The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-05-16

when stepped forward.
"What is it you want done, sir p
| asked. | am carpenter per,
haps can do it."
He turned eagerly toward me.
Il will make it worth your while.
Take down that CT oss and will paw
you a hundred dollars. You will
have to ascend these ornamental
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
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 in ascend
ing. Suppose ! succeed in moving
the stone, and then"
"If any accident happens to you,
my brave fellow, the money shall be
paid to your family. promise you
that. Give me your address,"
"Here it is, said, and as you
value your soul, keep your word
with me. My wife and children are
starving, or / would not attempt this
work. If | die they can live on the
hundred dollars for awhile, until my
sick wife RECEIVERS her strength.
"I'l make it hundred and fifty |!
exclaimed the architect, and may
God protect you! If had the skill
necessary to ascend that steeple, |
would ask no man to risk his life
there. But, come, and keep a
steady hand and eye.0
| followed him into the church,
then up into the spire, until we
paused before 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 reached
out from the window, and, grasping
one of the ornamental blocks, swung
myself out upon the spire.
| For an instant my courage falter-
ed, but the remembrance Of my starv-
ing family came to my aid, and with
a silent prayer for protection and
success, / plasediny hand on the
next block above my head and
clambered up.
From block to block / went stead
lily 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 shudder at the recol-
lection Of that terrible moment.
Yet, even in the midst Of my
agony, as | feltmyself slipping back
ward, | did not for one second lose
my presence Of mind.
It seemed to me that never before
had my senses been so preternatur-
ally acute as then, when q horrible
| death seemed inevitable.
Down, down | slipped, grasping
at each block as passed it by, un-
til at length my fearful course was
arrested, and then, while my head
reeled with sudden reaction, great
shout came up from the people boz
low.
"Come down, come down |" call
ed the architect from the window
shalt 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. was
not one to give up after having un-
dertaken difficult task.
CoolIy, but cautiously, | com
menced the ascent once more, first
seeking in vain to reach across to the
next row Of blocks, for | did not
care to trust myself again on that
which had proved so treacherous. -
This / was compelled to do, howev-
err, until the space between the an
giles became sufficiently small TO al
low me to swing across. Accom-
plishing my purpose, at length, II
went up more rapidly, carefully test
ing each block as ! proceeded.
Ere long reached tho cross. and
there paused to rest, looking down
from the dizzy height with q cool
ness that even then astonished me.
A few strokes With light hatch
ct that the architect had hung at my |
back, and piece BY spiece the rotten
cross fell to the. ground
My work was done, and as the
last fragment disappeared / found a
sad pleasure in the thought that,
should | never reach the ground
alive, my dear ones would have am
pie means to supply their wants un-
til my wife could obtain employment.
Sad and cautiously lowered my
self block to block, and AT length
reached the spire window, amidst
the cheers Of those assembled in the
street.
Inside the steeple the architect
placed roll Of bank notes in my
hand