North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-10-14
Thrilling Adventure.

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litile Tommy Howard, as l,e stood waiting
ior MS 'ather's breakfast, which he carried
to hun ut his work every morning.
"ne said that he hoped that all the
scano,ding would be down tonight, >,
answered the mother, "and that'll b d
line sight for never like the ending of
those great chimneys, it is so risky for
father to be last up"
oh! then, but Ill 80 and seek him
ana help EN- to give shout before he
comes down. said Tom.
And then," continued tbs mother, "if
al goes on right, we arc to have frolo
to morrow, and so into the county, and
take our dinner, and spend all the day
long in the woods.'
"llulrah!" cried Tom, Us lie ran of to
his fathers place Of work, with a Gun of
milk IN one hand and some bread in the
other. His mother stood at the door,
watching him as he went merrily whistlins
down the street, aud she thought of thS
dear tather he was going to, and the dan
gerous work he was engaged in; and then
her heart sought its sure refuge, and sks
prayed to God to protect ard I!ess Ter
treasures.
Tom with light heart pursued his way
to his tather, aud leaving him his break
last, 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 num-
ber of other workmen, had been Luilding
one Of those lofty chimneys which, in our
manufacturing towns, almost supply the
place OF our architectural beauty. The
chimney was Of the highest and most
tapering that had ever been erected, and
Tom shaded his eyes from the slantinc
rays OF the setting sun, and looked up in
search of his father, his heart sank within
him at the appalling sight. The scaffold
was almost down-thc men were removing
the beams and poles. TOMS father stood
alone at the top.
lie then looked around to see that every
thing was right, and then waving his hat
in the air, the men below answered him
with long, loud cheer, little Tom shout.
ing as long as any one Of them. As their
voices died aMay, however, they heard {.
different sound. cry Of horror and alarm
from above. The men looked around. and
coi!ed upon the ground lay the rope, which
before the scaloldins was removed, should
have been fastened to the chimney, fof
Toms father to come down by. The
scatfold had been removed without remeu,-
bering to take the rope up. There was
dead silence. They all knew it was i'm
possible 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 farther and farther from him.
In the sudden panic. he lest his presence
of mnd-his senses failed him. He shut
his eyes he felt as if the next moment he
must bc 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, and today
she had been harder ut work thanssusual,
getting ready for the holiday tomorrow.
She lad just finished her arrangements.
and her thoughts were silently thanking
God for the happy home and for all these
blessings, when Tom ran in.
His face was white as ashes, and he
could hardly get the words out:
Mother! Mother! he cannot get
down n
"Who, lai-tiy 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 moment as if paralyzed,
then pressing her hands over her face, as
if to shut out the terrible picture, and.
breathing a prayer to God for help, rushed
out Of tie house.
When she reached the place where her
husband WAS at work, "A crowd gathered.
round the foot of the chimney, and stood
quite helpless, gazing up, with their faces
full Of sorrow.
"I[e says he II throw himself down."
"Thee munna do that, lad" cried the
wife. with clear hopeful voice; ''thee
munna do that--wait bit. Take of your
stocking, lad, and unravel it, and let down
the thread with bit of mortar. Dost
thou hear me, Jim?''
The man made a sign of assent-for it
seemed as If he could not speak-and tax
ing off his stocking, unravellcd the worst
cd yarn. row after row. The people stood
around in breathless silence and suspense,
wondering what Toms mother could be
thinking Of, ana why she sent him in such
haste for the carpenters ball Of twine.
"Iet down one end Of the thread with e
bit of stone. and keep fast hold of the
other cried she to her husband. The little
thread came waving down the tall CHM
ney, blown hither and thither by the wind,
but it reached the outstretched hands that
were awaiting it. Tom held the ball Of
twine, while his mother tied one end Of it
to the thread.
Now pull slowly cried she to her
husband, and she gradually unwOund the
string until it reached her husband. Now
hold the string fast and pull = cried she,
and the string grew heavy and hard to
pull, for Tom and his mother had fastened
"a thick rope to it. They watched it gra-
duallv, and slowly uncoiliDg from the
ground, and TIE rope was drawn higher.
There was but one coil left-it had
reach ed the top. Thank God p exclaimed
the wife. She hid her face in her hands
in silent prayer, and tremblinsly ly rejoiced.
The iron to which it should be fastened
was there all right-but would her hus--
band he able to make use OF 1t? Would
not the terror Of the past have SO unnerv-
ed him as to prevent him frcm taking the
necessary measures for falety? She did
not know the magical influence hsr few
words lad exercised over him. She did not
know the strength that the sound Of her
voice, so calm and steadfast, had filed
him-as if the little thread had carried
him the hope Of life once more, had con-
veycd to him somc 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,
0 my soul, why art thou disquieted within
mo . hona thou in Cod She lifted her