The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-06-04
and my children cried in vain for

despair; L could not afford to dc
so the life or death Of all loved
on earth depended on my oxcr
tion--and SO turning away from
thom with Il heavy heart, | once
moro set out on tho weary soarcl,
for work.
All in vain ! refusal after refusal
met my ontrcatios for employ,
mcnt, and | WAS attracted by Il
group Of men at its base.
lmpolIcd by somo strange i'm,
pulse, | approached and mingled
with thom.
a workman was standing near
by, looking up at tho great stoeplc
which lowered aloft some 25O
feet above thom, whilo q gentle
man, evidently an architect, was
addressing him in earnest Ian,
guagc, and ut the same time point.
ing toward tho golden cross at tho
summit OF tho spirc.
81 tell ycu," he exclaimed, as
drew near ''it must and can be
done. The cross must bo taken
down, or tho first heavy gale will
sond it down into the street, and
lives will be lost. Coward is this
tho way you back out Of Il job,
after engaging to do it |"
81 didn't know the spiro rs so
high up there. DO it yourself, if
You want it done"
81 would if l werc able" said
tho architect. But 60 if you will;
let it be! My honor is pledged to
have it dono ut any pricc--and I
can find u bravcr man than you to
do it,"
The carpenter walked away
with doggcd, sIouching step, and
tho gentleman WAS about to movo
away also, when l stopped for
ward.
"What is it you want done, sir?"
| asked. ~ ANA carpontcr; per-
haps can do it,"
Ho turned eagerly toward me.
81 will mako it worth your
while. Take down that cross and
| will pay you hundred dollars.
You will havo to ascend thoso or.
namcntal blocks, and I toll You
candidly thoys are not to he do
pended on; they must be weak
and rottcn-for tloy havo been
there for years"
looked up at tho spirc; it WAS
square at the base and taperod to
II sharp point, while along each
anglo were nailed small gidod
blocks Of wood.
"lt's n dangerous place TO work, I"
l said, "and there will bo even
moro peril in descending than in
ascending. Suppose I succeed in
moving tho stone, and thcn-"
eff any accident happens to
you, my brave fellow, tho money
shall be paid to your family. L
promise you that. Givo mo your
address"
"Horo it is," 1 said, CAS- you
value your soul, keep your word
with me. My wifo and children
arc starving, or l would not at
tempt this work. If l die thoy
can live on the hundred dollars for
awhile, until my sick wiEo rocov-
ers hor strength.
GIL mako it hundred and fif-
ty !" exclaimed tho architect, "and
may God protect you ! If 1 had the
skill necessary to ascend that
stecplc, l would ask no man to
risk his life thoro. But como, and
l1eop ~ steady hand and cye."
l. followed him into tho church,
thon up in tho splro, until wo
paused before Il narrow window.
This was tho point from which I
must start on my perilous foat
which [ had undortalten.
Casting q single glance at tho
people in tho street below-moro
specks in tho distancc-I reached
out from one Of tho windows, and,
grasping ono Of tho ornamental
blocks, swung myself out. upon
tho spire.
For an instant my courage fal-
tered, but the rcmcm brancc Of nv
starving family camo to my aid,
and with a silent prayer for pro.
toctlon and success, L placed my
hand on the next block above my
head and clamborcd up.
g.. From block to block I wont
steadily and cautiously, trying each
ono ere L trusted my weight upon
it. #'@,s TX s..
Two-thirds Of tho space had
boon passed, whom suddenly tho
block that supported mo moved
gave way. Oh, heavens mover,
though | should live to SEQ n hun
drcd years, shall I cease to shud-
der at tho recollection Of that
terrible moment.
Yot, cvon in tho midst Of nv
agony as | felt mysolf slipping
backward, l did not for ono so.
cond'lose my presence of mind.
1t seemed to mo that never bo-
foro had my senses been so pretor-
naturally acute rs then, whom q
horrible death seemed inevitable.
3. Down, down I slipped, grasp,ng
at zach block as passed it by,
until at len0th NV fcnrfnl conrso