The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-05-27

IOf Un0 hdpUy uUuIe anu IOI dA IAOSS OA0SS
ings. when Tom ran in. -SlH g.
His face was white as ashes,r and he
could hardly get the words out.
1Mother mother! he cannot get down," !"
who, 1ad-thy fatherT she asked :
s'They have forgotten to leave the rope,'
answered TonBi still scarcely able 70
speak. eala tssa g'id mo-
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 prayer to God for help, rushed
out of the house.
When she reached the place where her
husband was at work, crowd gathered
round the foot of the chimney, and stood
quite helpless, gaAir5s, Ups With their faeas
full of sorrow. .t.5n 4i
"He says he'll throw himself down. :"
"Thee munna do that, lad, cried the
wife, with clear, hopeful voice 'thee
munna do that-wait bit. Take off thee
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 tax
ing off his stocking, unravelled 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 Tom in
such haste for the carpenters ball of
twine.
':Let down one end of the thread with
| bit of a stone, and keep fast hold of the
| other" cried she at her husband. The
little thread came waving down the tall
chimney, blown hither and thither by the
wind, bat 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 it slowly" cried she to her
husband, and she gradually unwound the
s'Now hold fast and pull )" cried she,
and the STING grew heavy and hard to
pull for Tom and his mother had fastened
thick rope to it. They watched it
gradually and slowly uncoiling from the
ground as the string was drawn higher.
There was one coil left-it had reached
the top. ''Thank God'a exclaimed the
wife. She hid her face In her hands in
silent prayer, and tremblingly reioiced
The iron to which it was to be fastened
was there all right-but would her hus-
I band be able to make use of it Would
not the terror of the past have so unrerv-
ed him as to prevent him from taking the
necessary measure for safety? She did
not know the magical influence her few
words had exercised over him. She did
not know the strength that the sound of
her voice, so calm and steadfast, had filled
hlm-as If the little thread had carried
him the hope of life once more, had 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,
. my soul, why art thou disquieted with
IN me hope thou in God?" She lifted
her heart to God for hope and strength.
but could do nothing more for her hus-
band and her heart turned to God and
rested upon Him as on a rock
There was great shout
"He's safe, mother he's safe p cried
Tom
''Thou hast saved my life, my Mary"
said the husband, folding ber in his arms
"But what ails you thou seemest more
sorry than glad about it." But Mary
could not speak, and if the strong arm of
her husband had not held her up she
would have fallen to the ground-the sud
den Joy after such fear, had overcome her
"'fom, let thy mother lean on thy
shoulder" said his father, ''and we will
take her home" And in their happy
home they poured forth thanks to God for
His great goodness, and their happy life
together felt dearer and holier for the per-
il it had been in, and in the nearness of
the danger that had brought them nnto
God. And the holiday next day-was it
not indeed thanksgiving day