The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-03-13

ultuTt, dlu every opaio AtiSi SAoeH
ing, found its way to the pawnbroker's,
until at length eventhis poor resource
failed us, and my children cried in vain
for food.
Yet 1 did not sit down in idledespair !;
I could not afford to do so /; the life or
death of all l loved on earth depended
on my exertion, and SO, turning away
with a heavy heart, I once more set out
on the weary search for work.
All in vain I! refusal after refusal met
my entreaties for employment, and l
was turning homeward with a listless
step, when, passing al immense church,
1 was attracted by a group of men al its
base.
Impelled by some strange impulse, 1
approached and mingled with them.
A workman was standing near by,
looking up at the great steeple, which
lowered aloft some two hundred and
fifty feet above them, while gentle
man, evidently an architect, was ad-
dressing him in earnest language,
and at the same time pointing toward
the golden cross at the summit of the
spire.
81 tell you," he exclaimed, as I drew
near, "it must and can be done. The
cross must be taken down, or the first
heavy gale will send it down into the
street, and lives will be lost. Coward
is this the way you back out of a job
after engaging to do it?"
ct didn't know the spire was so high
up there. Do it yourself, if you want
it done"
81 would if I were able" said the
architect. "But go if you will; let it
be. My honor is pledged to have it
done at any price, and I a find a
drawer man than you to do it."
The carpenter walked off with a dog
ged, slouching step, and the gentleman
was about to move away also, when [
stepped forward.
"What is it you want done ?" I asked.
81 am a carpenter perhaps / can
do it."
He turned eagerly toward me.
81 will make it worth your while.
Take down that cross, and l will pay
you a hundred dollars. You will have
to ascend those ornamental blocks, and
L tell you csndidly 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.
cts a dangerous place to work.
said, "and there will be even more
peril in descending than ascending.
Suppose I succeed in moving the cross,
and then"
eff any accident happens to you, my
brave fellow, the money shall be paid to
your family. l promise you that. Give
me your address,"
"Here it is" 1 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 dol
lars for a while, until my sick wife re-
covers her strength"
"IIl make it q hundred and fifty"
exclaimed the architect, "and may
God protect You. If l had the skill ne
cessary to ascend that steeple. 1 would
ask no man to risk his life there. But
come, and keep a steady hand and eye."
l followed him into the church, then
up into the spire, until we paused be-
fore q narrow window. This was the
point from which l must start on my
perilous feat which l had undertaken.
Casting a single glance at the people
in the street below-mere specks in the
distance-I reached out from the win
dow, and, grasping n Of the ornamen-
tai blocks, swung myself out from the
spire.
For an instant my courage faltered, |
but the remembrance of my starving
famils came to my aid, and, with a
silent prayer for protection and success,
I placed my hand on the next block
above my head, aid clambered up.
From block to block / went, steadily
and cautiously, trying each one ere l
trrstel nv weight upOn IL