Connecticut western news., 1876-08-25
ADVENTURE WITH A MADMAN.

"Well, Tom, you don't mean to say you funk it 2 l thought you had more pluck than to stick st a little thing like that. Suppose the spire is hundred and fifty feet high; why, there are lad ders all the way up, and isn't it just as easy to mount the hundredth step as the first 2" urged my adventurous com rade, as he looked wistfully up at the tall, tapering steeple which the work men were then newly painting.
 "l tell you what, Willie, don't see the use of running the risk of breaking our necks in the attempt. For you, who have so lately recovered from brain fever, it would be the height of folly" ]"
 eff so, Tom, it's folly's height itself minutes I'll be astride of the weather cock: Goodbye, my boy; I'm sorry you haven't the courage to follow ;" and, whistling lively tune, Willie Bradney walked toward the church porch.
 was now ashamed to hang back; I knew that the next day Willie's sdven- ture would make him the hero of the school-a position which we were ever struggling for in jealous rivalry; so, ere he reached the church porch, I overlook him and signifed my intention of shar- ing the adventure.
 "That's right, old fellow" was the retort; "but come, be quick, before the workmen return from dinner," and, passing into the belfry, he ascended the steep winding steps of the tower, and soon gained the battlements.
 So far all was we'll. We had already ascended one hundred feet from the ground but above us rose the tall, tapering spire to height of hundred and fifty feet more-its Corinthian pin nacle surmounted by the glittering weathercock, which had been newly gilded. The ascent had to be made by ladders, which were bound to each other and secured tightly to the stonework.
 glanced at Bradney. He seemed cool and determined. His right foot was already on the ladder.
 "Go on," said eff you are re- solved, I'm with you," and away he went, and I after him.
 There is nothing much easier thar getting up d ladder. I took care tt grasp my way tightly with botl hands, and neither to look up nor down Willie, however, climbed much faste1 than l, though unaccustomed to tn, work. We both often paused to rest.
 At last heard him shout
 "Here's pretty go, Martin thi confounded pinnacle projects & matte of two feet above the top bar of the lad der. I don't see how to chamber ove it."
 "Come down, then, like sensibl, fellow" I cried, for heartily wished the adventure over.
 "Oh, go to Bath p was the courteou retort, and looking up perceived Brad ney's legs dangling in the air, as he en deavored to chamber over the projecting stonework to reach the iron vane.
 In this he succeeded. l was equall, lucky. A moment later, aided by tn crossbars which marked the points of tn compass, we ascended the huge weather cock and sat astride of it facing eacl other.
 It was then that the horror of our situa tion seemed first to burst upon each o us. I looked down, and two hundred and fifty feet below lay the town. ant the great space, filed with people, evi dently intently gazing up at us, ane looking no bigger than dolls. Then glancing at the churchyard beneath, i presented the appearance of small level grass plot, with white mice run ming over it, for to my bewildered wis ion the very gravestones seemed t. move. l felt that was becoming dizzy the faky clouds above appeared to fasl by with sickening rapidity, and threy my arms backward round the tail of tn cock for support.
 At this moment hollow, harsh laugl broke from my companion; for tn first time glanced in his face, and tn terrible expression depicted there shal never forget.