Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-08-31
THE MATCHLIGHTER or ADRIAN.

TIE MATCITLIGHTER OF ADRIAN.
The sun had not yet attained its meridian
height above the bare and rugged noun
tains of Xacatccas, when man in the garb
of Mexican miner descended slowly down
narrow and tortuous path which wound
along the side of a steep dcclvity.
Presently a wide covered basket became
visible in this direction, with small hand
grasping it on one side. Thena pretty face,
with a pair of sparkling black eyes, and
two small ruddy lips, parted in smile of
pleasure and surprise, came into view. Then
followed the erect and shapely figure to
which the pretty face belonged, gayly at
tired. as became miners wife.
ERIombneao-in good time, Morga-
rita" said the miner, showing his white
teeth. 81 am here before YOU"
ayes, in good truth" replied the young
woman, laughing "and | was afraid all
the time that might be too early, and the
tortillas and friiolcs would get cold. But
now they will be a dinner fit for gov
ernor."
GLOW is it that YOU are so ear y to-day,
Manuelito ?" asked the female, who watch
ed him with an ailectionate smile, while he
was thus satisfactorily engaged.
"Bccausc, 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
Margarta's face.
"Santa Maria." she exclaimed, "another
blast Oh, Manuel, how long do You mean
to continue in this dreadful duty ?"
"UntI can find better, my life" re-
piled the miner gayly. "Would you have
me 20 back to my old employment of bar
rctcro-of simple mineral six dollars a
week, when here as pegadOr, as the sole and
trusted matchlightcr, | am earning siX-
teen?"
"AIas" returned Margarita, "of what
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 carried by our cottage, with poor Inc
sta crying over it, And then, there is
Juan Naldez,stone-blind now for five years.
And old Anton, a cripple from his youth.
OF what advantage was their high wages
to them p
"Nonc, sweetheart" replied Manuel,
because what they won by bodness and
skill they lost by carclcssness. If man
will persist in firing matches when his brain
is mudded with agourdientc, he must expect
to suffer for it. However, | shall not be a
pcqador always. In good time, if please
San Francisco, | shall be captain of mine
And who knows but that one of these days
/ may be an HdmiaiStrador-an overseer-
and rich man, as well as others 2"
"To he sure" replied Margarita, eager
lv. "Why Not you as well as Miguel
Gomcz-Don Miguel, forsooth, as he must
be called now! And yet remember him
when he was only poor buscon-a common
mine hunter, and always in debt to my
father for nguamiente and tobacco. Yet
because he happened to light on a gooc
vein, and sold it to the English company
for ten thousand dollars, and was made
ovcrscer, he thinks himself now a great
gentleman, and that everybody must give
way to him"
"Poor Don Miguel ~ said the mincl
laughing I" You are too hard upon on
administrator, Margarita. First, yourefusC
his hand and heart, not to speak of his dol
lars; and then you abuse him behind hi'
back" However, think his time is up
The English director, Don Jayne, came
this morning from Mexico and seems very
much dissatisfied with the working of tn,
mine. 1t is whispered among the men tina
the overscer is certain to lose his place"
"Ah, that is good news, indeed p salt
Margarita clapping her hands.
The young couple separated with man,
afcctionate injunctions on the part of tn
wife, to which the miner laughingly pro
missed a punctual attention.
In the great shed surrounding the pit
Manuel found the English director, Do
Jayne, the overseer, Miguel Gomez, an
several clerks, miners, porters, and mule
drivers. Don Jayne seemed to be in
bad humor and the oyerscer looked blac
and sullen.
Enhorabuenn-in good time, my man,
said the director "We are all ready fc
you; and now let every one here be after
tive to his duties. There has been to
much carelessness heretofore, particular
in the blasting. Many complaints hay
been made among the townspeople an
proprietors of the accidents which occl
here. You, am told, arc very quicl
witted workman" he continued, address
ing Manuel. at is well that we hay
some on whom we can rely"
Gomez listened to this signiticar
speech without venturing reply, but h
swarthy face grew livid, and his ey'
flashed with baleful fire. Two horse
especially trained to the duty, were no
attached to the machine by which Il
buckets were raised and lowered in Il
shaft. Manuel then placed upon his hes
conical hat, having n socket on the TO
which held lighted candle. He took
one hand small rope, of which t. 9TH
end was held by the overseer, and
shaking which the matchlighter was
give the signal when he was ready