The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-02-26

fore the cradle came up. This was done
almost quicker than can tell you, Ben
following.
The cradle came on; then, as l antici-
pated, the rope gave shrill, singing
sound like rifle ball passing through
the air, and snapped. Down went the
cradle, and there we were left, nearly
eight hundred feet in the all, with moth.
ing TO rest upon but a coping barely 18
inches wide.
Ben shrieked out that he was dead
man, and cried:
"Tell me where l can kneel, Harry,
show me where can pray to Almighty
God, for l cannot die this way!"
"Hush lad," said, "don't lose heart.
God can hear you just as well sit ing as
kneeling, and il you try to get up,
you'll tumble, to a moral certainty
Think of Mary, man, and keep up"
But he only shook and swayed more
and more, groaniDg and crying out that
he was lost; and L could see that, if he
did not mind, he would overbalance.
"Get hold of the rod," said, think
ing that, even sprung as it was, the
touch of it would give him courage.
"Where is it, boy" he said, hoarsely.
And then looking into his face which
was turned to me, l saw that his eyes
were drawn together, squirting and
bloodshot, and knew that the fright
had driven him blind. So, pushing my
self to him l placed my arm around his
waist, and worked round to the rod,
which 1 put in his hand, and then
looked below to see whether they were
trying to help US, but there was no
sign. The yard was full of people, all
running hither and thither, and, as l
afterwards knew, all in the greatest
consternation-the cradle having fallen
on one OF the overseers of the works,
killing him on the spot, and so occupy
ing the attention of those near that we
were for the time forgotten. l was
straining my eyes, in the hope seeing
some effort made to help US, when i
was startled by n horrible yell, and
brought to Il sense of new danger, for,
looking around, l saw Ben champng
with his teeth and foaming at the
mouth, and gesticulating in an unearth.
ly way. Fear had not only blinded
him, but crazed his brain.
Scarcely had l time to comprehend
this, when he began edging his way to,
wards me, and every hair on my head
seemed to stand on end rs | moved
away, keeping as far off as possible
and scarcely daring to breathe
lest he should hear me, for see me ht
could not-that Was my only cOnsola
tion. Once, twice, thrice, he followed
me round the mouth OF that horrible
chimney; then, no doubt thinking
had fallen over, he gave up the search
and began trying to get on his feet
What could now do to save his life
To touch him was certain death for my
self, as well as for him, for he would
| inevitably seize me, and we would go
over together. To let him stand up was
to witness his equally certain destruc
tion.
thought OF poor Mary, and | re-
membered that if he died she might
get to cPre for me. The devil put that
thought in my mind, | suppose; but,
thank God, there was II stronger than
Satan near, and at the risk of my life,
| roared out, "sit still, ar you will fall
Ben Lloyd !"
He crouched down, and held on with
clenchGd teoth, shivering and shaking.
In after days he told me that he thought
that it was my spirit, sent to warn and
save him.
"Sit STILL" | repeated, from time to
time, watching with aching eyes and
brain, for some sign OF aid. Each min
ute seemed to he an hour. My lips
grew dry, my tongue literally Glove to
my mouth, and the perspiration run
ming down, blinded me. At last-at
laSt-hope came. The crowd began TO
gather in the yard, people were running
in from distant lanes, and IA sea of faces
were turned upward; then some one
who had got a speaking trumpet shout
ed, "Keep heart, boys; we'll save you''
few minutes more and the kite began
to rise; higher and higher it comes, on
and on. How | watched the white
winged messenger, comparing it in my
heart TO an angel; and surely, rs an AN
gel was it permitted to come to us poor
sinners, hanging on the verge ofeterni'
ty. Up it came, nearer and nearer, gui-
ded by the skillful flyer. The slack
rope crossed the chimney, and we were
saved.
could not shout hurrah, even had
dared; but in every beat of my hear
was II thanksgiving to the God | hat
never truly known till that hour, ant
whose merciful Providence l can nevel
doubt again.
The block was fixed, the cradle cam
up again, and Ben, obeying my order
got in. / followed; but no sooner did
touch him than he began trying to ge
out. got hold of him, and, taking /
in his head that / was attempting +
throw him over, he struggled and Tough
like the madman he was, graphing
tearing with his teeth, shouting, shrek
ing, and praying all the way down
while t he cradle strained and cracked
swinging to and fro like the pendulum
Of clock. As we came near the groun
J ! could hear the roar of voices, and n