The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-01-13

By this time Mr.. Miles had clambered
up to rude scaffolding under the open
skylight with basket containing a can
of oil size and some large "books" of
gold-leaf. He then showed Ben how to
apply the leaf to the size, and cautioned
him not to fall, which Ben gravely 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 bow
line. This he threw over his shoulder,
and, taking offhis shoes, began,his peril
ious 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
to look out and downward.
A toy city, with lilliputian people
moving through the little streets, lay
beneath him. Beyond, the Savannah
river, like q narrow ribbon, wound
through the low-lying rice fields until it
reached the distant sea, which lay hazily
indistinct against the horizon. The view
was sublimely beautiful, but Ben IS head
began to swim, and he bethought him
self of his task.
Casting 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 well
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 ship on the vane, which was
about nine feet long. Mr.. Miles then
sent him up basket with the gliding
material, which Ben made fast to- the
vane. Then, with great difficulty, get
ting on the foot-rope, upon which he
could only sit-for he dared not stand
he "squirmed himself out to its ex-
treme limit and began his work.
Ali, me what terrible task it was
The sun beat down on his head with
terrible force as it rose higher in the
heavens. He could only use one hand
to work with, the other being employed
in holding on. An occasional breath Of
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 upper
most in his mind, "It's for mothers
sake" and, as the watchman in the
neighboring church tower called out,
"Six o'clock, n all's we'll " 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 bovine, Ben
then cast off the ends of the foot-rope,
while 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
spindle 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 q great shout
went up from the lockers on, Bon, for
the first and only time in his whole life,
tainted away. But little cold water.
and the touch of the roll of crisp green
backs which were counted out by the
enthusiastic Mr.. Miles, quickly restored
Ben to himself, and he returned to the
Calypso hero.
The city papers made honorable men
ton of the gallant young New England
err" and one lady, if remember rightly,
immortalized the daring feat in a poem
called "The Arrow and the Ball."
The passage back to Boston was q
quick one, and Ben was once more
clasped in his mothers arms, narrating
the story of his adventures.
"But / wouldn't undertake such a
climb again" said Ben, as he carefully
folded away the cancelled mortgage, with
its Endorsement of paid-up principal and
interest, "for all the money in Savan-
nah."
81 hope not, Benny DEAR" returned
Mrs. Buttles, with a fearful shake of hel
head "but should be most afraid to
resk it-you're sech dretful ventur'-
some oreetur. "-Harper's Young Peo
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