The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-06-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE CoRNIsH MINER.

At the foot of hill that descended by long
slope into ravinc, through which run stream,
whose red and disordered hue was derived from
the metal that had mingled with it, lived in a
POOR cottage two brothers of the name Of Gil
bert, who supported themselves by daily labor
in an adjoining mine. Each day and night al
tcrnately they had several miles TO traverse 90
their place of occupation, and their steps were
retraceG as daily as the sun rise or set bade
them finish their short but severe labor. Poor
ly as they now lived and fed, they were the last
of rather old family, that could at least boast
Of having possessed for several generations a
good and ancient looking house, situated beside
the same stream that ran close to the young
mems howell, and at no great distance. They
had indeed been bred up delicatcly only few
years since they had lived in that building, in
iulged in every wish that ideness and plenty
could prompt The father, however, lived too
fas, and free for his income he was fox-hunt-
or; and hounds and horses, and the frequent
substantial dinners he gave, with the unilmit-
led freedom Of the bottle, were parts of the eX-
penses which eat up by degrees his good prop
er;y The greater parts Of his estates were
mortgaged; and when he died, the manslon it.
self was seized to help pay his debts, and The
two sons were turned out triendless on the world.
Il might be said friendless for, of the many
who had Toasted at their fathers board, not ono
took kind or efiectual interest in their cond-
ton, and they saw that they must either earn
their living by the sweat of their brow, or
starve. They were now advanced into man
hood, and the manager of the large copper mine
on the distant HILL when addressed BY them in
an humble tone, gazed doubtfully on their deli
cate features and hands, all unused to TOLL
Their handsome hands, clothes, and hats with
broad band of gold lace (such was the fash
ion of The squires' of the day. were dotted,
and they were simply and meanly clad. EN-
ploymcnt was instantly assigned them, and with
some feeling of sympathy, the same wages giv-
en- them as to harder men; nor was it long ere
the brothers learned, though with difficulty, TO
earn them. They were obliged TO descend dur
ing six of the twenty -four hours some hundred
fathoms deep; at first, with dizzy head and a
trembling heart, clnging to ladders fixed to tho
perpendicular sides OF tho shaft with one hand,
and carrying lighted candle in the other
They bore the chilling and constant danips and
moisture so far beneath the surface; welded
tho heavy pckaxe and shovel without ceasing,
amidst sometimes close and sitting air where
few small lights only relieved the grave-lke
darkness of the place. They succeeded, how
eyer and q few months had scarcely passed
ere it was difficult to discover, in the bronsed
features, hardy looks, and active limbs of the
laborers, the two young and luxuriant descend
ants Of one Of the chief families in the parish.
1t was not all hardness and suffering they tast-
cd for the first time, perhaps the sweetness Of a
meal purchased by their owl, exertions, and the
delicious flavor that keen hunger gives to the
plain repast. The cellar Of their fathers house,
we'll stocked with wines, they might not enter
again, nor sit down at his rich and we'll spread
table; but their gains were now sufficient to
enable them to provide occasionally good re-
past, cleercd with the best ale the neighbor-
hood afforded; and when the Sabbath came
this was always the case. II was in truth day
OF rest for the young men, and they enjoyed it
cxquisitely. They set out in the morning along
pleasant path that led to Gwinear church,
whose gay tower on the hill might be seen at a
distance around; in the chui 'chyard they met a
few of their acquaintance, for few they were
who now took notice Of them, save those of a
lower decroc! The magnat,,s of the land. who
had hunted with their father, and drunk his
wine, passed them with &C Id nod, or perhaps
stopped moment to inquire into their pros.
poets, and commend their in dustry; but thcrc
were some, who had tasted, as dependents, oil
the fairness of their homo, who remembered them
in the day of their distress, and that with q
grateful and even q respectfill feeling. After
the service was over, they ,.cturned to theil
dwelling, and sat down to their plentiful hoard
with a comforted and elatcd sprit We are
creatures Of habit, whether of God or i'll, Of SCR
row or Joy; and in two or three years thei
condition sat almost as easily on the two young
men, ns if they had never know n a better one