The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-04-09
What is it you want done?" I asked.
" l am carpenter; perhaps l Can do

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 up there for
years"
[ looked up at the splre, IL was
square at the base and tapered to q
sharp point, while along each angle
were nailed small gilded blocks of wood.
cts dangerous place to work." !
said, "and there will be even more
peril in descending than ascending.
Suppose succeed in moving the cross,
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, "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 dol
lars for while, until my sick wife re-
covers her strength. q"
"Ill make it hundred and fifty,
exclaimed the architect, "and may God
protect you. If had the skill neces-
sary to ascend that steeple, | would ask
no man to risk his life there. But come,
and 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 had undertaken.
Casting n single glance at the people
in the street below--mere specks in the
distance-I reached out from the win
dow, and, grasping one )f the ornamen-
tai 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 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 I 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-gGve way. o,
heavens never, though | should live
to see hundred years, shall [ cease to
shudder at the recollection of that ter
rible moment.
Yet even in the midst of my agony, as
L felt myself slipping backward, did
not for one second lose my presence OF
mind.
1t seemed to me that never before
had my senses been SO naturally acute
rs then, when horrible death seemed
inevitable.
Down, down | slipped, eraspins at
each block as | passed 1t by, until at
length my fearful course was arrested ;
and then, while my head reeled with
the sudden reaction, q great shout came
from the people below.
"Come down come down !" called
the architect from the window " halt
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 I commenced
the ascent once more, first seeking IN
vain to reach across TO the next row O1
blocks, for | did not dare to trust my.
self again on that which had proved SC
treacherous. This | was compelled tc
do, however, until the space between
the angles became sufficiently small tc
allow me to swing across. Accomplishing
my purpose at length, | went up NOR,
rapidly, carefully testing each block as
| proceeded.
Ere long I reached the cross, and
there I paused to rest, looking dowr
from the dizzy height with GOODNESS
that even then astonished me.
A few strokes wi h light hatchet
that the architect had hung at my back
and piece by piece the rotten cross fel
to the ground.
My work was done, and, as the las
fragment disappeared, found sa(
pleasure in the thought that, should
never reach the ground alive, my dea
ones would have amply means to sup
ply their wants until my wife could fine
employment.
Steadily and cautiously lowered my
self from block to block, and Mt lengtl
reached the spire window amidst tn
cheers of those assembled in the street
Inside the steeple the architect place,
roll of bank notes in my hand.
"You have we'll earned the money,
he said. 1t does me good to see
man with so much nerve-but-bIes
me what is the matter with your hair
1t was black before you made the as
cent, now it is gray"
And so it was That moment of in
tense agony, while slipping downward
had blanchcd by hair, until it appeare
like that of an old man. The work c
years had been done in an instant.
Entering the bare, chcerless roor
which was now all l called my home,
found a visitor awaiting me-my lat
employer.
Harvey" said he, extending hi
hand, 81 have done n Sreat wrong.
cost me terrible pang to believe ]
your guilt, but circumstances were s
strongly against you that was force
TO believe it, / have found the cOir
Harvey 1t slipped under the secrt
drawer in my desk. Can you forgiv
me, dear old friend ?"
My heart was too full TO speak.
silently pressed his hand.
81 will undo the wrong | have dom
All the world shall know how | accuse
you unjustly, not through my wore
only, but through ny actions too. Yo
must be my partner, Harvey. If yo
refuse, shall feel that you have n'
} forgiven me-"
/ did not refuse. Instead, l than
| fully,accepted the offer which my frler
so generously made, knowing that
surer method could have been devise
3 to silence forever the tongue OF sla
t der and free my name from the unme
{ tied renroach which of late had rest,