The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-07-25

rest, by that awful and sudden noise
/ Little Robert left his door. and ran to
/ the men, who well knew what it meant
/ Waiting until everything was quiet
/ they went forward to examine the pas
( sage-way Robert had left. 1t was
blocked up. They tried another; that,
/ too, was blocked up. Oh. fearful
thought they were buried alive! The
! men went back to the boy.
Il want to 90 home; please do let
me go home" cried Robert
Yes, yes as soon as we find a wav
out, my little man." said miner
called Truman, in kind, vet husky
voice.
The air grew close and suffocating.
and they took their oil cans and food
bags to one of the galleries where 1t
was fresher and purer
The two "hewers," " Truman and Lo-
gan, were pious men.
"WelI James, what shall we do
next 7" asked Truman.
There is but one thing we can do, -
replied Logan. God says call upon
Me in the day of trouble l will de
liver thee, and thou shall glorify Me -
They told the boy their danger.
But we must keep up a good heart, :"
said these believing men and the way
to do so is to put our trust in the AL
mighty God more than in man. He
heard Jonah cry to him from the
whales belly, and He can hear us from
the bottom Of this coal pit. Let us
pray"
They all knelt down, while the pious
pitmen prayed-frst one and then the
other; their hearts grew lighter, and
even the little "trapper'' dried his
tears.
When it was time for dinner, they
ate sparingly, in order to make the
food they had last at least three days
For it might he full that time before
they could be dug out Meanwhile
what should they do for water? A
trickling noise was heard.
Water, water !" yes it was water
dripping from a rock.
1T seems" said Logan, "as if this
water was sent on purpose to put us
in mind that God won't forsake us, for
don't you know the good Book saws.
. when the poor and needy seek water
and there is none, and their tongue
faileth for thirst, | the Lord will hear
them, l the God of Israel will not for
sake them -
/ Soon the imprisoned men got their
pickaxes but what hopeless task it
seemed to cut through that mass OF
earth and stones to daylight! Their
hearts beat with hope and JOY when
they fist heard the sound of their
friends working on the other side. 1t
was then they made the Clink, clinll
with their pickaXes which was heard,
and so encouraged their deliverers.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and
no rescue. What dark and dreadful
days! Worse than all, the sounds
they had heard did not appear to draw
any nearer. And yet prayer and
songs of praise might have been heard
in that dismal cavern. By Friday
morning their food was all gone, and
by Friday night their oil too.
''Our food is gone, orr tight is gone,
but our God is not gone" said Tru,
man. 'He says i will never leave
you, nor forsake YOU
As for little Robert he was so weak
he could not sit up. His, mind wan;
i ucIeU ne talked about the sun and
/ the grass as if he saw them and once
he repeated what he had learned at the
/ Sunday school:
! Sweet fields beyond that swelling flood
( Stand dressed in living green
/ Saturday came-the fifth day-and
/ the men outside knew there was not a
moment to lose. They were too anx-
ious even to speak For hours they
had heard no signals. Were their
poor comrades dead Suddenly the
wall was pierced, a whole was made
/ through it, and feeble voices was heard.
Truman, are you there 2"
"Yes, all here"
"All living 2"
/ Eyes, all living"
/ 'AlI living, all living :" shouted the
men and the shout went up to the
I top of the pit. When Roberts father
/ heard that his little son was alive, the
( good news was too much for him and
he fell down senselesS.
One hour more and the rescuers
( reached their comrades. Who can dc
/ scribe the meeting ? / cannot, nor
/ the Joy and gratitude of wives, moth
/ ers and friends, as one after another
was brought up to the surface. Last
came Lester, with Robert in his arms.
/ What hUzza rent the a as they
came in sight! "Safe, safe! God be
/ prsised.-EarIy Days.