Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1860-11-08
WHO rs THE GREATEST?

|
One evening. as we sat together, be laid down
his book, and with glowing cheeks and
sparkling eyes, exclaimed:
Wasn't he the most splendid man tha.
ever lived? I'd give any thing to be balf SO
great"
Mr.. Abbott's portrait SO carefully conceals
the blemi isles Of. Is. hero, and it is set in so
dazzling frame, that could not wonder at
a boys enthusiasm in contemplating it. But
| said
&c Your chance of being half so great as
Bonapar:e is very good, think. Tha is
not always great that consists in brilliant
achievements. The highest greatness is
moral, and seeks the good of others rather
than its own glory. | could tell you of a more
noble hero than Napolean, who lived in bis
own time"
Should like TO hea- of one," said Hen
ry, with an air that said he was not to be
convinced. But he still loved story, SO l
told him the following:
Years ago, in the deep heart of a nouns
tain in Belgium, hundred men were work
ing in coal mine. Grim-visaged and dus-
ky, moving about by tbs red light of their
safety lamrs, they might have been taken for
the demons of the mountains, once supposed
by the peasants to dwell in its caves. Their
work was hard, and surrounded by dangers,
but their wives and children were in the
hamlet above, end long habit made them for
get their perils. 81 they might be contented
and even happy.
The creaking windlass raised and low
cred huge bucket through the deep and
narrow shaft, from morning IT, night. car
rying men to and fro. This was their only
doorway.
s. 1t was MONDAY and tho sun shone down
one side of the shaft, and brought glimmer
of daylight 10 part Of .hc mines. when
Hubert Coffin, the mas.eI miner, took his
place in the great kbble, acd was let down
to the mine MANY feet below. When he
reached the bottom he com nenced banding
some tools and stores to Victor, a blind MI
ner, who was waiting there. Victor had left
sick child III one of the cottages, and it
was to enquire after him that he stood watt
ing at the bottom of the shaft.
The bucket was SO IN emptied, and Hubs
ert was just stepping out, when bark What
sound was that which made his cheek pale
1t was the rushing of water. The next mo .
ment he caught sight of stream forcing
itself through the fssure in the mountain
close to the shaft! uubert's long expert
ence instantly showed them their full dang er
1t was not a feeble oozing stream, but a
mighty pressure of water that had found its
outlet here. They would be overwhelmed
lost
" One foot was yet in the bucket-a jerk
at the rope would save him. But though
death stared him in the face. he could not
sacrifice others to save himself /! Quickly
jumping out be seized blind Victor, and pIac
ed him in the bucket, saying quickly, as be
jerked the rope:
=" Tell them the water has burst in, and
we are probably lost but we " i'll seek ref
uge at the farther end of the right gallery :
Say farewell to our poor friends In mo-
ment he was gone, and with him uubert's
only certainty of escape from terrible
/ DEATH
The nina consisted Of a long narrow
passage, on. all sides deep caves from which
the coal had been dug. The men were all
at the end of the mine. hewing out the solid
mountain, unconcious of danger. Hubert
quickly made his way along the dark pas.
sage. followed by the swift spreading water
an reached his fellow-workmen with dread
full intelligence. 1t was moment for panic
when each would have rushed TO certain
death in a vain effort to save himself But
looking firmly into their ghastly faces, the
master spoke few encouraging sentences
Follow my words, lads, and be quick
cur picks may save US"
Then came few steady, quick com
mands, to hollow new chamber above the
level of the water would probably reach-
The men obeyed in silence, though each
knew not but that he might be digging bis
own grave. A hundred pairs of hands soon
finished the work, and into the cave hum
dred men crowded to await their death Of ar
almost impossible chance of relief. The
water gradually filled the old avenues and
chambers, and then seemed stayed. Never
was situation more dreadful. No more
than days provisions had been saved, and
already two or three of their number had
been killed by the falling rocks. while hastily
digging their own chamber. The long dis
emal hours, with no change to mark them
brought only the aavance.of almost certain
| death.
Courage, brave Hubert! God. who saw
thy noble sacrifice, will help thee
n" The terrified friends and townsm en-, OF
hearing Victor's dreadful news, ran wildly
about in hopeless panic. But soon guided
by the message Hubert had sent, they com
meneed working new shaft as near as pos
sibls to the spot where the. hopeless mer
might be- Five days and nights they toiled
digging deeper and deeper into the side o
the mountain.
! "It is vain task said the men. Blu