The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-05-09
FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.

down we go. 1t grows blacker and
blacker, and is quite dark by the time
we touch the bottom. Here passage
ways run off in every direction, often
crossing each other like the streets of
town. On each side of these are
caves, where the coal is dug out.
Thick pillars are left between to hold
up the roof. The men who hew out the
coal are called "hewers. The coal is
put into tubs running on wooden
wheels, and dragged to the foot of the
shaft. Those who do this are called
"putters." 1t is hard work pulling
these heavy loads through the long,
low, dark passages. Beside these are
the ''trappers, whose business is to
sit cooped up in little black holes, to
open and shut the trap doors which lead
out of the passages. This is boys
work. Often little boys of 8 or 10 are
employed. 1t is not hard, but very dis
NAL and tiresome. And they have to
stay all day long. How should you
like it, children, who go to school and
play on the grass in the sunshine?
Then, there are dangers down in the
mine which do not happen to people
above ground. Foul air sometimes
chokes the men TO death; water some
times spouts up and browns them; and
sometimes part of mine "caves in. "
This is called "crush."
One morning, while the pitmen were
ut work in mine III the north of
England, they heard a noise like thun-
der. In moment every lamp was out,
for the men work by lamps-there is
not spark of daylight there. A
crush crush !" cry the men, and all
throw down their tools and run.
1t is Tuesday morning. The men
gather at the mouth of the pit and
count their number. Five are missing
two "hewers," two ''putters," and
one little "trapper," Robert Lester.
People above hear the noise and rush to
the pits mouth. The workmen are
taken up. O, the agony of the wives
and mothers of those who are left be-
hind Brave men go back TO their res
cue. They light their candles and
reach the "crush. There is nothing
but n heap of ruins. Were the poor
miners instantly killed, or are they
hemmed in to die of starvation? 1t is
dreadful thought. They called and
shouted, but no answer. They begin
with pickaxes and shovels to clear the
way. 1t is hard labor and great risk.
The news of the accident brings help
from far and near. Men flock from all
quarters to offer their services. How
they work Toward night they hear
something. Listen 1t is not voice,
but tapping. 1t can just be heard.
Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink five
times, and then it stopped. Five more,
and then a stop. What does it mean?
One man guessed that, as there were
five missing, the five clinlss showed all
five were alive, waiting for deliverance.
A shout of JOY was raised in and above
the pit.
Among the foremost of the workers
was the father of little Robert, the
'trapper. Night and day he never
left the mine, and hardly quilted his
work.
You'll kill yourself, Lester" said a
fellow-workman; Ego, take little rest,
and trust the work to us.
"No, no, Tom" cried the poor father;
81 promised Roberts mother we'd
come up together, and so we will, if it
please God" he said, wiping the tears
from his rough cheek; and he hewed
away with all his might.
How does it fare with the poor pris-
oners? They were frightened, like the
rest. by that sudden and awful noise.
Little Robert left his door and ran to
the men, who we'll knew what it meant.
till everything was quiet, they
went forward to examine the passage
way Robert had left. 1t was blocked
up. They tried another; that, too, was
blocked up. O, fearful thought, they
we're buried alive The men went back
TO the boy. 81 want to go home; please,
10 let me go home, said poor Robert.
Eyes, yes, as soon as we find way
)ut, my little man," said miner called
Truman, in kind, yet husky voice.
The air grew close and suffocating,
md they took their oil-cans and food
Bags to one of the galleries where it was
better.
The two "hewers, Truman AMI Lo-
gan, were pious men. "Well, James,
what shall we do next?" asked Truman.
"There is but one thing we can do,
said Logan. "God says, Call upon
Me in the day of trouble; will deliver
,hee, and thou shalt glorify Me. ,"
They told the boy their danger. "But
we must keep up good heart" said
,hese believing men; 'and the way to do
so is to put our trust in the Almighty
God more than in man. He heard
Jonah cry to Him from the whales
belly, and He can hear us from the bot
ON of the coal-pit. Let us pray to
Him"
They all knelt down, and Robert cried
bitterly. But, as the pious pitmen
one and then the other
heir hearts grew lighter, and even the
little "trapper" dried his tears.
When it was time for dinner, they ate
,paringly, in order to make the food they
lad last at least three days, for it might
De full that time before they could be
lug ont. Meanwhile, what should they
10 for water? A trickling noise was
heard. "Water, water !" Yes, it was
water, dripping from the rock. Z" 1t
said Logan, cas- if this water
vas sent on purpose to put us in mind
hat God wont forsake us for don't you
know the good book says, When the
Door and needy seek water, and there is
none, and their tongue faileth for thirst,
the Lord will hear them. i the God of