The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-12-05

man must necessarily be who has to
meet the demands of both he was at
times apt to become cross and stubborn.
His children recognized the mood, but
little Jamie, the INDUCED pet, climbed
up on the back of his chair, and throw
ing his arms round his fathers neck
whispered, "Papa, perhaps Mike Finn
cam come in time. l heard his wife
was awful sick. Suppose it was cur
mother? My Sunday-School teacher
said we should be thankful that God
had kept us safe and we'll through the
long year,
sCome, child, run off to school, and
I'll attend to the business here"
The two children hurried away from
the breaker, but ere they reached the
school, Jamie said to Tom, There s
one thing I'm thankful for anyhow, amt
youp''
"What's that?''
"Why, that we don't have to sit in
the dirty coal and pick slate all day"
"No, l wouldn't like that. But I'll
be glad when I'm big enough to work
in the mines and drive the mules. This
afternoon let's coax some of the men to
let us 90 down in the elevator and watch
'em at work; then come home with
papa tonight"
"Would he let us?''
"Oh! yes, you know we've gone
with him before"
When school was over the children
went home for dinner, but said moth
ing of their plan to their mother, lest
she should forbid them. When they
arrived at the shaft, three men, with
lamps burning in their caps were just
about to descend; and Tom eagerly
begged permission to accompany them.
The boys were favorites with the men,
and they readily consented. On reach
ing the bottom of the mine seats were
given them near the foot of the shaft
and they were told that their father
would soon be there. For q long time
they were amused watching the miners
lights, as they shifted to and fro the
loaded and empty cars. Then Tom
grew restless and coaxcd Jamie with
him from one group of workmen to an
other. till he picked up a lamp that
was hooked fast to stick and asked a
young fellow near him to light it. He
thoughtlessly complied, and the two
children started off to look for their
father. amusing themselves with con.
lectures as to his pleasure and sur
prise at their courage. They did not
notice that they had turned up the tun-
mel instead of down; but walked on
and on, till at last Tom stopped and
sad said, "Why it's queer that we
don't see papa or some of the men.
Let's CALL"
They shouted as loud as they could,
then listened, but there was no reply.
ooh, Tomr' cried jamie, "we ought
to have stayed where the men put
out?''
"Pshaw, Jamie! don't begin TO cry.
Wen 60 back the way we came and be
all right in a few minutes"
They turned and began, as they sup
posed, to retrace their steps. Every
little distance they cried for help, but
no voice responded. and, terrified by
the death-like silence and the loneli-
ness of their position, they began Sob
bling and running recklessly forward,
till Tom tripped on a lump of coal, fell
and extinguished his lamp. Then, al
though he regained his feet in a mo-
ment, they both realized that they were
indeed lost, and they believed that they
would never escape from that awful
blackness.
The men who had brought them into
the mines had gone to their work some
distance from the shaft in another di-
rection, and believing that they had
joined their father, gave them no fur
Their thought. The boss knew nothing
of their adventure, and, when the days
work was over, returned home, feeling
very much in the same mood as in the
morning-that he had to hear more
than his share of the burdens of life.
When he opened his door and saw the
bright freight shining on the supper.
table neatly spread, he gave a sigh Of
relief, feeling that he could put away
care for that night at least. But his
wife met him on the threshold with in.
quiries for the boys. She told him they
had gone down the shaft early in the
afternoon and had not returned. Filled
with alarm, he instantly sought the as.
sistance of some of his neighbors to 90
and search for them. With lamps in
their caps and hands they again en-
tered the deserted pit and separated in
different directions to explore the tun-
nels, calling the children's names as
they progressed. After searching for
long time they met, according to ap-
pointment, at the foot of the shaft
without the boys. Their father wished
to start off again, but at last reluctant
ly yielded to the advice of the men to
return and see if they had not wan
dered into some of the intersecting
mines and been taken out; if not. wall
till morning, then call general search.
" a. Nh u: