Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-03-10
Only a Miner.
STORY OF A GREAT SACRIFICE.

Sea-" Everything there is rough
and stony, and even the inhabitants
are to all appearance as rough and
stony as their native rocks. But
underneath those slaty fields lies the
rich veins of metal, and in those
Cornish hearts is a 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 gorge
Gus 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 occasion, as
all were full of expectation, almost
of joy for they were to have on that
day a 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 a pupil, and then
as teacher. From thence she had
gone to London, and a vacancy hay
ing occurred, she had been appointed
mistress down there in her own vii
lage. Her father had worked there,
man and boy, in the Tregoze mines
for upwards of forty years, and he
still continued to follow this occnpa-
ton.
The children, therefore all knew
Margaret. Their memories of her
were pleasant, and hence they trip
ped lightly along to school, where
they admired their mistress, who, in
their eyes, was certainly as learned
as the curate, and almost as wise as
the vicar, besides being as pretty as
picture. When they therefore, re-
turned home at midday, many were
the EXPLANATIONS of Isn't she nice! !"
"Isn't she pretty" and so on,
among the youngsters which ex-
claimations generally called forth
from the old people the remark, 81
hope thee wool got vorrard i thy
learning, cause times be very hard
for us poor volks."
Many others beside the scholars
were in love with Margaret, for she
had budded into womanhood since
she lad left Tregoze, and now her
beauty had taken the young men by
surprise. For some time Margaret
found it far from agreeable TO have
so many admirers, but by dint of
good management, by the falling off
of those who felt they had surely
mo chance" and through other cir.
/ cumstances, her circle of avowed
adorers became reduced to but two
Joseph Tregear and Tom Polgaze.
Both of these young men were re.
receiving good wages, in the mines,
and had prospects of rising to higher
positions as inspectors, etc. both,
too, were steady and had saved lit
tie money. 1t was long, however,
before Margaret herself made it
known which of them she preferred;
so far as that goes, neither could
boast the slightest favor. Other
girls called Margaret a fiirt, but in
this they wronged her. The simple
fact was that Margaret, not yet tir-
ed of being her own mistress, en-
deavored SO to order her ways that
neither Joseph, Tom nor any other
sutton might have the slightest rea-
son to be jealous of rival.
Tregear, however, had the good
sense to see that neither he nor Pol
gaze was nearly so well educated as
Margaret, and he well understood
that it is bad omen when the hus-
band has to look up to the wife in the
matter of learning. He according
ly bought books and became a very
earnest midnight student. Ia fact,
he tried in every way to make him.
self her equal.
Tom Polgaze, however loved the
fair teacher not whit less than his
rival, but he was formed in rough
er mold. He scarcely noticed the
change in Tregear; but, if he did
mot, Margaret did, and she was
highly gratified by it.
Joseph she said one evening to