Connecticut western news., 1872-02-23
A MINE ON. FIRE.

A MINE ON FIRE. e-.s ;.
 I was twenty-five years old and was working as regular pitman on the day and night shift, when [ fell; in love with Mary Andrews, tbe daughter of one of ou head pitmen. s'i A .E+4+"1
 Not that I dared to have told her so, T thought, but somehow the influence sot Mary used to lift me up more and more till should no more have thought of going to join the other pitmen in public house than of trying to fly 's7' .+F - It was about this time that I got talk ing to young fellow about my age who worked in my shift. John Kelsey his name was, and used to think it pity that fine clever fellow like he was, hand some, stout, and strong, should be so fond of the low habits, dog-fghtmg, and wrest- ling, so popular among our men. iF>. I was going along one evening past old Andrews house, when the door opened for Q moment as if some one was coming out, but, as if l had been seen, it was closed directly. In that short moment, though, had heard a laugh, and that laugh was sure was John Kelsey's. -,...f a....,..,
 Time slipped on, and I could plainly see one thing that troubled mo sorely-John was evidently making an outward show oi being hardworking fellow, striving hand for improvement, so as to stand well in cid Andrews eyes, while knew for a fact that he was as drunken and dissipated as any young fellow that worked in the pit. ' '
 could not tell Andrews this. nor could not tell Mary. If she loved him it would griexe her terribly, and be dishonorable as we'll, and perhaps he might improve. I can tell him though, I thought, and made uI my mind that would and meeting him one night, evidently hot aud excited with liquor, spoke to him about it. ..
 "H you truly love that girl, John." said, "you'll glve up this sort of thing"
 He called me meddling fool said he had watched me; that he knew had 9 hankering after her myself, but she only laughed at me; and one way and another so galled me that we fought. I went home that night bruised, sore, and ashamed of my passion while he went to the An dIews' and said he had to thrash me fol speaking insulting about Mary. =...
 1 heard this afterward, and don't know how it was but I wrote to her telling hel it was false, and that loved her too vel ever to have acted so.
 Six months passed over my head-si1 weary, wretched months-till Christmas came on, cold and bitter, but not so colo and bitter as was my heart.
 It was Christmas Eve, and in a dreamy listless way was sitting over my break fast before starting for work, when healt a sound, and knew what it meant before there were shrieks in the village, anC women running out and making for thu pits mouth, a quarter of a mile away. tell you I turned sick with horror, for knew that at least twenty men would b, down on the night shift; and though i was close upon their leaving time they could not have come up yet. ...
 "Pit's fired pits fired" I heard peopl, shrieking; not, that there was any need for there wasn't soul that didn't know it for the pit had spoken for itself. And as hurried out thought all in flash like O what a Christmas it would be for som families there, and I seemed to see a lon procession of rough cofins going to tn churchyard, and to hear the wailings c the widow and fatherless.
 I'didn't lose any time, you may sup pose, in running to the pits mouth bu those who lived pearer were there long be l found that the cage had brought up part ( the men, and three who were insensiblC and that it was just going down again.
 It N ent down directly and just as disappeared who tshouldI aome eIunning lul pale and scared, but Mary Andrews.
 "There's no one belonging to you dowr is there ?'' asked her. @'
 "Oh, ye-yes my father was dewr and JehnK elsey.a~s FS S% T
 "Now, then, who's going down ?"
 shouted. xs7 .s,,l st...
 "You can't go down." shouted half, dozen voices, :" the choke got most tl
 "But there are two men down p cried savagely. "You're not all coward are you2" H-A-R t-s
 Two men. stepped forward, and we sl in the cage.A 'i1 4''''if.
 "Who knoys, where Audrey was 2" cried and a faint voice from one of the il jured men toldIme. Then | gave the war ing, and we were lowered down, 1t havin been understood that at the first signal W made were to be drawn up sharply.
 We reacn> d the bottom, and | found I difficulty in breathing. and, shouting he men to come on, I ran in the directic where had been told we should fin Andrews; but 1t was terrible work, for expected each moment to encounter tf deadly gas that had robbed so many me of their lives. But I kept on shoutin those behind me, t1ll at once trippcd m fell over some one and soon as could gt myself together lowered the lamp 1 ca -ried, and to my great delight, found
 was Andrews.
 Whether dead OF alive could not te then; but we lifted him among us, ar none too soon, for as I took my first ste back reeled, from curious giddy feclir which came over me.
 "Run, if you can," said faintly f my legs seemed to be sinking under me. managed to keep on, though, and at o, next turn we wero in purer air; but V kp4w it was a race for life, for the hea, gas was rolling after us, ready to quen, out our lives if we slackened speed for instant. We pressed on, though, till V reached the cage, rolled into it, more tn climbed, and were drawn up, to be receiv with burst of cheers, Mary throwing h arms round her fathers neck, and sobbi bitterly -..-.... ....-.-..- a. A
 "I'm not much hurt,n he said, feebl the fresh air reviv:ng him, as he was h