The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-08-11
a PERlL0US HOUR.

! was appronticci ID 4 decorative
I painter. but being ~ bold, danger law
/ ing tnrn, | ran away 10 sen before my
time was out After some years tired
of a maritime life, and having married
and determined 70 stick to the shore, /
| got work with a builder whose peculiar
! line lay in erecting tall chimneys. had
always q very cool bead, and could stand
on elevations that made most men dizzy,
and so ! was soon n favorite hand with
my master.
We had on ono occasion to fasten a
lightning conductor which Ind sprung
near the topof n very high chimney, and
Mr., Staining chose myself and one
James CoIly TO do II al the most daring
Of his men. About half a dozen Of MS
went that morning witha hand cart con-
tanning tho necessary ropes. blocks, the
kite and 4 box or.cradle. Having flown
the kite and dropped It's limo across tho
top OF the chimney, we soon drew up d
rope, at the end Of which was block.
through which ran tho line whereby we
were to be drawn up.
Colly had only been married fort
night, and as we stepped into the cradle,
the men banteringiy asked him II nc
hadn't q last dying speech TO leave FOR
his wife; and then, Mr. Staining having
shaken hands with MS, and bid us be
cool and steady, we wero drawn slowly
up. 1t was known oil over tho town that
the conductor was to be fixed, and tho
streets were thronged with starcrs
Colly was very quiet, and when waved
my cap to the people he said snappishly
that this was no time for such folly, and
that he thought might think OF better
things than how TO amuse these gaping
fools, who, he dared say, desired no bot
ter fun than 10 see Ms meet with an acci-s
dent
had come up in the best heart, think
ing indeed nothing about the danger we
incurred, but as we drew nearer and
nearer to the top, and had nothing, AS IL
seemed, belonging TO this world near 10
Us but this strainfng role. began 10 see
che peril OF the Undertaking " mas
Colly thought of it | don't know. He
sat ut tho bottom Of the cradle, never
looking out, though told him no would
do better TO keep his eyes about him, SO
that he might grow used to the height.
Good heavenl what was this2 Here
we were within a yard of the top pro-
jecting coping, and still they were wind
ing away, without Stacking speed in the
least; ! guessed in moment that they
mistook our height, and that with the
great purchase Of that windlass the rope
would be broken when the cradle came
TO the block. | sprang up, and catch
ing the rope, climbed hand over hand
to the coping. Colly, too, sprang mp
and followed me. He, too, got up safe;
and still they went on winding up, till
tho rope sung again with the strain.
Then 1t snapped, and cradle, hauling
line, and the main rope with its block,
fell down. Thus we were two poor
men left in q most desperate situation.
Poor Colly was completely dazed with
alright, and the moment he got on the
coping, which was only foot and half
broad, he called out, Where can /
pray2 whore can kneel and prayY'
And 50 | said very solemnly, "Sft down,
Jem; God will hear us II we pray to him
sitting down.
The color OF his face was transparent
blue, and II was distorted and twitching
Is If he was in a fit His eyes were very
wild and drawn into squint, and he
couldn't sit steady, but swayed his body
backward and forward 80 that | felt
certain that he must topple over,
Come, Jem, lad, = / said, thinking to
take the fright off him; it's bad enough,
but it can't be mended. Hitch up d bit
and put your arm around the rod-may-
be it will steady you.
Where are your and where Is this
rodY' he asked, in q very hollow voice,
though he was looking straight at me,
and the rod was only a foot or two to
his left. By this | knew that he was
gone blind with the fright; and self
preservation said, Don't go near him;
but then remembered his new welded.
wife, and that taking him all through
he was always very decent fellow; and
] thought how should have liked him
to have doneif had been in his case;
so determined to run bit Of risk in
| his favor. OF course burst not get on
my feet; but working myself on bySmy
hands, / got to him, and putting my
~ III eAAONttAA AAlo " ami dAAd tCAAAIAB
as cheerily as could to keep cool, got
him with his arm around tho rod. 1t
had, however, sprung the stapling for
| FIVE yards down, and was SO loose chat
| it swayed with him, and expected any
minute to see him falling head aud heels
down and the rod tearing away with
him.
| There was great hustle down below;
people were running around the yard
and pushing to get in, but as yet there
were but some score Of men at the foot
Of the chimney, and by close looking
saw them put somebody on board and
carry him gently away toward the en-I
CINE house. One lof the men walked
after with hat in his hand; | knew
then that somebody had been hurt by
the falling cradle, and that it must be
poor Mr. Staining, as none Of our men
wore hats. Not face was turned up to
us. learned afterward that our men
| were SO taken up with SORROW that 20