Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-05-21
THE MATcHLIGHTER OF SAN ADRIAN.


TALE OF THB MEXICAN MINES.
The sun had not yet attained its merediai
height above the bare and rugged mountain
of Zacatecas, when man in the garb Of
Mexican miner descended slowly down mar
row and tortuous path which wound alonI
the side of steep declivity. AT length IL
reached spot where small platform o
shelf, iutting from the mountain slope, ant
coyered with Vegetation, seemed to invite hin
to rest. 1t appeared, indeed, that he had in
tended to stop at this spot, for he turned
aside at once and seated himself on the greer
sward beside fountain which here gushet
from the overhanging steep, and created by
its moisture the verdure that surrounded it
Directly over this spring, large tree, spe
cies of mountain ash, sent its thousand roots
into the crevices of the rock, and shaded with
its spreading branches the gushing fount and
the green turf beneath. The miners first aci
was to take long draught of the refreshing
wave, and then he proceeded to bathe his
face and hands in the running water. When
the earth-stains which covered his visage
were washed away, he appeared a young Gre
ole of some twenty-five or three years, with 4
bright black eye, long straight hair, dark
complexion, and frank, gay, fearless expires
sion of countenance. He wore a coarse jacket
and loose trousers of some brown woollen
stuff, bound at the waist by leather girdle,
in which was thurst the never-failing knife.
He sat for a time, whisting carelessly, with
his eyes fixed on the descending path.
Presently wide covered basket became
visible in this direction, with a small hand
grasping il on one side. Then a pretty face,
with pair of sparkling black eyes, and two
small rudy lips, parted in smile of pleasure
! fal1 4
the erect and shapely figure to which the
pretty face belonged, gayly attired as became
a miners wife, in gorgeous petticoat, whereof
the upper part was of u bright yellow and
the lower of a flaming scarlet an equally
brilliant roboso, or cotton shawl, of many
variegated hues, was thrown over the shoul-
ders and the small feet were dainty encascd
in sky-blue satin shoes.
g iInhorabuena-in good time, Margarta, !"
Z id the miner, showing his white teeth. :
am here before you.'
:. Yes, in good TRUTH" replied the young
woman, laughing; "and was afraid all the
time that might be too early, and the tortil-
las and frijoles would get cold. But now they
will be Il dinner fit for a governor"
with these words she quickly deposited
her burden on the ground, and removed the
covers, first from the basket, and then from
the earthenware dishes which it contained.
There was plate of tortilas, or thin pancakes
of maize, q bowl OF stewed frijoles, Ga kind of
small black beans,) and another bowl con-
tanning fiery sauce made of red pepper and
tomatoes. This was the miners simple din
ner. Tearing off piece of one of the tortillas
he twisted it with his fingers into sort of
SCOOP (called in Mexico la cuchara de Monte
-unia, or Montezuma's spoon,) and taking up
in this mouthful of the beans, he dipped it
into the burning sauce, and swallowed it,
spoon and all.
Manuelitoi" asked the female, who watched
him with an affectionate smile, while he was
thus satisfactorily engaged.
-" Because, mi cOrasoncitO-my little heart, ("
replied the young man, "there is to be
another blast to-day and the administrator
wishes to have it fired while the men are at
dinner.''
The smile instantly disappeared from Mar
garita's face.
C Santa Maria - she exclaimed, "another
blast Oh, Manuel, how long do you mean
to continue in this dreadful dutyih
" Until can find a better, my life," re-
piled the miner gayly. Would you have
me 60 back to my old employment of Jayetero
of simple miner-at six dollars a week,
when here as pegador, as the sole and trusted
matchlighter am earning sixteen ~
Alas % returned Margarita, tofwhat use
will the money be, if it happen to you as to
Pedro Bravo, only three months ago? All,
think | see the mangled body, as it was car
ried by our cottage, with poor Inesita crying
over it. And then, there is Juan Valdez,
stone blind now for five years. And old An
ton, cripple from his youth. Of what adj
vantage was their high wages to them ~
'None, sweetheart" replied Manuel, "be-
cause what they won by bol,lness and skill
they lost by carelessness. Ii man will per-
sist in firing matches when his brain is mud
died with dgudrdiente, he must expect to suf-
fer for it, However, shall not be q pegdior
always. In good time if it please San Fran
cisco, shall be captain of mine. And who
knows but that one of these days may be
an ddninistfddor-an Overseer, and a rich
man, as well as others ?''
To be sure" replied Margarita, eagerly,
g Why not you as .well as Miguel Gomez =
Don Miguel, forsootl as he must be called
now And yet remember him when he was
only poor bUscan-a common mine-hunter,
and always in debt to my father for agHaniiente
and tobacco, Yet because he happened to
light on good vein, and sold it to the Eng
lish company for ten thousand dollars, and
was made overseer, he thinks himself now a
great gentleman, and that everybody must
give way to him."
Poor Don Miguel p said the miner, laugh
ing. You are too hard upon our administra-
do,, Margarta. First, you refuse his hand
and heart, not to speak of his dollars and
then you abuse him behind his back"
/" All i'' said Margarita, hastily. "if you
knew -" and then she stopped suddenly,
as if she had said more than she intended.
What is there that you know, mu mugerci-
ta-iny little wife, that do notp' asked
Manuel, looking up in surprise.
g 1t was something that happened before
our marriage" replied Margarita, seriously.
g promised then to conceal it; but l have
often been troubled since with the thought of
my promise. II sin in breaking it now, / |