The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1872-12-25

day, and warm even up as high as Twas. My
toe was on a level with one layer of slate, when
/ thought noticed was lowering an inch or
so, when it stopped; then it began again, and
Iwent down most eight inches; then stopped
again for a minute, and lower l went by half
a course of slate was thoroughly alarmed
Of course, Ireasoned, it could only arise from
one of four things--either the rope was
stretching, and that wasn't possible, or the
double hitch Ihad given to tlerope round the
head of staircase was slipping, which, again.
too, wasn't possible it being contrary to the
rule of knots, or the staircase was getting
pulled out which wasn't likely or,;what was
worse, and which struck me mustb the fact
the rope was cutting, and settled Son that
l watched to notice if there was any inclination
to twist in the rope, but couldn't see it. Now,
| knew that if made any violent motion,
might increase the damage. l clutched all
could to the sides of the states, trying to take
advantage ofeyep nail that might be sticking
up, but / could get no more hold than agn
glass. / was now under the larged part of
the swell of the dome, with hundred feet
clean under me. To get below to where l
had been working was impossible I was
afraid to swing out on the rope now, which
would have caused jerk. 1t was no use to
holler, for no one could have heard me; and
there was no use of making signs, as | was on
the side away from the street, and nobody
could see ME. Up must go, and may be,
thought, if the rope will hold, | may get up
yet Slowly went up, with quiet, steady
pull. 1t was about shutdown, and as got up
inch by inch, saw the sun shine on bit of
jagged tin, about twenty feet above me, and
saw it was that which had been cutting slowly
but surely into my rope. With the, strain /
had given it, three or four of the strands looked
as though they had been cut through with a
sharp knife, and was hanging now by may
be a strand. All alongI had held fast to my
tools; now | let go my hammer first, and then
some twenty states, and | heard them smash
with clatter below on the tombstones. Slowly
| crept up, nearing the point little where the
rope was cutting Just then got my head
over the top of the round. | had pretty
strong knife in my pocket, so | jabbed it in
between the edges. of the slate, until itteek a
hold in the woodwork, and braced my heel
against it. If had had two knives, could
have managed fistrate, using one for one foot
and the other for the other 50 as to take the
strain off the rope. tried all could to throw
the rope off the tin, but seeing it was still
under strain, with my heft to it, couldn't
bulge it.
Well, never should have known to this day
how would have pulled through if it hadn't
been for woman who just then stuck her
blessed old head out of little window il the
church below me. Mister, says she, I" don't
you know your trade better than to be a
throwing down slate and things that way9
And my child came as near as could be having
his head split open with a slate, and I'm the
sections wife, and just see if | don't report all
about it to the vestry as meets Tonight"
Says |, 'sFor Gods sake, don't scold, forsI
am here in a serape. My rope is cut and
getting cut all TIC ,ime I'm talking to you,
and you are just as likely as not to be the last
person as will hearmy final will and testament"
'sLord amercy !'says she !; ''I'lscream y
"Don't," says l. I" Is there any men about
here?"
mot soul but me. What shall i do9"
"Got any rope-no rope i'll the church,"
awe don't run this church with bells, and
there amt no bell-ropes, and there amt no
shop as keeps any around here"
?" Well, see here, /" says I, "it's a matter of
five minutes, or ten at most, with me-"
"I've got clothes-ne | dries the clothes
sometimes in the loft up there, but it amt
new line, MOI. it amt very long" az
''That win do, " says l., ''Now come up,
and be quick about it, with the cIothes-ine."
She was gone a minute, and presently could
hear something moving inside the little
dome, and soon she was at the window.
"Now," says |, "stretch out your cord,
and just where the middle is, pass it three
times round the upright at the head of the
staircase, make a good double knot at the
loose ends just as you would on a double
thread when you are sewing, and throw the
ends to me-" How the poor old woman
clustered, and wiped her face with her apron,
and how that old clothes-line, for could see
it plain, wasall tangled and twisted Presently
all was ready, and taking good aim at me- she
flung the knotted end toward me- 1t wouldn't
reach me by nearly three feet. / managed to
get my knife-blade some two inches higher up,
but even this exeltion and the strain had
given ON the rope stretched out the tibres. 1t
was jump | had to make, and it wanted
nerve, and thank God had it, and got good
hold, with one hand, of the clothes7lipe. In a
second was up ten feet and aboyesthes cut in
the rope, and now was all right. That old
lady--she was worse off than | was when
was by her side--she kissed me first, and then
went off into conniption. After it was all
over hauled in my old rope. You have heard
tell of the man who was In the mine sas was
lowered down by a rope, and then left hanging
until his strength gave out and at last he let
go, thinking he was to be smashed to atoms
When they did. pick him up he had fallen six
inches, but was in dead faint. Well, sir, my
case wasn't like his. hauled up the old
rope, and the old lady, she took hold of one
part and of the other, and when she jerked
it, she snapped the last bits of the strand like
Il. 4 IL