The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-03-04
The Faithful COmrade.

In the market town of Belgium, the cree
ton of n fine church was nearly finished
Only one thing remained to be done, which
was the placing ola weathercoCk ON the sum-
NIT of the steeple for ona well constructed
church steeple weathercock is never want
ing. Its elevation, however, appeared to be
impracticable, for the slender staging upon
which the wOrkmen carried on their work,
only one step from the depth below, did not
extend high enough to enable them to raise it
up. There remained no way to accomplish
the fashioning and soldering or brazing the
weathercock, but by having one man do it
while standing on the shoulders of another
man.
1t was no pleasant task which the two men
undertook-the one with his broad shoulders
and tirmness, the other with his fearlessness
and skill and it was needful that they should
have entire confidence in each other, and
have perfect trust in the merciful God into
whose hands they had placed their lives
And 80 the two men assembled up the
highest board of the staging, taking nothing
with them but the heavy weathercock, the
vessel OF melted lead, and the implements re-
quisitc for doing the work. Then the broad
shouldered man placed himself firmly on his
feet, and taking hold ola pole of the staging
with one hand, stopped over while the other
Then he handed him the pan of hot Goals with
the melted lead and the weathercock. Thus
the work of fastening and soldering began,
while from the market below, and from the
windows of the houses, the inhabitants of the
town gazed breathlessly up. And rs they
beheld with establishment the fcarlessness of
the two men, so were also many silent prayers
offered that God would mercifully shield
them from HARM
1t lasted long time, for every moment
seemed to the anxious gazers an eternity.
The broad -shouldered man stood upon his
board rs motionless as a rock. Hold on ! else
your comrade is lost The man standing on
the shoulders of the other works and soldiers
as rapidly as possible.
Now the weathercock is fastened at last
at last The man carefully descends from
the shoulders of his bearer, The lockers on
take breath, and "thank God" comes from
many lips But why does the broadshoul-
dercd man so tightly grasp the pole of the
staging Why does he not joyfully descend the
ladder after having finished his difficult task
Has the power to do so forsaken him. Not
yet now, he is coming down, but slowly and
unsteadily, and when he has reached the
ground he falls down. The other workmen
hasten to him and the crowd press around
The shoulders, arms, and breast of the poor
man are covered with terrible burns. While
his comrade, whom he bore on his shoulders
was soldering on the weathercock, the boil
ing lead with which the work was done was
running down, drop by drop, on the resolute
man. Although tormented with fearful pains,
he had not moved limb, for any movement
might have caused his comrade to totter and
and fall. The lite of fellow being had been
intrusted to him, and he had been faithful to
his trust, Notwithstanding his unspeakable
anguish and pain in doing so.
The noble man was carried toa hospital,
and after long, severe suffering, was cured
But through all Belgium and its borders the
report of the heroism of this workman was
spread abroad, and many, from far and near,
sent him tokens of their love and admiration.