American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-02-24

poor Mary gave low wall OF misery, and
l heard her say, softly, 80 father. father
father-'
1t went right to my heart to hear her
hand.
Don't be down hearted, Mary" said,
huskily; there's hope yet"
Her eyes flashed through her tears, as
she turned sharply on me; and pressing
her hand for moment, l said, softly,
Try and think more kindly of me, Mary
And then turned to the men.
NOW, then, who's going down ?"
shouted.
"You can't go down." shouted half-a-
dozen voices; d" the choke got most the
better of u.s."
but there are two men down" 1 cried,
savagely "You're not all towards, are
you ?"
Two men stepped forward, and we got
in the cage.
"Who knows where Andrews was 2" I
cried; and faint voice from one of the
injured men told me. Then l gave the
warning, and we were lowered down; it
having been understood that at the first
signal we made we were to be drawn up
sharply.
The excitement kept me from being
frightened; but there was horrid feeling
of oppression in the air as we got lower
and lower, and twice over the men with
me were for being drawn up.
cit steals over you before you know
it." said one.
''It laid me like in a sleep, when Roth
erby pit fired" said the other
"Would you leave old Andrews to die?"
l said; and they gave IN.
We reached the bottom, and found no
difficulty in breathing, and, shouting to
the men to come on, ran in the direction
where / had been told we should find
Andrews but it was terrible work, for
expected each moment to encounter the
deadly gas that had robbed SO many men
of their lives. But l kept on, shouting
to those behind me, till all at once trip
ped and fell over some one; and as soon as
| could get myself together lowered the
lamp l carried, and to my great delight l
found it was Andrews.
Whether dead or alive l could not tell
then: but we lifted him amongst us, and
none to soon, for as l took my first step
back l reeled, from curious, giddy feel
ing which came over me.
run, if you cam" 1 said, family; for
my legs seemed to be sinking under me. /
managed to keep on, though, and at our
next turn we were in purer air; but we
knew it was a race for life, for the heavy
gas was rolling after us, ready to quench
out our lives if we slackened speed for an
instant. We pressed on, though, till we
reached the cage, rolled into it, more
than climbed, and were drawn up, to be
received with a burst of cheers, Mary
throwing her arms round her fathers neck
and sobbing bitterly.
'Im not much hurt" he said, feebly,
the fresh air reviving him, as he was laid
gently down. God bless those brave
lads who brought me up! But there's an
No one spoke, no one moved; for all
knew of the peril we had just escaped
from.
81 can't go myself, or I would" said
Andrews; but you mustn't let him lie
there and burn. l left him close up to the
lead. He tried to follow me, but the fall
ing coal struck him down. l believe the
pits on fire."
There was loud murmur amongst the
men, and some of the women walled
aloud; but still no one moved except old
Andrews, who struggled upon one arm,
and looked at US, his face black, and his
and hair all burnt off.
MY lads" said he, feebly, cant you
do nothing to save your mate?" and as he
looked wildly from one to the other, l felt
my heart like in my mouth.
"Do you all hear?" said loud voice;
and | started, as l saw Mary Andrews
rise from where she had knelt holding
her fathers hand; do you all hear?-
John Kelsey is left in the pit. Are you
not men enough to go?"
"Men can't CO." said one of the day
shift, gruflly; mo one could live there"
You have not tried" again she cried,
Richard Oldshaw," she
said, turning to me with red glow upon
her face, "John Kelsey is down there
lying and asking for help. Will net you
70 ?"
And you wish me to go, them" said,
bitterly.
"Yes," she said; would you have your
lie there and die, when
God has given you the power and strength
and knowledge to save him?'
We stood there then gazing in one an
others eyes.
"You love him so that you can't even
help risking my life to save his, Mary
You know how dearly l love you, and
that am ready to die for your sake; but
it seems hard, very hard, to be sent like
his"
That was what 1 thought, and she stood
all the time watching me eagerly, till l
took hold of her hand and kissed it; and
though she looked away then, it seemed
10 me as though she pressed it very
gently
The next minute stepped up towards
he pits mouth, where there was a dead
silence, for no one would volunteer; and,
IN half-blustering way, said, In go
DOWN"
There was regular cheer rose up as l
said these words; but l hardly needed it,
for was looking at Mary, anu my heart
sank as saw her standing there smiling
with joy.
'SRe thinks l shall save him." said to
- T
lie in the attempt; and God forgive her,
Tor she has broken my heart"
The next minute l stepped into the
cage, and it began to move, when a voice
calls out, elbow it all, Dick Oldshaw
shan't go alone!" and young pitman
sprang in by my side.
Then we began to descend, and through
an opening just caught sight of Mary
Andrews falling back senseless in the
and l was nerving myself for what had
TO do.
To go the way by which / had helped
10 save Andrews was, knew, impossible;
but had hopes that by going round by
one OF the old workings we might reach
him, and | told my companion what !
thought.
That's right-of course it is" he said,
slapping me on the back CHATS books,
that is l wish 1 could read
Turning short off as soon as we were at
he bottom, l led the way, holding my
amp high, and climbing and stumbling
over the broken shale that had fallen
from the roof; for this part of the mine
had not been worked for years. Now we
were in parts where we could breathe
freely, and then working along where the
lense gas made our lamps sputter and
rrackle, and the opening of one for an
instant would have been a flash, and