The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-02-09
ESTABLISHED 1859

y on or two persons, who were standir
bebw and gazing up at me.
was not three minutes before ouit
a rowd Of people had gathered abou
then to enjoy the spectacle of a man si
tin in st. Peters lantern.
'HallooP p thought 1. it is now tim
to etum! Some one will find out VIII
n, and then there will be prett,
goJP in the place" But l suddenI,
beme aware that return was not s.
cas-
" seat was so constructed that !
coui no. rise in my usual wav. The
side of the lantern were of smooth iron
an6o high that / could Get no hold
The was nothing left me but to press
myhands upon the seat behind me
raismyself so, and draw my legs after
me ntil they could rest between NV
hand upon the lantern. Then | couId
riseb my full height, and turn around
on9y own axis.
us way of RAISING vnrlrsale
sesaaiss knows and practices, but every
Ge hows, too, what an exertion of
nuscaar strength in hands and arms is
Pcesary in this procedure, and that any
nistsEe would occasion a failure-per-
laps too, a fall below.
Nov, there is vast difference between
ba erected on level ground, and an
ron hntern on the wall of n church a
hunted feet high, from which fall
nPoIthe rough pavement must have an
sbsontely fatal effect.
The more 1 considered my situation
the less it pleased me, and there I sat
and smiled feebly at the multitude be-
low which increased every mement,
ashimed to cry for help, or make known
nyiear
Well" said 1 to myself "if I sit
hen any longer shall lose every favor~l
abk chance to escape. 1t is ludicrous
to become bewildered, like child that
hasgone astray in climbing, quite aside
from the astOnishment that the story
must cause, if it comes to the ears of my
and supporters. Up, then!
vii close my eyes and act as if l we've
the soft turf of my garden"
N the space of a minute l stood on my
es in the lantern, and wondered at nv
odish weakness, when l observed, to my
eror, that l still had the most difficult '
'at of my undertaking to perform r
2asing my hands above my head to !
ete the smooth stone caves, | became u
-Rre that they were at least a foot and !,
alf beyond my reach. In vain did l h
e on my tiptoes and stretch out my b
ms convulsively; it seemed highly s.
obable that l should have to spend the h
ght in this situation. a
This was truly no agreeable considera- t
IN; for the seat was only just large Il
ough for me to SIT upright in it, and a
I fell asleep, which was possible, il
ould be precipitated headlong upon "
e pavement. Then they could collect h
Y bones the next morning. l.
At this critical moment was rejoiced ]
: thf oiHsPe6graapffiffr Hs 6saap pffifr9 OF the So G
ssSstDermann, I cried, interrupting Il
3 exclamations of astonishment, q
/, as you see, in a peculiar dilemma, tc
ice I cannot reach the caves You q
list help me. 1t Is no use to bring a g
pc, since you would not have room to G
nee yourself. If you bend down, how C
er, and reach me your hand, you can d
ert your entire strength, and raise me. fc
u are a powerful man, and am not Il
rticularly heavy" y
% Oh, sir, I am sure that 1 cannot lift
a." he replied. o.
My good man, you must !" assert X
Il cannot indeed pass the whole y
int in this situation, and, morever, I a
ght pack up my bundle tomorrow K
Do not be foolish, there d
e, and give me your hand" ,
In reply the sexton crouched down un- 81
.lingly, and stretched out his hand, oi
ich firmly seized with both mine by IL
wrist, while swung myself out into ci
dair. ! felt one or two convulsive 1t
Ks, and was drawn up about half d'
t, but then at once let down again.. W
could not raise me. ii
looked up. Such a vissage as met ~
gaze, may | never in my life see
lin 1t was pale as death; the pro-
ding eyes stored with the expression n
terror into the abyss be- co
lth US, and a cold sweat stood upon =;
5 forehead 'Let go" he cried. =,
,urses upon you, let go! You will !
eak my arm 1 can hold on no longer, 90
ID shall be dashed in pieces" a,
He walled like a child, at this moment ~
extreme peril My hair rose-my ~
an reeled. l expected myself every =
slant to plunge below. My despera- =,
on gave me coolness, and l was sur ~
-isd at the clcarness and consistency -
ithwhich / spoke. =
Sherman" 1 said, '1isten to me, =,
ld ease this unreasonable clamor l -
IN kel that you are gaining the coun =,
.rpise more and more every successive ~
coua. If let go of you shall per- a,
i if not, we both will. and / assure :,
~ that l shall not let go, as long as 1 :,
N hold on. You had better, therefore, :,
.aw me up at once" a
saw that he set his teeth together, .
ID closed his eyes. Then followed a !.
rrible exertion of strenth, and l was !,
ueeIing upon the caves. The sexton a
" beside me in a deep swoon. L now .
ore him carefully through the trapdoor !;
the vestry, and gave him water, 50
hot he soon recovered consciousness;
nt neither of us has ever forgotten that
erilous adventure upon the caves of the
hurch roof.
A. for myself, three months passed by '
,efore | again trod this almost fatal r
lace and you can easily imagine that l !;
vo;ded St. Peters lantern like fire.
The sexton kept the secret, assuring in
Iuisitive questioners that an eccentric
sngi;shman, travelling through the coun- {
nv had taken his seat in the lantern
nd this version of the story was cur
entlv believed
Although the gymnastic Lmania was
lot entirely frightened out of me by this
adventure, it only remained in modi-
led form, and have since confined my