Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-26


wife and children are starving or l would |
not attempt this work. If die they can
live on hundred dollars for awhile until |
nv sick wife RECEIVERS her strength"
I'll make it hundred and fiftym ex-
claimed the architect. land may God pro-
teet YOU. If 1 had the skill necessary to
ascend the steeple, would ask no man to
risk his life there. But come and keep a
steady hand and eye"
I followed him into the church, then up
into the spire, until we now paused before
. narrow window. This was the point
from which l must start on my perilous
eat which l had undertaken.
Casting a single glance ut the people
n the street below-mere specks in the
istance-I reached out from the Win
low, and grasping one of the ornament
u blocks, swung myself out from the
'pire.
For an instance my courage taltered. but
5he remembrance of my starving family
came to my aid. and, with Il silent prayer
for protection and success, placed my
hand on the next block above my head,
md clambered up.
From block to block went, steadily and
cautiously, trying each one ere l trusted
my weight upon it.
Two thirds of the space had been pass
d, when suddenly the block that sup
| ported me moved-gave way. . heav-
ms, Never, then, should live to see
| hundred years, shall l cease to shud-
Ter at the recollection of that terrible mo-
ment.
Yet even in the midst of my agony as
[ felt myself slipping backward, L did
not for one moment lose my presence OF
mind.
1t seemed to me that never before had
| nv senses been so naturally acute as
hen, when horrible death seemed in
| evitable.
Down, down 1 slipped. grasping at each
block us | passed it by, until at length
my fearful course was arrested; and then
while my head reeled with the sudden re-
tcton. Il great shout came from the people
)eow.
l " Come down. come down - callef
he architect, from the window; hal
he sum shall be yours for the risk yoI
nave run. Don't try it again. Come
| lownr'
But no: more than ever now was
determined to succeed. | was not one t.
give up after having undertaken diff
cult task.
Coolly but cautiously | commences
: The ascent once more. first seeking in vail
to reach across to the next row of blocks
I for | did not dare to trust myself agall
on that which had proved 50 trcacherous
This | was compelled to do, however. I'm
+ i'll the space between the angles becam
sufficiently small to allow me to swini
across. Accomplishing my purpose :,
length, | went up more rapidly, careful
~ testing each block as | proceeded.
Ere long | reached the cross, and Their
D | paused to rest, looking down from tn
: lizzy height with a GOODNESS that eve
: then astonished me.
. 4 few strokes with a light Ratchet tha
he architect had hung at my back, an
"A piece by piece the rotten cross fell to tn
ground.
Ii Nv work was done and as the III.
fragment disappeared | found a sad plea:
Il urc in the thought that should | nevt
l. reach the ground alive, my dear one
e would have ample means to supply the
wants until nv wife could find employ
e ment.
T, Steadily and cautiously l lowered M
q self from block to block, and at lengt
/ reached the spire window amidst the cheer
II of those assembled in the street.
e Inside the steeple the architect placed
Is roll of bank notes in my hand.
:. lyon have we'll earned the money" /
II said :. 1t does me good to see a man wit
o 50 much nerve but-bleSs me, what
the matter with your hair? 1t was blac
l. before Won made the ascent and now it
l gray"
l. And so it was that moment of inten:
agony while slipping downward ha
y blanched my hair until it appeared liz
P that of an Old man. The work of yea
H. had been done in an instant.
l. Entering the bare, cheerless roo
W which was now all | called my home,
found Il visitor awaiting me-my late en-
TO ployer.
H. Harvey" said he, extending his han
" = have done II great wrong. 1t cost n
a terrible pang to believe in your guilt, bl
II circumstances were so strong against "
that | was forced to believe it. | hay
Is Is, found the coin, Harvey; it slipped und
vi the secret drawer in my desk. Can "
II forgive me my dear old friend?'
III Ny heart was too full to speak. | silcn
II " pressed his hand.
OF Il will undo the wrong | have don
IN All the world shall know how | accus,
lie you unjustly. Not through my wor
only, hnt through my actions also. 1C
4 must be my partner, Harvey. If you L
Of fuse, | shall feel that you have not forgive
III me-
did not refuse Instead | thankful
m accepted the offer which my friend 50 &c
Il crouslv made. knowing that no sur
method could have been devised to silen
l forever the tongue of SANDER and free II
ct name from the unmerited repoach whi'
of late had rested upon it.
III Prosperity has attended my steps ev
y since that eventual day. but neither pre-
&c perity nor wealth can etface memory fro
my heart, nor restore my whitened loo
IN to their own raven hue.