Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-03-25

and there at last in utter despair he
threw himself down, praying that God
in mercy would let the end come soon.
And Inconsistencies did come, but It
was the quiet sleep that exhausted ma
ture demanded.
The light of his lamp fiickered fainter
and fainter, till all was total darkness,
yet he slumbered as peacefully as when
in his bed at home. But the waking
came, and the reality of his position
burst upon him with renewed horror.
He found his pick was still at his side,
and he resolved to grope his way back
to the scene Of the explosion and work
st the wall till he died or escaped any
thing was better than inactlon.
AS he turned to the wall and was feel
ing for the tunnel, in creeping round a
projecting rock, he saw faint CLEAN of
light that seemed at first like glow
worm.
He put his finger over the spot and
felt cold air coming against it. Was it
possible that this was an aperture that
might be enlarged? Instantly, yet eau
tiously, he struck the spot with his
pick, and after few blows, more light
was admitted.
Hope now nerved him, and scarcely
stopping to take breath, he struck at
the rock till the opening was so large he
could pass through his hand and feel
the warm sunshine upon it.
With shout of Joy, he began to pick
the earth again, but his random blows
brought down more coal than he meant
should come. He saw that all danger
was not yet over and that he must use
caution where he struck, or he might
yet lose his chance Of escape.
Slowly now, hour after hour he toiled,
bracing up the opening he was making
as he worked, till it was large enough
for him to pull himself through.
As his head emerged TO daylight, he
looked eagerly about him TO see where
he was. To his surprise he found HIM
self scarcely halfway up deep hole,
where the mine had caved in.
He remembered the spot, and Won.
dered how he could reach the top for
there was nothing on the sides of the
hole that he could cling to, to draw him
self ont OF it.
Yet to feel the warm sunshine, see the
green trees and hear the birds was n
pleasure in itself he had not expected to
enjoy again, and some one would surely
pass the opening ere long. After what
seemed very weary watching, he heard
voice whistling in response to the song
of the quails, and he shouted aloud for
help.
What's the matter here ?" shouted
some one, and looking M, Porter saw
his blind friend.
"Don't coma toe close t. this cave
in," he cried, to caution him. "But go
tell some men to bring rope and haul
me up. I've been buried alive in the
mines, but have dug myself out so far,
and now want help"
"Why, if it amt Jack Porter We
thought you were killed in the explosion
yesterday, with all the other poor fell
lows that were workin' in that vein.
Any one else with you %
'No, l jumped behind the fall and /
suppose that saved me. But you don't
mean TO say that it happened yester-
day? Why, it seems as if l had been
buried four months.
Yesterday morning at nine o'clock
it burst like an earthquake. An they's
diggin' down there now, while yer
mother an sister are waitin at the shaft,
with the other poor women, to see yer
scorched body brought up, as all that's
left of you. But reckon yer glad you
amt dead, after all. Have you found
out yet that there's anything worth liv-
in for ?"
81 don't think you'll hear me COM
planning again. If get ont of this, I
mean hereafter to work above ground
under the light of Gods sunshine. But
please get the men, and help me ont" 4"
"Well, well, my keen hearin' served
you good turn, now Ill send those
who have eyes, to serve you another.
It'll be resurrection to better life, if
you have learned to count your marcies,
and not be alters grumblIn' over what
you haven't got. Youths Companion.