Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-04-12
e. Do it yourself if you want it

architect. But go if you will /; let it
be My honor is pledged to have it
done at any price-and 1 can find q
braver man than you to do it.
The carpenter walked away with
dogged, slouching step, and the gentle
man was about to move away, also,
when 1 stepped forward.
"What is it you want done, sir % l
asked. {" am carpenter perhaps 1
can do it.
He turned eagerly toward ma.
/" 1 will make it worth your while.
Take down that cross and 1 will pay
you hundred dollars. You will have
to ascend those 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.
I looked up at the spire it was
square at the base and tapered to q
sharp point, while along each angle
were nailed small gilded blocks of wood.
It's dangerous place to work" l
said, "and there will be even more
peril in descending than ascending.
Suppose 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" I 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 l
die they can live on the hundred dollars
for while until my sick wife RECEIVERS
her strength"
I'll make it q hundred and fifty p ex-
claimed the architect, "and may God
protect you ! If had the skill neces-
sary to ascend that steeple I 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 aspire, untilwe paused before
a narrow window. This was the point
from which must stort on my perilous
feat which had undertaken.
Casting q single glance at the people
in the street below-mere specks in
the distance-I 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, ana with ST.
lent prayer for protection and sue
cess, l placed my hand on the next
block above my head and clambered up.
From block to block I went steadily
and cautiously, trying each one ere 1
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 1 should live to
see a hundred years, shall L 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, 1
did not for one second lose my presence
of mind.
1t seemed to me that never before had
my senses been so preternaturally acute
as then, when horrible death seemed
inevitable.
Down, down I slipped, grasping at
each block as [ passed it by, until at
length my fearful course was arrested,
and then, while my head reeled with
the sudden reaction, great shout came
up from the people below.
"Come down, come down p 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 I was
determined to succeed. was not one
to give up, after having undertaken a
difficult task.
Coolly, but cautiously, I commenced
the ascent once more, first seeking in
vain to reach across to the next row of
blocks, for l did not care 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
allow me to swing across. Accomplish
ing my purpose at length, 1 went up
more rapidly, carefully testing each
block as proceeded.
Ere long reached the cross, and
there l paused to rest, looking down
from the dizzy height with GOODNESS
that even then astonished me.
A few strokes with q light hatchet
that the architect had hung at my back,
and piece by piece the rotten cross fell
to the ground.
My work was done, and as the last
fragment disappeared, I found sad
pleasure in the thought that should ]
never reach the ground alive, my deal
ones would have ample means tosupply
their wants until my wife could obtain
employment.
Sad and cautiously I lowered myself
from 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
a roll of bank notes in my hand.
''You have well earned the money,
he said. "It does me good to see 8
man with so much nerve-but-bIess
me what is the matter with your hair
: 1t was black before you made the ascent
now it is gray"
: And so it was That moment of in
, tense agony, while slipping helplessly
!. downward, had blanched my hair unit
it appeared like that of an old man
The work of years had been done in al
instant
Entering the bare, cheerless room
which was now all L called home,
J found a visitor awaiting me, my late
employer.
Harvey" said he, extending hi'
hand, 81 have done great wrong. /
cost me terrible pang to believe il
your guilt, but circumstances were sc
strongly against you, that L was forced
TO believe it. I have found the coin
Harvey, it slipped under the secre
drawer in my desk. Can you forgive