Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-09-21
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.
The following thrilling sketch is from an

"Father will have done the great chimney
to night, wont he mother? 7" said little Tom.
mie Howard, as he stood waiting for his faith
ers breakfast, which he carried to him at his
work every morning.
+" He said that he hoped all the scaffelding
would be down tonight" answered the moth
er, "and that will be a fine sight; for I ncv-
er like the ending of those great chimncys !;
it is SO riskey for father to be the last up
Eh, then, but I'll 20 and seek him, and
help EN- to give shout afore he comes down."
said Tom.
" And them" continued the mother, I" if
all goes on right we are to have frolie to-
morrow and go in the country, and take our
dinners, and spend all the day in the woods"
Z" Ilurrah !" 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 in the door, watching him as
he went mcrriy whistling 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 protect and bless her
treasures.
Tom, with a light heart, pursued his way
to his father, and leaving him his breakfast,
went to his work, which was at some distance.
In the evening, on his way home, he went
around to see how his father was getting on.
James Howard, the father, and number
of other gentlemen, had been building one of
those lofty chimneys, which in our great man
ufacturing towns, almost supply the place of
other architectural beauty, The chimney
was one of the highest and most tapcring that
had ever been erect d. and as Tonwas shading
his eyes from the slsnting rays of the setting
sun, looked in search Of his father, bis heart
almost sank within him at the appalling
heighth. The scaffold was almost down the
men at the bottom were moving the last beams
and poles. Toms father stood alone ut the
top
Hc then look around to see that everything
was right, and then waving his hat in the air,
the men below, answering him with a loud
cheer, little Tom shouting as loud as any Of
them. AS their voices died away, however,
they heard different sound cry 81 alarm
and horror from above "The rope, the
rope J" The men looked around and coiled
upon the ground, lay the rope, which before
the scaffolding 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. They all knew it was impossible to
throw the rope up high enough, or skillfully
enough, to reach the top of the chimney, or
if it could, it would hardly be safe. They
stood in silent dismay, unable to give any hep
or think of any means If safety.
And Toms father. lie walked round and
lounS I've little circle, and the dizzic height
so oo.% f,'.,,o I.s Cd more fearful, and the solid
:; hc ust M his - nrosonns ,s of In the sudden pan
failed him. lie shut his eyes ali. T. 'oa 90 %
Al. L l. y u 40
on the ground below.
The day passed as industriously as usual
with Toms mother at home. She was always
busiy employed for her husband in come way
or other, and to-day, she had been at work
harder than usual getting ready for the holi-
day tomorrow She had finished her arrange
ments, aud her thoughts were silently thank
ing God for the happy homo, and all these
blessings Of life, when Tom ran in.
His face was as white as ashes, and he could
hardly get his words out: "Mothcr moth
or he cannot get down"
"Who lad ? thy father" asked the moth
"They have forgotten to leave tho rope,"
answered Tom, still scarcely able to speak
The mother started up, horror struck, and
stood for moment as if paralyzcl, then pres
sing her hands over her face, as if to shut out
the terrible picture aud breathing prayer to
God for help, she rushed out of the house.
When she reached the place where her hus
band was at work, crowd gathered around
the foot of the chimney, aud stood quite help
less, and gazing up with faces full Of sor
row.
He says he'll throw himself down"
Thee munna do that, lad," cried the wife
with clear hopeful voioe; "thcc munna do
that. Wait bit. Take off thy stocking,
lad, and unravel it, and let down the thread
with bit Of mortar. Dost thou hear mo,
Jcm 2"
The man made sign of assent; for it
seemed ns if he could not speak and taking
off his stocking unraveled the worsted yarn,
row after row. The people stood around in
breathess silence aud suspense, wondering
what Toms mother could be thinking of and
why she sent him such haste for the carpen.
ters ball of twinc.
4" Let down one end Of the thread with q
stone, and keep fast hold of the other" cried
she to her husband. The little thread came
waving down the tall chimney, blown hther
and thither by the wind but it reached the
outstretched hands that we're waiting for it.
Tom held the ball of twine, while his mother
tied the end of it to tho worstcd thread.
"Now pull it slowly" cried she to her
husband, and she gradually unwonnd the
| strino . ,,niil in reach of her hpshnpd -.