The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-02-17
" "ONLY A MINER. I"
THE STORY OF A GREAT SACRIFICE.

THE STORY OF GREAT SACRIFICE.
Tregoze is pleasant little Cornish vii.
lage overlooking the western Sea. y
Everything there is rough and stony,
and even the inhabitants are to all ap.
pearance as rough and stony as their
native rocks. But underneath those
slaty fields lies the rich vein of metal
and in those rough Cornish hearts is n
vein of human feeling and Christian
charity, far, far purer than much that
passes as such in the fashionable world,
where tinkling bells daily summon rich
dowagers to church in their gorgeous
chariots.
The children of Tregoze were tripping
lightly to school after the holidays, along
the hard slaty paths. 1t was, indeed,
with no "creeping like snail unwillingly
to school" kind of motion on this occas-
ion, as all were full of expectation, al
most of joy, for they were to have that
day new mistress. one whom they all
knew, and who had, in fact, been one
of themselves.
Margaret Powhele had been born in
Tregoze, where she had attended the
school, first as pupil, and then as pupil.
teacher. Thence she had gone to the
college in London. and vacancy hav.
ing occurred, she had 'een appointed
mistress down there in her own native
village. Her father had worked there
man and boy. in the Tregoze mines fol
upward of forty years, and he still con
tinued to follow this same occupation.
The children, therefore, all knew
Margaret. Their memories of her were
pleasant, and hence they tripped joyous
ly to school, where they admired theil
new mistress, who, in their eyes, wai
certainly as learned as the curate ant
almos as wise as the vicar, beside being
as pretty MS a princess. When they
therefore, returned home at midday
many were the ordinations of Ism
she prettyw "Isn't she nice~ and so on
among the youngsters; which exclama
tions generally called forth from the olC
people the remark, II hope thee WOO
get vorrard i thy larning, cause times b.
very hard for us poor volks."
Many others beside the school childrel
were in love with Margaret, for she ha'
budded into womanhood since she ha,
left Tregoze, and now her beauty ha,
taken the young men by surprise. Fo
some time Margaret found it far fror
agreeable to have so many admirers, bu
by dint of good management, by tn
falling off of those who felt they had ''n
chance" and through other circum
stances, her circle of avowed adorers bt
came reduced to two-Joseph TregeO
and Tom Polglaze.
Both of these young men were recei'
ing good wages in the mines. and ha
opportunities of rising to higher pos
tions as inspectors, &C.; both. too, wei
ste ,dy, and had saved little none,
1t was long, however, before Margar,
herself made it known which she IT
ferred; so far as that goes, neither coul
70; long time boast of the smalle
favor. Other girls called Margaret
flirt, but in this they wronged her. tt
simple fact was that Margaret, not v
tired of being her own mistress, endea
ored so TO order her ways that peith
Joseph Tregear, Tom Polglaze nor al
other suitor might have the slighte
reason to be jealous of rival.
Tregear, however, had the good sen
t. see that neither he nor Polglazs we
nearly so well educated as Margaret, oil
be W, II understood that it is lad ON,
when the husband has to look up to Il
wife iD the matter of learning, He a
cordingly bought books, and became
earnest midnight student. In fact.
tried in every way to render himself Ma
garet Powhele's equal.
Tom Polglazs, however, loved the IA
teacher not whit less than his rival. /
he was formed in a rougher mold. /
scarcely noticed the change in Tregea
but if be did not Margaret Powhele di
and she was highly gratifed by l..
"Joseph," said she to him one eve
ing when he came 20 ask her t. take
walk, 'you seem much changed lat
you are as little like a native of Tregc
as myself"
lin what way. Margaret"
You have lost that twang, and v
seem to know something about the gr,
(, world. Do you study
= Eyes; sit mp every night to read,
to work mathematics.
"whyl What do you want to be9
clerk"
"Margaret study only to be mt
F, like you; love you-will yor--"
: "Therel Joseph Tregearl you study
be like mei am sure never set y
the example of talking such rubbishl