Year: 1869

A MAN will go blind, and mad, too,
from fear; l have seen it happen, and
if you don't mind listening, will tell
you the story. l was apprenticed to a
builder when left school, and soon got
to like the trade very much, especially
when the work was perilous, ard gave
me chance to outdo the other lads in
daring. Spider" was my nickname
in those days, given partly on account
of my long legs, for had outgrown my
proportions, and partly because they
said l could crawl along a roof lihse my
namesake. When l was working with
the famous Mr.. -, and went down
to Swansea, with his picked hands, to
carry out a contract he had taken in
that town. While there, l fell in love
with the prettiest girl l had seen in
Wales, and that is saying a good deal.
| For time | fanciel she liked me, and
that | was getting on very well with
my love-making, but l soon found my
mistake, for an old lover of hers joined
our men, and Mary gave me the cold
shoulder directly. You may believe
this sweetheart of hers (who was called
Ben Lloyd and | were not the best of
friends in the world but am not the
sort Of fellow to harbor malice, and
when the biddings to the wedding went
round, and l knew that my chance was
gone, made the best Of it; | kept my
sore heart to myself, and determined to
beat down jealousy by beiLg great
shums with Ben.


| went to the wedding, and there were
nor many days when | did not steal
half an hour to sit by his treside, which
was as bright and cosy and homelikc
as you would wish to sce-Mary being
the soul of order and industry. 1t is
not perhaps, the usual way of driving
out envy, to go and look at the happi-
ness another man has done you out of,
| but then you know the proverb says,
"What is one mans meat is another
| mans pois0n;" and So it was l got to
look upon Mary as sort Of sister, and
Ben had no cause for jealousy, although
there were plenty of evil tongues ready
to put him up to it.


The contract was nearly up when II
lightning conductor upon ono of the
highest chimneys, over at LlaneIly
sprang, and the owner of the works of
fered our master the job.


"Irs just the sort of thing for you,
Harry" said Mr.. -, when he told
US of it.


touched my cap and accepted it off
hand, and then Ben stepped up and
said he'd volunteer to be the second
man, two being required.


"All right" said the master, "you are
the steadiest-headed fellows have. The
price is good one, and every penny Of
it shall be divided between you. Well
not fix a day for the work, but take the
first calm morning and get it done qui-
ety."


So it WAS that, some four or five NOR
nings after, we found ourselves at Ian
ely, and all ready for the start. The
kite by which the line attached to the
block was to be sent over the chimney
was flown, and did up its work well
the rope which was to haul the cradle
was ready, and stepping in, Ben and
began the ascent.


There had been very few people about
when we entered the yard, but rs W.
got higher saw the news had spread
and that the streets were filling will
sight-seers.


"There's plenty of star-gazers, Ben,


l said, waving my cap to them. 81
dare say they'd like to see Us come dowl


with run"


! Cannot you keep quiet?" answered