The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-31
THE PILOT
THE IDRIAN MINERS WIFE.

TcoNcLUDBD.1
when she finished speaking, her hand extend
ed to Herman, and her face, as she leaned for
ward. turning alternately to the aged countess
and the friar; her eyes shining with the light OF
expression, and the pure blood flooding in tides
of richer crimson to her cheek and parted lips;
lips on which a silent and trembling, eloquence
still hung: they all sat gazing on her in speech
less establishment; sunbeam had darted
through the narrow window of the cell, and the
stream of light, as Blanch moved, at |; st fell up
ON her extended hand. When Herman saw the
pale transparent red, which her slender fingers
assumed, as the sunbeams shone through them,
he thought with horror, that the blood now so
purely giving clearness to her fair skin, and
flowing so freely and freshly through her deli
cate frame, would in the mines poisonous atmos-
phere, become thick and stagnant: he thought
how soon the lustre of her eyes would be quench-
ed, and the light elastic step of youth, the life
which seemed exultant III the slight and grace
full form of Blanch, would be palsied forever
Herman was about to speak, but the old priest
interrupted him by proposing that nothing should
be finally settled till the evening of the fourth
ensuing day; then the Lady Blanch, he observ-
ed, would have had more time to consider the
plan she had formed; and till then, the young
count would be permitted to remain in Vienna.
q will CONSENT but on this one condition. said
Blanch ,-'that nay proposal, bold as it is, shall
not be then opposed, il, as you say, my resolu-
that cannot change. '-Blanch went, and with
her husband, to the mines The dismal hut Of
workman in the mines of Idria, was but poor
exchange for the magnificent palace of the
Count Albert, on the banks of the Danube,
which was now confiscated to the crown; though
small estate was given to the venerable and
respected countess during her life. But Blanch
smiled with a smile of satisfied happiness, as
leaning ON her husbands arm she stopped be-
fore the hut which was to be their future home
Their conductor opened the door, but the count
had forgotten to stoop, as he entered the low
doorway, and he struck his lofty forehead a vio-
lent blow Blancli uttered faint shrek, her
6rst and only complaint in that dark mine The
alarm which Blanch betrayed at this accident,
banished the gloom which had begun t deepen
on her husbands spirits: to remove her agitation
he uersnaded himself to speak, and even to feel
cheerfully; and when Blanch had parted away
his thick hair, to examine the effects of the
blow and had pressed her soft lips repeatedly to
his brow; she said playfully, as she bent down
with an arch smile, and looked into her hus-
bands face. after all, this terrible accident
and my lamentations, have not had very bad
effect, as they have brought back the smiles to
your dear features, my own Hermann
The miners hat became daily a more happy
abode; the eyes Of its inhabitants were soon
accustomed to the dim light, and all that had
seemed SO wrapt ia darkness when they first en-
tered the mines, gradually daWned into distinct
pleasure on the walls and rude furniture of her
two narrow rooms; she had no time to spend in
useless sorrow, for she continually employed
in the necessary duties of her situation: she per-
formed with cheerful alacrity the most mental
offices--she repared her husbands CLOTHS and
size was delighted if she could sometimes take
down from an old shelf, one of the few books
she had brought with her. The days passed on
rapidly and the young pair knelt down at
the close of every evening, their praises and
thanksgiving to the Almighty were as fervent
as their prayers. Herman had not been sur
prised at the high and virtuous enthusiasm which
had enabled Blanch to support, at first, all the
severe trials they underwent without shrinking
bat he vGs surprised to find that in the calm, the
dull, and hopeless calm of undiminished poverty
and hardship, her spirit never sank; her sweet
ness of temper and unrepining gentleness rather
increased.
Another trial was approaching Blanch, the
young and tender Blanch, was about to become
mother; and one evening, on returning from his
work, Herman found his wife making clothes for
her unborn infant. He sat down beside her, and
sighed but Blanch was singing merrily, and she
only left oisinging to embrace her husband with
smiles--he tlought the sweetest smiles he had
ever SEEN
The wife of one of the miners, whom Blanch
had, visited when i'll of dangerous disease,
kindly offered to attend her during her confne-
ment; and from the arms of this woman, Herman
under different circumstances, would have BEN
welcomed with all the care and splendour of no.
BILE rank. But he forgot this in his joy that
Blanch was safe, and stole on tiptoe to the room
where she was lying; she had been listening for
his footstep, and as he approached, he saw in the
gloom of the chamber her white arms stretched
towards him. fI have been thanking God in
my thoughts" said Blanch, after her husband
had Lent down to Kiss her; "but am so very
weak. Dear Herman, kneel down beside the
bed, and sffer up my blessings with your own"
Surprising strength seemed to be given to this
delicate mother by Him sswho tempers the wind
to the shorn lamb" and she recovered rapidly
from her confinement; but when her infant was
about month old, Bjanch began to fear for his
health It was great sorrow for her to part
with her own darling child, but she felt it
to be her duty to endeavour to send him out of
tbe mines to the care of the old Countess Alber-
n: IL was very hard to send him away before he
could take into the world the remembrance OF
those parents who never would behold HIM more
before his first smiles had seemed to notice the
love and care of the mother who bore him; but
Blanch did not dare to think of her sorrowful
regret, for it was necessary to make every exer-
ton TO effect this separation, painful to herself
She knew that the wretched inhabitants of the
immense mines were dropping into the grave dali
W. she knew that their lives seldom exceeded the.
two FIRST years of their horrid confinement, and
she painted with eager desire to send her Paiiid
child to pure, untainted air
1t was at this time that Herman, as he was at
work In one of the galleries, beheld stranger,
attended by the surveyor OF the mines, approach
ing the place where he stood. Herman turned
away as the stranger passed, but he started with
surprise to hear the tones of voice which he
,ba~a dr,af he r1Iafa