The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-12-28


coiled over his shoulder, and coil of
spun yarn in the bosom Of his blue shirt.
Climbing upward over cob-webbed cross
beams and Orders, he found himself
under the four narrow skylights of heavy
ground glass that dimly lighted the mar
row interior of the spire. Through one
of these, which. was partly open, Ben
thrust his neck and shoulders. About
twenty feet above him the tapering spire
ended in great ball, through which rose
the tall iron spindle" surmounted by
the vane in the shape of an arrow. Two
parts of knotted rope were twisted
around the spindle above the ball, and
brought down through the skylight. This
had served Mr. Miles workman in lieu
of ladder. Ben's head and heart
failed for one brief moment as he looked
upward, and for the first time began to
realize the magnitude of his task. Only
for moment, though
It's for mother sake he said, softly
to himself and the thought strengthened
his heart and steadied his nerves.
BY this time Mr. Miles had clambered
mp to rude scafolding under the open
skylight with basket containing can
OF oil size and some large books" of
gold leaf lie then showed Ben how to
apply the leaf to the size, and cautioned
him not to fall, which Ben gravelv as
sured him he should try very hard not to
do
In one end of his coil of light but
strong gear Ben had tied running
bowline. This he threw over his shout
der, and taking off his shoes, began his
perilous ascent.
1t was easy enough to reach the spin
die by the knotted rope-ladder. Then
came the tug of war. Up the spindle,
which shook and swayed, the courageous
boy crept, until breathless and almost
exhausted, he threw his arms over the
vane itself, and for the first time ventured
20 look out and downward.
A toy city, with lilliputian people NOV
ing through the little streets, lay beneath
him. Beyond the Savannah River like a
narrow ribbon wound through the low
lying rice fields until it reached the dis
tant sea, which lay hazily indistinct
against the horizon. The view was sub
timely beautiful, but Ben's head began to
swim, and he bethought himself of his
task.
Casting a few feet of the coil around
the spindle and over the vane, so that
the bowline should hang properly, Ben
called to Mr.. Miles to make the end we'll
fast. Then lifting himself by his arms,
he slipped his legs through the loop and
sat suspended between earth and sky
Lowering his piece of spun yarn to Mr.
Miles, he received bit of stout ratlin
stuff with which he rugged foot-rope
Gas you see them under the yards of a
ship on the vane which was about nine
feet long. Mr.. Miles then sent him up a
basket with the gliding material, which
Ben made fast to the vane. Then, with
great difficulty, getting on the .foot-rope
upon which he could only sit-for he
dared not stand-he "squirmed" himself
out to its extreme limit, and began his
work.
All, mel what terrible task it was
; The sun beat down on his head with ter
rible force as it rose higher in the heav-
ems. He could only use one hand to
work with, the other being employed in
holding on. An occasional breath of air
would set the arrow in motion, and send
his heart into his mouth at the same time
Every bone in him ached, his head was
confused and dizzy-he dared not look
directly down for his life But he kept
doggedly at his work all day long, with
the one thought uppermost in his mind
" It's for mothers sake, and as the watch
man in the neighboring church tower
called out, Six clock, n all well (for
this is one of the old usages of the city,
Ben put the last touch of gliding on the
point of the arrow.
Changing back to the bowline, Ben
then cast off the ends of the foot-rope
while a cheer came family up to his ears
from the great crowd which had gathered
in the square beneath, as they knew the
little Yankee-as they called him-had
completed his work. Hugging the spin
die tightly, Ben drew himself out of the
bovine, threw it off from the vane, and
slid rapidly down the swaying rod
Down the knotted rope he sped past Mr..
Miles, who began to congratulate him
; down by beam and ladder and winding
stair, until he reached the solid earth
And then, as great shout went up from
the lookers-on, Ben for the first and
only time in his whole life tainted away
But little cold water, and the touch oil
the roll of crisp greenbacks which were
counted out by the enthusiastic Mr.
Miles, quickly restored Ben to himself
and he returned to the G1Z,,Dso a hero