Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-08-03
NUMBER 8.

mah-naru 10 poor dead Jesse.
| The boy was pretty, sir, but he didn't
grow much. You see he hadn't no moth
er-love to thrive on. The women, they
thought they did well by him, but they
sort o'hustled him. and he wanted some
thing different, coming of a delicate stock
l don't s'pose nothing, sir, can give child
that feel that having somebody to love and
call mother does-no, not all the cossetin
in the world by strangers.
Well, the years passed, and the little
fellow began to be handy in the mine 1t
seemed pity to see him beginning so hard
sort O life, but then we're not able to take
care of one more helpless hand, and there
was plenty young as he down there. But
he was so different from all the rest of the
children, He looked, for all the world be-
fore he got the grim in the face, like gem
tleman's child. sir. His skin was like the
shells you sometimes see with a little red
tinge on them, and he had his mothers
large brown eyes, and his fathers curly
hair, and then be was so slim like and girl
ish. But he had spirit beyond his strength
and gloried in his work.
Things was going on about as usual, ex-
cept that | was harder down on religion
than ever. The soft feeling wore off my
heart, and | think hated what was pious
worse nor before. Our sundays was train
ing days-nothing good - everything evil,
just as evil as evil could be- |
Well, sir, one day that little fellow was
on my beat, and be had done up his work
quick and airly, so he stood sometime be-
side me talking. He was queer at talking
i never heard such strange things as he'd
say. So, says he, as l was fixing my tools,
says he: Keene,-that's my name, sir
where'd all this coal come from?
Come from the earth, said.
Yes, but what made it?
prided myself on my learning, SO said
I, Wy, mater made it Pinky; we used to
call him Pink and Pinky.
Well, what made mater, Keene he still
kept asking.
Why,-why, mater made itself!
Oh, no, he cried; and with as solemn a
look as ever [ see on any face-and his
voice of warnin'- don't know why, but l
never heered anything like it; says he
God made everything; God is down here
in the dark !
declare it was as nigh as if man bad
struck me as could be. Says I, Pinky,
where did you get that from?
Says he, The good man told me.
What good man? l asked, and an ugly
feeling came over me.
What preached at mammy's funeral.
said he.
And where'd you get him? l sort O.
grovled like.
Out in the road yesterday, I seed him
on horse, and he took me up and rided
me ever 80 far and back, and he told me all
of the good things.
was silent, tell ye. l didn't know
what to say, but was mad. just then,
in moving up quick, my lamp went out
Now that's a thing that don't happen but
few times in a good many years; I
knew I'd have to wait and holler till some
body come, for the pit was full of holes,
and SO said, Don't be afraid, Pinky,
they'll be here soon; but was shaky, for
we were in dangerous part of the pit. f.
Says he, don't feel afraid, Keene, don't
you 'spose Gods close to us?
declare, I felt my blood trickle cold,
and every wind that came down the shaft
way thought was his breath, the breath
of God.
Well, the hours passed away, and no
body came. Presently says little Pinky,
I'll go for you, God will show me the way,
and / heard his little feet patting along
them dangerous places. 1t was awful -
The sweat started on me thick, and it
seemed ike | couldn't breathe. But when
called him back he shouted with his lit
tie voice, God'll show me the way.
1t almost makes me tremble when think
ont, sir the boy went over the worst
road in the pit, full of sunk shafts and
dangerous places, without lamp Oh.
sir, when they came to me with plenty of
light, IL couldn't believe it sir, I couldn't,
and though they kept telling me Pinky was
safe, I tell you, sir, l thought it was a lie
till see him and heard him cry out, I'm
safe, Keene,-God showed me the way. d,
Well, sir, you mayn't think this looks
true; but tits. Oh, tits as trne as won
derful, sir, and tell you that | was diff
ferent man after that. Not that | grew
good at once--no, didn't know the way
then, sir / didn't feel like little Pinky;
I didn't feel sure that God'd show me the
way, but he did. 57a
One day after Pinky had been working
hard. he said he was dry, and hisi head
ached. Well, we always expected some
thing'd be ailing him-so that night | car
ried him home in my arms. and laid him on
his bed, and he never, sir,-the miner cho-
ked for moment. drew one rough hand
across his eyes, turned away for brief
second, then said hurriedly-He never got
up from it of himself agin. Every night
came home he was worse and worse. and /
tell ye felt as if all the light | ever see
was going out laas., -5a4 p .T
One morning he asked me in his weak
voice, Wouldn't / send for the good man
that preached for nanny? / didn't say
no,-'twasn't in my heart to do that thing,
and before long the parson was there, talk
ing and praying. That seemed to do the
child good. And as the miners dropped in
with their black faces and the little lamps
in their hands, he'd smile On 'em sweet sir,
it would done your heart good to seen
it. ..,rE
The man paused again, overcome by the
recollection of the scene. The muscles
round his firm lips quivered, and over hfs
great bronzed face there sWept an exnress