the bottom Of the cradle never looking
out, though ! told him he would do bet
to keep his eyes about him, so that he
might grow used to the height.
/ Good heaven what was this Here
we were within yard Of the top pro-
jecling coping, and still they were wind
ing away, without Stacking speed IN the
leastl ! guessed in moment that they
mistook our height, and that with the
great purchase of that windlass the rope
would be broken when the cradle came
to the block. ] sprang up, and catching
the rope, climbed hand over hand 10 the
opening. Colly, too, sprang up aud fol-
lowed me. He, too, got safe and stin
they went on winding up, winding up.
till the rope sung again with the strain
there was upon it.
Then it snapped, and cradle, hauling
line, and the main rope with its block,
fell down. Thus were we two men left
in desperate situation.
Poor CoIly was dazed with alright /;
and the moment he got on the coping,
which was only a foot and half broad.
be called out, " Where can ! pray where
can kneel and prayl' and % said,
very solemnly, = Sit down, Jem God
win hear as If we pray to bin sitting
down"
The color Of bis face was transpar-
eni blue and i, vas distorted and iwitch-
ing, as if be sas in a fit. His eyes we're
very wild, and drawn into a sqnini, and
he eouldn'i sit steady, bat swayed his
body backward and forward, no that |
felt certain that be must ,opple over.
Come, Jem, lad, said, thinking 10
take tbe frigh, Of him it's bad enough,
bot il cant be mendsd. Hitch up a BIZ
and put your arm round the rod--may
be it win steady you"
Where are you and where Is this
rod be asked, in a very boilow voice,
though be was booking straigla Al me,
ard The rod vas oaly foot or two 10 bis
left. By this knes ihai be was gone
bird with tbe flight and seIf-preserva-
ton said. D8a't 20 near bin bat then
/ / remembered bis nsW-redded sifr, and
thai taking hia ali Ihrosgh, be vas a.
ways very decent fellow aad thosghi