Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-05-11

round the little circle; the dizzy hight
seemed every moment more fearful, and
the solid earth further az d further from
him. In the sudden panic he lost his
presence, of mind ard his senses al
most failed him. He shut his eyes,
and felt as if the next moment he must
be dashed to pieces on the ground
below. ssf hfi -e1s
The day had passed as industriously
and swiftly as usual with Toms mother
at home She was ever busily en-
ployed for her husband and children
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 all her preparations,
and her thoughts were silently thanking
God for her happy home and all the
blessings of life, when Tom ran in; his
face was white as ashes, and he could
hardly get his words out :
"Mothcr mother! he can ma gel
down"
"Who lad; thy father p asked his
mother.
"They've forgotten to leave him the
rope" said Tom, still scarcely able te
speak. --... ..--,-.. .-
His mother started up, horror struck
and stood for ii moment as if paralyzed
then pressing her hands over her face,
as if to shut out the horrible picture
and 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 had collected
round the foot of the chimney, and
stood there quite helpless, gazing ur
with faces full of sorrow.
"He says he'll throw himself down. y
exclaimed they, as Mrs. Howard came
up. "He is going to throw himself
down." ..-.1--.
"Thee munna do that, lad p' or. eo
the wife, with a clear, hopeful voice
''thee munna do that Wait bit
tax off thy stockin, lad, and unrayel it
and let down the thread with a bit o.
mortar. Dost hear ME, Jem?" ''a
The man made sign, of assent, fol
it seemed as if he could not speak, anc
taking off his stocking, unraveled The
worsted thread, row after row. The
people stood round in breathless silence
and suspense, wondering what Toms
mother could be thinking of, and why
she sent him in such haste for the car
penter's ball of twine. - -&' .'s-a
"Let down one end of the threat
with bit OF mortar, and keep fast hold
of the other," cried she to her ahus
band. f .-as 1l4a ,l,t.r q.
The little thread came waving dowr
the tall chimney, blown hither anc
thither by the wind, but at last it reach
ed the outstretched hands that were
waiting for it. Tom held the string
while bis mother tied one end of it tc
the worsted thread,
''Now pull it up slowly cried she te
her husband. and she gradually un
wound the string as the worsted drew
it up. 1t stopped the string had
reached her husband "Now hold the
string fast and pull it'up." she contin
ued, and the string grew heavy, and
hard to pull, for Tom and his mother
had fastened the 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 !" exclaim.
ed the wife. rs -n ~ v-r.-
She hid her face in silent prayer and
tremblingly rejoiced The iron to
which itshould be fastened was there
all right; but would her husband be
able to make use Of them ? Would not
the terror of the past hour have SO un-
nerved him, as to prevent MIN from
t,king the necessary measures for his
safety? she did not see the magic in
huence which her few words had exer-
cised over him. She did not know the
strength that the sound of her voice, SO
calm and steadfast, had filed him with
AS if the little thread that carried
him the rope of life once more, had con.
veyed to him some portion ofthat faith
in God, which nothing ever destroyed
or shook in her true heart She did
not know as he waited there. the words
came upon him. "Why art thou cast
down, 0 my soul? and why art thou
disquieted with me? Hope in God. =
She lifted up her heart to God for nope
and strength. She could do nothing
more for her husband, and her heart
turned to God and rested on him as
rock l. ssr ) s-aa RI
There was great shout -
"He's safe, mother, he's safe," cried
Tom. ,5--- ~
"Thou hast saved me, Mary said
her husband, folding her in his arms
"But what ails thee ? Thou seem st
more sorry than glad about it,
j But Mary could not speak, and fthe
strong arm of her husband had not held
her up she would have fallen to the
ground; the sudden joy, after such
great fear, had overcome her.
"Tom," said his father, ''let thy
mother lean on thy shoulder, and we
will take her home y -S.--., .,...
And in their happy home they pour
ed forth their thanks to God for his
great goodness; and their happy life
together felt dearer and holier for the
peril that it had been in, and for The
nearness that the danger had brought
them unto God And the next day
was it not thanksgiving day? a