National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-01-01
At the Top Of the Chimney.

from fear; / have seen it happen,
and if you don't mind listening, will
tell you the story. Iwas apprentic-
ed to o builder when l left school,
and soon got to like the trade very
much, especially when the work was
perilOus, and gave me chance to
Outdo other lads in daring. Spider
was my nick. name in those days,
given partly on account Of my long
legs, for l had OutgrOwn my pro-
portions, and partly because they
said l could crawl along roof, like
my namesake. When l was about
three-and twenty, was working
with the famous Mr.. -, and
went down to Swansea with his
picked hands, to carry out con-
tract he hal taken in that town.
While there | fell in love with the
prettiest girl l had seen in Wales,
aud this is saying good deal. For
q time l fancied she liked me, and
that was getting on very well with
my love making, but soon found
my mistake, for an old lover of hers
joined our men, and Mary gave me
the cold shoulder directly. You
may believe this sweetheart Of hers
(who was called Ben LlOyd) and
were not the best friends in the
world; but / am not the sort of u
fellow to harbor malice, and when
the biddings to the wedding went
round, and l knew that my chance
was gone, | made the best of it;
kept my sore heart to myself, and
Determined to beat down jealousy
by being great chums with Ben.
| went to the wedding; and there
were not many days when l did no,
steal half an hoar to sit by his fire
side, which was as bright and cosy
and hOmelike as you'd wish to see
Mary being the soul of order ant
industry. 1t is not, perhaps, thu
usual way of driving out envy, t.
go and lcok at the happiness anoth
er man has done you out of, bu
then yon know the proverb says
what is one mans meat is another
mans poison and so it was ! go
to look upon Mary as a sort of sister
and Zen had no cause for jealousy
although there were plenty Of evi
tongues to put him up to it.
The contract was nearly up, whei
lightning conductor upon one o
the highest chimney's over at Lame
" sprang, and the owner Of tn,
works offered our master the job.
'its just the sort Of thing for yo'
Harry siid Mr.. ---. when b.
told Us OF IL.
touched my cap. ana ncccptv'
it OFF hand, and then Beu steppe'
up and said he'd volunteer to be th
second man, two being required.
r 'All right said the master; 'yo
are the steadiest headed fellows
have. The price is a good one, an
every penny Of it shall be divide
between YOU. Wen not fix da
for the work, but take the first cali
morning, and get it done quietly
& So it was that, some four or fiy
mornings after, W. found ourselvt
at Llanely, and all ready for a star
The kite by which the line attache
TO the block was to be sent over IL
chimney, was flown, and did i
work well the rope which was
haul up the cradle was ready, an
stepping in, Ben and ! began II
re ascent
There had been very few peop
about When we went into the var
but Us we got higher. | saw tn
the news had spread, and that Il
streets were filling with sight.secr
There's plenty of star gazers, Bel
| said, waving my cap to them,
ut dare say they'd like to see us cor
down with rum.
Cannot you keep o. ctr answ'
ed Ben, speaking in "A strange ton
and, turning to look, saw tGat
was deadly pale; anG sat in the b'
10, tom OF the cradle, bujdled up
" gether, with his eyes fast shut.
You're not frightened, old chal
/ asked.
Whats that to you y
'Oh, nothing, only we are getti
up pretty quickly, and you'd hav'
st. better head for work ii you'd
gradually used to the height!
He said nothing and never NOV
Then, looking up, saw we w
near the tOp-a few yards more, a
we would be there yet those "
were turning the windlass W
winding with unabated speed.
sudden chill ran through my bio
and set my flesh creeping. III
had miscalculated the distance, q
with the force they were winding
the rope it must evidently br
when the cradle came In cont
- with the block. There was no ii
to attempt a signal, only an inst
to point out the danger to Ben,
then to get hold Of the rope, and
going hand over hand reach the {
ing before the cradle came NJ
This was done almost quicker d
can tell you. Ben following.
The cradle came on; then a
anticipated, the rope gave a al
pining sound, like u rifle ball p
ing through the air, and snapI
Down went the cradle, and Il
UT were We left, nearly three hund
feet In the air, with nothing to
upon but coping, barely eigh,
inches wide.
Ben shrieked out that he "