Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-12

was to be tried, he would, despite his del
icate frame, not be found wanting
The arrival of the carriage that was to
convey them down into the pit cut short
all further conversation, and picking up
their tools, the hands prepared to de-
scend.
Harry and his partner began work at
their allotted place in the breast. Merrily
rang the picks, and loudly through those
long avenues echoed the singing of some
whose spirits neither damp nor darkness
could effect. All was going on well in
this underground world. Suddenly, above
the noise and tumult those nearer the
entrance heard the danger signal They
sprang to the shaft and anxiously looked
up.
Great heaveni the breaker was on fire
Quick menl if you value your lives :
every moment is worth millions of gold
to you'll
All over the mine went that terrible an
nouncement-danger!
Far away from this scene of horror and
confusion Harry was working uncon-
scious of his peril. At last he heard the
signal. Pick and bar were hastily drop
ped, and with all the speed of which they
were capable, he and his partner ran for
what was now life and happiness-the
shaft.
Flying thus, Harry stumbled over
something lying on the floor of the breast
A hasty glance downward and he saw it
was the Superintendent, Emily's fatherl
Quick! Harry; jump imp cried one
of his companions as he reached the
shaft, where the rapidly ascending car
was indeed proving a savior of men.
Without answering, he seized hold of
the side of the vehicle, was
was about sprtnging in when, clear as a
bell tolling in the frosty air, there came
ringing in his ears these words:
Love your enemies; bless them that
curse you; do good to them that hate
you"
Irresolutely he paused, like one en-
tranced. Twas but few seconds, yet in
tn at time he lived ages. His father had
so, many years ago, resOlutely turned his
back upon family and life, and in all his
glorious manhood met death for friend
here was a chance to die for an enemy; ;
one who had hurt him, one who hated
him. His mind was made up. He
loosened his grasp from the Car, and it
was soon far above his head.
When his companions saw he was not
with them, they called to him frantically,
and one threw him a rope, which, me-
chanically, he caught.
Was the finger Of God in this, telling
him that he must be saved? Here in his
hands he held life and safety-should he
accept it?
"Love your enemies"
He let 60 the rope, and without ire
NOR watched the car leave him to his terri
BILE fate.
Now for his work! They would come
down again for him if it were possible for
man to fight his way through the flames,
for these miners never deserted one an
other. We well know that; buG twas no
time for idle dreaming Back to the
place where he had seen the man lying
PROSTATE, and all the while there was be-
fore him sweet face now lost to him for
ever-lost by the deeds of him he would
save. Covering his eyes with his hands,
as II to shut out the vision which was
sitting his good resolutions, he prayed
for strength to endure to the end.
Selling the helpless man in his arms, he
dragged him to the foot of the shaft, and
anxiously looked up. Too late too late!
for instead Of the sky above he saw mass
of burning, glowing embers, choking up
the only exit from this now vast place of
sepulcher-yes, it was DEATH
The next day, when the fire was sub
dued, and the men were able to enter the
mine, they found lying at the foot of the
shaft powerful man, and resting partly
across mis- body, with calm, peaceful ex-
preston on his face, sleeping the sleep of
death, was Harry.-PeopEe's Monthly.