The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-10-11

fields. and when the sun clothed the whea,
and the vine leaves on hill side with q
golden nue.. ~
The cry Of the night raven. the murmur
OF the wind among the leaves, the noise
of the adder, concealed in the thick grass,
the distant bowling Of the wolves, all car
when they were obliged to leave their cab.
ins. "
The woodman, when these sinister warn.
ings met his ear. would bring down his
axe with greater vigor. and work on in si.
lence, knitting his brows, and ever and
anon casting troubled gIances around him.
The mother collected her children as il
she feared the cold hand Of Peter was go.
ing 10 descend from above and harm her
nnocents.
Peter was everywhere. Prayers were
offered to him, tapers were burned in hon
or Of him. The terrified imagin alton ol
the poor peasants led them to look upon
him as always busy in plotting harm for
them. In this manner did they fear him
who. during his short career, had no other
desire but to do good to those about.
AT last il happened, that, after much la.
Dor. all the veins Of the mine were ex.
hausted, and it was necessary 10 COM
mence upon new ones. For this purpose
the master came, and his arrival was q
signal for holidays and pleasures.
He was only man, and yet was adored
by the miners who came with him. They
made plans, drew lines, pointed .out the
new routes, and soon the dull sound Of the
pick was heard against the granite rocks,
and the blows OF the mattock, and the
rumbling of barrows, told that the work
had commenced. The work had gone on
for four days. and the party who had ac-
companied the master was much dimin-
ished. The young girls and youths who
had come to attend the miners holiday,
at the opening Of the work, had returned
to the city; and all were gone home, ex.
cept a few intimate friends, and the engi-
neers. They were necessarily calculating,
for they wished to increase their. master s
fortune, and provide for the safety of the
miners. ~
Suddenly an unusual noise was heard
Il was dull murmur, like the distant
warning Of a storm. =. .,
ltincreases--cri cries are heard, painful
cries-The earth trembles.- The
master is soon at the mouth Of the mine
The bell is rung with all haste; all the
ropes are pu, in motion. lie wishes to
leap into one. OF the baskets to 90 to the
he believes is inevitable. All come up
They are pale anG trembling, and the
sweatrolls down their faces.
What is the malter!" cried the master
as pale and as tremulous as the living
spectres before him.
"A man!-death!-- miracle!-
az apparitionr' Such were the words, the
exclamstions, which escaped from their
mouths, which were cold through fear,
and horribly distorted.
Soon, however, the master was able to
collect few words, to form an intelligible
sentence Of the exclama;ions dictated by
fear.
While engaged in opening communi.
cation between fhe-new mine and ancient
ones, the workmen discovered q stratum
less hard than they had before met with
Stones and earth we're not its only ingre'
dients. but the foreigh substances, which
they found in great abundance. seeased &c
indicate that in times gone by, en- i'm
mense sinking had suddenly happened in
that place.
The work was not difficult. A minel
loosened large masses OF Garth and stone.
by single blow Of his pick. All OF =
sudden. q very large mass, which had no
thing to support it, slid down; gas escapet
from the aperture which it left, ittook fire
and while il was burning. what WIS the
astonishmen. Of the miners on discovering
by its ligh. young man TO all appear
ances asleep!
His brow is smooth. his cheeks fresh
even retaining the color OF life; but hi
eyes, his mouth, are motionless. Insae at
Of going TO him, of endeavoring to recog
nize his features Of aiding him, for per
haps, he has need OF aid, overseers and
miners all fly with the utmost precipitation
from this unexpected apparition. Fear
in the short distance they have TO pas.
through to meet their comrades, supplied
their imagination with enough for . tale
II is no longer q man, it is an inferna
spirit, who has come to show himself Il
them, in the midst of lightning and than
ueT. Ills mat uivItlfty WHO mas nlS nome
in the mines, and who often appears to in
terrupt the miners in their labor. His form
is colossal. They saw him move, rise
up, stretch out his powerful arm. Il mus
be heis now walking through the gloom,
chambers Of the mine, threatening to bur,
the props OF the vaults, 10 destroy ever,
thing, TO bury all. ~ 5a
The master listened carefully to the ex
aggerated recitals of the terried workmen
but remained calm. He cast a elanc
around him. The miners have all com,
up from the mine, the eyes Of all are fixe,
upon him. all, with looks Of terror, seen
to wait for him TO decide, 10 give a com
mand for action.
ITO the mine!'' he cried, after speak
ling a few words in an undertone 10 hi
friends and the engineers about him, an.
then descended with the rest
The truth was soon known, and broa.
daylight disclosed the cause Of their ter
tror. They brought out Of the mine ant
laid upon the ground, the cold and damn
body Of a young man.
His dress indicated other times, othe
| fashions II was neat ard (, ,.,. =. ~, =,