The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-05-13
AT THE MINES.


among the snow decked cedars o.
the mountains. he will come unex.
pectedlv upon a small white wooden
cross, standing. as il on guard, eyel
a grave close beside the trail, Its on
lv surroundings being the moaning
pine trees and the endless waste oi
snew.
OF that simple cross rudely carved
by knife il some friendly hand, il
the name and date:
PHILIP N'GIsS,
April z. 1883.
A little above. certainly not many
hundred yards, but out Of sight
around the sharp spur Of the noun
tains, are situated The great Bolton
coal mines, their tail wooden shafts
rising up in the midst OF the solitude
noisy with never hating machinery
and surrounded BY marks OF meyer
ending toll.
Here and there along the gulche:
and the eanons. which are crossed
in every direction by black-ash
paths, can be seen the little wreaths
OF smoke curling up into the blue
sky, showing where the dark brown
ed delivers in the depths below make
their humble homes.
The snow lies trampled and dirty
from the pit house in every direction
and the great heaps OF slack show
the employment Of great force Of
workers.
Not one Of them all to-day but as
be passes that lonely grave beside
the trail, VIII reverently bend bis
head and feel that standing there, be
Is very close to God If you have
time to listen / VIII tell the simple
little story again for you
! was acting as foreman over the
night SHIFT al the Mohawk mines
al that winter; q hard, rough job
enough !; was, but was all l could
get TO do; and this boy. McGinn,
was a helper" ii Shaft No. 3.
I remember well the night be
first came 10 Us Il was IN Decem-
Der. rough and clustering outside. so
that even the thin boards Of the lit
tie shaft house afforded small protec-
ton from the wind. | Was huddled
close to roaring fire, trying TO study
Dut some plan for making the Snake
river dam safer before the spring
foods should come. Close as /
kept. the red flames roaring up the
chimney, vet | would shiyer as g
heavy bias. would come sweeping
around the edge OF the mountain
md shake the cabin SIS if it were in
sir.
Just then some one knocked at the
ioor. and without even glaneing up,
babe whoever il was to come in
A burst of lev wind swept over me
} foot shufiled along the floor, and |
sse a strange boy stund-
ng before me, his ragged. patched
,lothes covered with snow, his face
-ed from the wind. and s pair of big
blue eyes looking up anxiously into
ais face.
What is it, nv lad p / asked
,ently. for iomething about his for
orn appearance had touched my
heart with pity.
His ewes fell to the floor, and be
.rood there for an instant twirling
ais ragged hat in his cold hands
Without saying 2 word Then be
yulped out, as if ranfuily trying to
zeep back the tears
please. sir, ! want some work Y
His voice was honest, bis face ear
hest. his words true
''Sit down, my little man, where
Ire you from ?" ! said kindly.
He put his well worn boots out
.oward the heat Of the fire and look
d straight into my face as be made
answer
From Trinidad, sir. left there
his morning"
Trinidad ?" | echoed in surprise,
,lancing at the snow beating against
be windows almost Ike hail. Why
hat Is fifteen miles from here,"
Il knew it, sir?" He shivered
title. at was very cold, but they
aid / could get work here.
You are rather young for the
mines" l began, but he leaned for
ward eagerly.
~Oh, sir. don't say that! Father is
lead and 1 must work. lam strong
indeed l am, and / must work. or
What viii become OF Mary p
| felt the tears In my own eyes in
iympathy with his
Mary" l said, And who is
Nary ?"
.-She is my sister, sir. She is OUT
here now, waiting to hear:;" and he
over his shoulder to the
ioor.
Your sister out there In this
torn :" and In surprise | started to
nv feet
Yes sir. She Is peculiar, Mary
s: and she would wait there till /
anne back"
Then for heavens sake bring her
q; she shall share my FIRE anyway
Without answering be opened the
Ioor and went out into the snow. In
few moments be came back again
nth the sister. 8 slight built, brown
iaired girl of fifteen. as poorly dress
d ss himself. and shivering with
be cold.
For s moment none OF us spoke;
ben she looked up anxiously into
oy face and asked did you give
'hil something to do. sir ??
To resist the pleading hope in her
OH voice was more than could do.
Swept by sudden thought of my
wn sisters, far offin an Eastern city,
bent down and kissed her white
beck.
1'He shall have work, If | have to
o2ke place for him. / said.
And the sudden light Of happiness
Ihich sprang into the blue eyes was
1y grand reward.
/ found the boy odd jobs TO do
bout the shaft at first, and as be
1as always able and willing, I ad-
anced him in a few days and plac-
d him upon the night shaft as .
helper" at the foot of the shaft