Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-08-22

in the door, watching him as he went merrily
whistlng down the street, and she thought of the
t dear father he was going to, and the dangerous
work he was engaged in; and then her hear
sought its sure refuge, and she prayed to God tt
protect and bless her treasures
j 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 on.
James Howard, the father, and number Of
other gentlemen, had been building one of those
lofty chimneys, which, in our great manufacturing
towns, almost supply the place Of other architec,
tural beauty The chimney was one of the highest
and most tapering that had ever been erected, and
as Tom shaded his eyes from the slanting rays Of
the setting sun, looked up in search of his father
his heart almost sank within him at the appalling
height. The scafold was almost down; the men
at the bottom were moving the last beams and
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, answering him with loud cheer, little
Tom shouting as loud as any of them. As their
voices died away, however, they heard different
sound, cry of alarm and horror from above. 'The
rope, the rope" The men looked around and
coied upon the ground, lay the rope, which before
the scafolding was removed, should have been fas-
tened to the chimney for Toms father to come
down by! The scafolding had been taken down
without remembering to take the rope up. They
al knew twas impossible to throw the rope up high
enough, or skilfu 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
help or think Of any means of safety.
And Tom father. He walked round and round
the little circle and the dizzy height seemed more
and more fearful, and the solid earth further from
him. In the sudden panic, he lost his presence Of
mind, and his senses failed him. He shut his eyes
and felt as if 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 husband in some way or other,
and to-day, she had been at work harder 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 all these blessings of life, when Tom ran in.
His face was as white as ashes, and he could
hardly get his words out: Mother mother! he
cannot get down."
"Who lad? thy father?" asked the mother
'They have forgotten to leave the rope," an
swered Tom, still scarcely able to speak. The
mother started up horror struck, and stood for a
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, crowd gathered around the foot Of
the chimney, and stood quite helpless, and gazing
up with faces full of sorrow.
He says he throw himself down"
'Thee munna do that, lad," cried the wife with
clear hopeful voice; "thee 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 me, Jem?''
The man made sign of assent; for it seemed
as if he could not speak-and taking off his stock
ing unraveled the worsted 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
10r the carpenter Dall OF LWlne.
"Let down one end of the thread with stone,
and keep fast hold of the other" cried she to her
husband The little thread came waving down the
tall chimney blown hitherand thither by the wind,
but it reached the outstretched hands that were
waiting for 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,
and she gradually unwound the string until in reach
of 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 fas-
tened thick rope to it. They watched it gradu-
ally and slowly uncoi from the ground as the string
was drawn tighter.
There was but one coil left lthad reached the
top. '"Thank God! thank Godr' exclaimed the
wife She hid her face in her hands, in silent
prayer, and tremblingly 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 un-
nerved him as to prevent him from taking the ne
cessary measures for his safety? She did not know
the magical influence which her few words had ex:
ercised over him. She did not know the strength
that the sound of her voice, so calm and steadfas
had filed him with-as if the little thread that
carried him the hope of life once more, and con-
veyed to him some portion of that faith in God
which nothing ever destroyed or shook in her pure
heart She did not know that as she waited there
the words came over him, ''Why art thou cast
down, O my SOUL 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 rock.
There was great shout, 'Hes safe, mother,
he's safe p cried little Tom.
Thou hast saved my life, my Mary" said her
husband, folding her in his arms. "But what ails
thee? thou seemeth more sorry than glad about
it." But Mary could not speak, and if the strong
arm of her husband had not held herup, she would
have fallen to the ground-the sudden joy after
such great fear had overcome her. "Tom, let thy
mother lean on thy shoulder" said the father,
land we will take her home" And in their hap
py home they poured forth thanks to God for his
great goodness, and their happy life together felt
dearer and holer for the peril it had been in, and
the nearness of the danger had brought them unto
God. And the holiday next day-was it not in
deed thanksgiving day.
A FEN1AN ADVENTURE The New York Times
of Sunday, published what it characterizes as "a
curious and romantic but true narration" of the
odvantura of n nartv of Fenians who fitted I'm O.