The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-09-15

the coal-Stream that had been ripping by
Us on its iron wheels, and we were shown
black, gloomy looking excavation, lead
ing. the prince Of darkness only knew
where and told that was where the coal
came from Every now and then grim,
dc noniacal looking little boys issued from
the pit, pushing their tiny wagons over
the coal bin, where by an ingenious con-
trivance they were emptied, and the en-
gineer, conductor, locomotive, all in one,
turns on his minnie railway, and without
whistle or brake creeps into his viewiess
path again. One little lamp attached to
bis cap as a signal to others, is all the
light he has to g2ide him on his long and
dreary passage under ground. These are
kept constantly burning, and the smoke
gives their features anything but beau
tiful appearance, but makes them lock
very comical however. They seem to
have imbibed none of the gloominess of
their location, but all wore a cheerful aud
contented look, and seemed TO be unusu-
ally proud of their calling. Our conduc-
tor that agreed to take us into the mine,
commenced lining his car with thin piee-
es of wood in order to prevent contact
with its blackend sides, and in moment
we entering the region of mists and gloom
which closed around US with more than
midnight darkness. The road was low
and narrow, not permitting very long
smoke pipe on our human engine, bnt
through the nicely fabricated valves there
cane an occasional shrek which we in
terprcted as meaning "look out for your
heads" Then by the dim light of his
lamp could be seen the solid masses OF
rock sweeping down close to our car and
gliding suilenly past. Now rumbing
sound and twinkling light far ahead,
warned US of the approach of another car
going out This we passed after little
delay, when our guide began pointing out
great boulders of rock which had fallen
from over head, and rather coolly, we
thought, asked us, show would you like
to have been under that 7" After hay-
ng assured him that the idea was not at
all agreeable, We hastcned to leave the
spot, and came presently upon what lock-
ed like group Of spectres, but they prov
ed to be human beings like ourselves,
and not as fancy would have it, ghouls,
ready to pack US away in tho halls ofper-
dition. They evidently considered the
heart Of mountain as not being exactly
the place for exchange of drawing room
courtesies with every stray waif that
might fancy peep at their dominion !;
for they were as silent as the rocky walls
on which they were looking. To one of
an imaginative turn of mind, here was an
abundance of room for the exercise of a
poetic fancy. Strange fancies would now
aud then dart through our matter -cf- fact
and practical brain. Indeed, it was hard
sometimes to keep these fighty fellows
from running away with reason. The
exceeding narrowness of the way-the
dismal rumbiing of our car-the gliding
of the walls and the strange looking eyes
of our guide, that constantly peered at
US through the almost fendish glare of
the smoke and fame that difused itself
over his countenance, making him look
like an Illuminated deaths head set in
black marble, and following US with SON.
bre wings that seemed to hover around in
every direc!ion-were suggestive Of any
thing but the realms of light and peace.
A short turn, a sudden halt, and faint
hight from a vault at the right, told that
our journey was at an end-that we were
in the place of the coal king, whose royal
privilege it is to diffuse light and glad
ness, daily, over thousands of hearth's
and homes. Thus it is from such hum,
bic aud obscure sources as these, there
issue streams 81 blessings that, flowing on,
ward, falland mingle together in the great
sea Of eternal good. And thus it is that
every earnest demand, backed by an ac-
tual necessity which is made upon Ma.
ture, is sure to meet with an answering
revelation of her secret treasures.
In the low chamber before US were clus.
tered the laborers, praying with blows
pettioning with spades aud mattocks fol
the favor of their god. We left them at
their voiceless iuvocations; aud In few
moments looked out on the blue, rejoic
ing sky once more.
In the evening, just as the twilight be
gan to fall, the opening chime of the Cath
olic Church bell, and the crowds below
focking towards the building, proclaimed
evening service. 1t was a dull, uninter
esting performance, for such it might be
justly called. The singing was nothing
but continued. monotoLous chant, whicl
with the other exercises was quite in
com prehensible. How different were tht
en- otions awakened here, from those ex
perienced in a German meeting house
visited at l o'clock of the same day. W.
arrived only in time to hear the conclud
ing hymn. The singers voices were clear