The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-05-15

Inv honor is pledged to have it done at
anv nrice-and can find Drawer man
than you to do it." :,
The carpenter walked off with
logged, slouching step, and the gentle
man was about to move away, also,
when l stepped forward. .,
"What is it you want done, Sir" l
asked. 81 am carpenter; perhaps !
can do it."
He turned eagerly toward me.
! az will make it worth your while.
Take down that cross and will pay
YOU hundred dollars. You will have
to ascend those ornamental blocks, and
| | tell you candidly they are not to DC
depended on; they must be weak and
rotten-for they have been there tor
years.
| looked up at the spire; it was
square at the base and tapered to a
sharp point, while along each angle
were nailed small gilded blocks OF wood:
"lt's a dangerous place to work" |
said, "and there will be even more peril
in descending than ascending. Sup
pose | succeed in moving the stone,
and then
"If any accident happens to you, my
brave fellow, the money shall be pad
to your family. | promise you that
Give me your address,"
"Here it is" l said, "and as you
value your soul keep your word with
me. My wife and children are starving,
or I.would not attempt this work. II
| die they can live on the hundred dol
lars for while until my sick wife re-
covers her strength" -
"Tll make it hundred and tifty!'
exclaimed the architect, and may Gcd
protect you! If l had the skill neces-
sary to ascend that steeple | would ask
no man to risk his life there But come,
and keep a steady hand and eye"
followed him into the church, then
up into the spire. until we paused be-
fore a narrow window. This was the
point from which | must start on my
perilous feat which | had undertaken.
Casting a single glance at the people
in the street below-mere specks IN the
distance-I reached out from the win
dow, and, grasping one Of the orna-
mental blocks, swung myself out from
the spire
For an instant my courage faltered,
but the remembrance of my starving
family came to my aid, and with a ST.
lent prayer for protection and success
placed my hand on the next block
above my head and clambered up
i From block to block | went, steadily
and cautiously, trying each one ere |
trusted my weight upon it.
| Two thirds of the space had been
passed, when suddenly the block that
supported me moved--gave way. Oh.
heavens! never, though | should live
to see hundred years, shall cease
to shnddcr a. the recollection of that
terrible moment
u Yet even in the midst Of my agony,
as | felt myself slipping backward, |
did not for one second lose my presence
of mind
| seemed to me that never before had
my senses been SO prcternaturally acute
as then, when horrible death seemed
inevitable
Down, down l slipped, grasping at
each block as passed it by, until at
length my fearful course was arrested,
and then while my head rceled with
the sudden reaction, a great shout came
from the people below.
"Come down, GENE down" called
the architect from the window; "half
the sum shall be yours for the risk you
have run. Don't try it again! Come
down.
But, no! more than ever now | was
determined to succeed. | was not one
to give up, after having undertaken a
, difficult task.
Coolly, but cautiously, commenced
: the ascent once more, first seeking in
vain to reach across to the next row of
! blocks, for / did not dare to trust my
self again on that which had proved so
treacherous. This | was compelled to
do, however, until the space between
) the angles became sufficiently small to
1 allow me to swing across. Accom-.
plishing my purpose at length, went
up more rapidly, carefully testing each
block as l proceeded.
Ere long ! reached the cross, and