Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-04
misfellaneons.


| and only child-a son. ana AilcK was
but young boy When he first descended
into the mines with his father.
One evening. as the old miner was re-
turning home from neighboring village.
his attention was attracted by little girl.
She was weeping bitterly. A few broken,
almost inarticulate words told that she
had been deserted by her mother. The
child. weary and hungry. had cried itself
to sleep, and while she was sleeping. the
| unnatural parent had foIs ,ken her.
The old man was touched by the incl
dent. Raising her tenderly to his arms.
he wended his way homeward. Entering
the cottage he placed the light burden in
his wife's lap, saying:
God in His wisdom has seen fit to
choose our home from all the other homes
in the village to shelter this deserted
child Knowing your kind heart, wife. |
did not fear to bring the little one toyou. :"
The dame pressed the good mans hand
affectionately in reply. and Amy-for so
| the child was called-was soon seated be-
fore simple repast.
Alick. on his return from the parish
school welcomed the little girl with every
expression of pleasure.
Years passed away, and Amy's child
hood days were spent.
Without great claims to beauty, there
was. nevertheless. charm about her
which all recognized.
The miner and his wife were not sur
prised when Alick one day asked them
for their consent to make Amy his wife.
and to their request they accorded their
heartfelt blessing.
The day for the rustic nuptials was
named and looked forward to as an occa-
sion of general rejoicing, The happy
day arrived and work was suspened that
ali might join in the merry-making.
Taking the hand of the trembling girl
within his own, Alick, according to the
long established custom of the village,
led the way to the little-covered church
where the parish priest blessed their love,
Children strewed flowers by the wayside
and sang gay songs, Each guest had
made a modest offering but to
no one would Alick confide the nature of
his gift, wishing. as he did, to excite an
agreeable surprise.
When they had returned to the cottage
Alick kissed his wife. telling her he would
leave her but for short season. He left
the house, and, with one last lingering
look at the doorway where Amy stood
waving mere adieu. he hurried off in
the direction of the old mines, and a curve
in the road soon hid him from view. AS
his 1.-THE figure disappeared A ny uttered
faint Sigh. suggestive of a dull forebod-
ing of evil to the fullness of he mirthful
joy.
DAYS passed, and search had been made
everywhere. Weeks followed then
months. But the bridegroom did not re-
turn Nor could his absense and strange
disappearance he accounted for. No clew
was gained as those who searched I'M
tiringly. At length hope was abandoned.
The widowed chung tenaciously to one
idea. which seemed almost like folly, in
| life or death, she would see her husband
again before she was called away from
earth. This belief afforded her comfort,
and the neighbors, while they did not
not share the conviction, humored her
in the heart. and spoke regrettully of the
sad chages that sorrow had wrought in
her fresh young face.
Forty years were gone. and but for
the sad, wistful face of old Amy, and the
whispered stories of the peasantry. the
upaccountable disappearance of Alick
woLld have been forgotten. But the tale
told in an an under breath by many a
heart was, that Alick had been carried of
by an evil spirit, with whom he had held
compact. Many even went so tar as to
say that his soul haunted the old cottage,
and had been seen during stormy nights
in the mountains. Amy indeed asserted
that she often heard his voice calling her
and the light that burned always from
nightfall until dawn in her easement told
that her heart ever kept vigil over his
fate.
The old cottage continued to be thought
haunted by ghostly visitors. and because
of this superstition none would occupy it.
II gradually fell into decay. The women
OF the village rarely passed the dead min
er's house without offering prayer Tor
the restless soul.
The old mines having been worked, il
was at length determined that new excav-
atoms should be opened. Amid the oper-
ations a subterraneous murmur was heard
mingling with the sound of the pike. Sud-
denly wailing cry rent the air, and the
earth seemed to tremble. Those above
rushed in terror to the mouth of the pit.
and the most fearless were about to de-
scend. when the call bell was rung violent
". Every rope was at once put IN use.
while the miners were white and trem-
bling with intense fear.
To every inquiry they accorded the
most disconnected replies, such as "a
man." "a Demon" "a miracle!" AT
length from one old man they gathered
that they had worked steadily 10 open
communication between the new and the
old mine, but finding only small obstruct-
ion at last a sturdy blow was made. and
the dividing line had given way; that
when the cloud of dust had passed from
before their astonshed eyes they saw a
young man; that he was lying upon a
rocky bed he seemed to be sleeping that
his cheeks looked fresh and fair, and that
his lips were still red. Instead of ap-
preaching him they had fed in fright, fill
ed with the belief that it was an evil
spirit in human guise that they beheld.
The owner of the mine listened attentive.
ly. As the old man ceased he rushed for
ward exclaiming. TO the mine, To the
mine!'' Soon the truth was known. Ere
many minutes three miners issued forth,
bearing between them the body OF the
young man. With a feeling of irrepressi-
BILE horror they laid him down upon the
green sward. His clothes were old and in
Dictated a style worn wears and wears noo