Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-05-21
Often, indeed, al first. had they used to

cast a wistlul eye toward the ancient
building which they had always regar-
ded as their own f; it was full in view
from their cottage, aud the large trees,
that had sheltered the front, having been
lately cut down by the creditors for
sale, The well known walls were thrown
bleakly open then they sat and talked
sadly Of former days and pleasures,
when care was stranger and on
passing sometimes beside the place, the
way to their daily toll, they stopped, as
if by mutual impulse, cast on it long
and melancholy look, and saw that the
rank weeds oversPread the garden, that
the pond was filled up, and sthat the
spacious dwelling was let in small por-
tions, TO low tenants, whose noisy and
squalid families made common area OF
the whole.
One night the brothers were busy at
their work st the bottom of the mlne,
where the ground they had taken lay at
Il depth of more than hundred fathoms.
They were talking with grea! glce of
their prospects, and that if the present,
run Of luck should last for year longer,
hoped to be able to purchase back again
The old family dwelling, dilapidsted as 1t
was, and live there once more. The
elder brother was obliged to go above
ground, to ask advice of one Of the cap
tains, respecting some new appearance
in the lode, and said he should return
again shortly, With his small candle,
he mounted quickly by the ladders, a
pcrilous ascent to q strangers foot, and
the slaves too are sometimes rotten and
frail. He bad delivered the message he
wished, and had descended some dis
tancc on his return, when part of the
earth-as sometimes happens-at the
edge of the shalt loosened, and a large
stone falling, struck the unfortunate
miner from his ladder. lie plunged in
stantly to the bottom. The other,
hearing the rush and fall Of heavy
substance, ran to the SPOT, and by his
glimmering light beheld the mang!ed
form and features Of his brother. lie
had been dashed to pieces by the shock.
and the younger Gilbert, kneeling be-
side him, filled the place with his cries,
which no one heard, Tor they had been
quite alone, and in remote part o. the
mine. His first impulse was TO ascend,
and attempt to carry the body to the
surface; but seeing that all aid was now
a mockery, he lifted, and borc it to the
spot he had Just left, and :here sat down
beside it. The perishcd man was his
only friend and relative, the single COM
panion Of his life through distress and
prosperity; they had borne contempt
and neglect-had mourned and hoped,
together; and he called on his brother's
name in wild and earnest accents, and
looked, again Oh his broken form and
hleiess features. There was something
fearful and horrible IN the silence that
was around, and in the echoes Of the
arched caverns and hollow avenues that
returned his brothers. name on his ear.
The candles that still burned there-his
companions had been extingushcd in
the ialI-rendered dimly visible the damp
sides and roof of the place. With the
superstition of his province, he placed
one light at the head, and another at
the feet of the body; and this arrange
mcnt rendered the scene still more
ghastly. Gilbert sat little apart, near
ly shrouded in the darkness, and gazed
he could not withdraw the Saze,-on
tl.e form on which the sickly light fell.