The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-10-05
Who Is the Greatest z

My Young cousin has been reading Alb
bott's History OF Napoleon Bonapar'e.
One evening as we sat together he laid
down his book, and, with glowing cheek
and sparkling eve, exclaimed
WASN'T he the most splendid man that
ever lived ? I'd give anything 10 be half
as grea! u
MIR. Abbot's portrait so carefully con.
cea)s tie blemishes Of his hero. and is set
witha in SO dazzling frame. that could
not wonder at a hoy's enthusiasm in con-
templaling it. Blu, said:
Your chance Of being half so great as
Bonapar,e is very good, think. That
is not always great which consists il bril-
liant achievement The highest greatness
is n oral, and seeks the COOL Of others.
rather than its own glory. l could tell
you OF more noble hero than Napoleon,
who lived in his own time"
Il should Ike TO tear Of one." answered
Harry, with an air that said he was not
TO be convinced. But still he loved a
story so l told him the following:
Years ago. in the deep heart Of noun.
tain in Belgium. a hundred men were
working coal mine. Grim -visaged and
dusky, moving about by the dull red light
of their safety lamps, they might have
been mistaken for the demons OF the
mountain. once supposed by the peasants
to dwell in it's cave. Their work was
hard, and surrounded by dangers but
their wives and children were in the ham
let's above. and long habit made them
forget their peri!s. So they might be
contented, and even happy.
The creaking windlass raised and low
cred huge bucket through the deep and
narrow shaft. from morning till night, car
rying men and tools to and fro. This
was their only doorway.
1t was MONDAY, and the sun shone
down the side OF the shaft, and brought a
glimmer Of daylight to part of the mine,
when Hubert Coffin, the master miner,
took his place in the great kibble, and
low. When he reached the bottom he
commenced handing some tools and stores
to Victor, blad miner. who was waiting
there. Victor had left sick child 10 one
OF the cottages, and it was 10 inquire after
him lha: he stood waiting at she bottom
OF the shaft.
The bucket was soon emptied, and HUI.
bert was just stepping out, when. hark
what sound was that which made his
cheek pale ? 1t was the rushing and
trickling Of water. The next moment he
caught sight Of stream forcing itself
through fissure in the mountain close to
the shaft? Huberi's experience instant.
ly showed him their full danger. Ii wa.
not feeble, oozing stream, but mighty
pressure of water that had found its out.
let here. They would be overwhelmed
---lost
Que foot was yet in the Sucket-a jerl
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. he seized blind Victor, say
ing quickly as be jerked the rope:
"Tell them the water has burst in
and we are probably lost But we viii
seek refuge at the further end of the righ
gallery. Say farewell 10 our poorfriends.
In a moment he was gone, and will
him Huberts only certainty of escap,
from a terrible death.
The mine consisted Of long passages
and on all sides deep caves from which
the coal had been dug. The men wer'
all at the further end Of the mine hewins
out OF the mountain unconscious of dan
ger. Hubert quickly made his way along
the dark passage, followed by the swift
snreadiup water, and soon reached hi
fellow workmen with the dreadful news
1t was a moment Of panic. when eacl
would have rushed to certain death in BIZ
efforts TO save himself. But, looking