Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-05-22

/ OO1A JOU5 hO OAOAo11A1CeAs co OAOW
near, cit must and can be done. The
cross must be taken down, or the first
heavy gale will send it down into the
street, and lives will be lost. Coward
is this the way you back out of a job
after engaging to do it ?"
81 didn't know the spire was so high
up there. Do it yourself if you want
it donev'
81 would if l were able," said the
architect. "But go if you will; let it
be! My honor is pledged to have it
done at any price-and I can find a
braver man than you to do it.''
The carpenter walked away with a
dogged, slouching step, and the gen.
tleman was about to move away also,
when | stepped forward.
"What is it you want done, sir ?" I
asked. 81 am carpenter; perhaps I
can do it."
He turned eagerly towards me.
81 will make it worth your while.
Take down that cross and I will pay
you hundred dollars. You will have
to ascend those ornamented blocks, and
| tell you candidly, they are not to be
depended on; they must be weak and
rotten-for they have been there for
years."
Hooked 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.
"Its dangerous place to work. X /
said, "and there will beeven more peril
in descending than ascending. Sup
pose | succeed in moving the stone,
and then
eff any accident happens to you, my
brave fellow, the money shall be paid
to your family. I promise you that.
Give me your address,"
"Here it is" said I, "and as you val
ue your soul keep your word with me.
My wife and children are starving, or
| would not attempt this work. IF I
die they can live on the hundred dol
lars for awhile until my sick wife re-
covers her strength. .
"I'll make it a hundred and fifty p
a<els;-sad tslaea, :44s4 kss1 esU5.
protect you! If / had the skill neces-
sary to ascend that steeple Iwould ask
no man to risk his life there. But
come, keep steady hand and eye"
followed him into the church, then
up into the spire, until we paused be-
fore narrow window. This was the
point from which [ must start on the
perilous feat which I had undertaken.
Casting single glance at the people
in the street below-mere specks in
the distance reached out from the
window, and grasping one of the orna-
mental blocks, swung myself out upon
the spire.
For an instant my courage >faltered,
but the remembrance of my starving
family came to my aid, and with 81
lent prayer for protection and success,
I placed my hand on the next block
above my head and clambered up.
From block to block went steadily
and cautiously, trying each one ere I
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 I should live
to see hundred years, shall I cease to
shudder at the recollection of that ter
rible moment.
Yet even in the midst of my agony,
as I felt myself slipping backward, I
did not for one second loose my pres
ence of mind.
It seemed to me that never before
had my senses been SO preternaturally
acute as then, when horrible death
seemed inevitable. Down, down l
slipped, grasping at each block as
passed it by, until at length my fear
full course was arrested, and then, while
my head reeled with the sudden reac-
tion, a great shout came up from the
people below.
Come down, come down." called the
architect from the window; "half the
sum shall be yours, for the risk you
have run. Don't try again! Come
down." ''
But, no! more than ever now was
determined to succeed. Twas not one
to give up, after having undertaken a
difficult task.
Coolly, but cautiously, commenc-
ed the ascent once more, first seeking
in vain to reach across to the next row
of blocks, for I did not care to trust
myself again on that which had prov
ed so treacherous. This | was com