Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-02-06
From an English Magazine. |
THRILLING Adveneure.

Tommy Howard. as he stood waiting for
his fathers breakfast, which he carried to
him At his work every morning
"He said that lie hoped that all the
scafolding would be down tonight
answered the mother, "snd tbatll be
fine night, for / never ike the ending
of those great cbimueys; it IS so risky
for father to be last up.
"Oh, then, but I'll go and seek him
and heIp 'cm to give shout before he
comes down." said Tom.
"And them" continued Tie mother,
"if all goes on right, We are to lave a
frolc tomorrow, and 90 into the coun-
try, and take our dinner, end spend all
day long in the woods."
aHurrah !" 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 whist
ling 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 ref
uge, and she prayed 20 God to protect
and bless her treasures.
Tom with light heart pursued his
way to his father, and leaving him his
breakfast, 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 was getting along.
James Howard, the father, and a num-
Der Of other workmen, had been building
one of those lofty chimneys which, in
our manufacturing towns, almost supply
the place of other ARCHITECTURAL beauty
The chimney was of the highest and
most .apering that had ever been erect
ed, and as Tom shaded his eyes from the
slan,ing rays of the setting sun, and
looked up in search Of his father, his
heart sank within him at the appalling
sight. The scatfold was almost down,
the men at the bottom we're removing
the beams aud poles. Toms father stood
alone at the top.
He then looked around to see that
everything was right, and then, waving
his hat in the air, the men below an
awercd him with long 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 coiod upon the ground lay
the rope, which before the scatfoldng
was removed should have been fastened
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 81
lence. 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 dismay, unable to give
any help or think OF any means OF
safety.
And Toms father. lie walked round
and round the little circle, the dizzy
height seeming 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. He shut his eyes; he felt as il
the next moment he 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 or 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 white as ashes, and he
could hardly get the words out: "Moth
er. Mother he cannot get down!"
"Who, lad-thy father ~ asked the
mother.
"They have forgotten to leave him
the rope" answered Tom, still scarcely
able to speak. The mother started up,
horror struck, and stood for a momen,
as if paralyzed, then pressing her hands
over her face, as if to shut out the hor-
rible 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 gath
cred around the foot Of the chimney
and stood quite helpless, gazing up with
faces full OF sorrow.
"Ho says he'll throw himself down.
"The munna do that, lad" cried the
wife with clear hopeful voice; 'shec
munna do that-wait bit. Take of
the stocking, lad, and unravel it,and let
down the thread with bit of mortar
Dost thou hear me, Jem q
The man made sign of assent; for
it. seemed as if he could not speak-and
taking off his stocking, unraveled the
xorsted yarn, row after row. The people
stood around in breathless silence and
suspense, wondering what Toms mother
could be thinking of; and why she scn,
him in such haste for the carpenters bal
Of Irvine.
Let down one end of the thread
with . bit of stone, and keep fast
hold of the other,' cried she to her hus.
band. The little thread came waving
down the tail chimney, blown hither and
thither by the wind. but it reached the
out-stretched hands that we're waiting