The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-04-15

winds in and out among the snow
decked cedars of the mountains, he will
come unexpectedly upon small whit
wooden cross, standing, as if on guard
over grave close beside the trail, it
only surroundings being the moaninl
pine trees and the endless waste of snow
OF that simple cross, rudely carved b.
knife in some friendly hand, is tn
name and date:
PHILIP M'GINN,
April 7th, 1888.
A little above, certainly not many huh
dred yards, but out of sight around II
sharp spur of the mountains, are situaV
the great Bolton coal mines, their h
wooden shafts rising up in the midstH
the solitude, noisy with never-halt
machinery, and surrounded by markBIJ
neyer-ending toll.
Here and there, along the gulches ami
the canons, which are crossed in eve
direction by black ash paths, can be 81 lh
the little wreaths of smoke curling lp
into the blue sky, showing where he
dark-browned delivers in the depths b ow
make their humble homes
The snow lies trampled and dirty som
the pit-house in every direction, All the
great heaps of slack show the erSbloy-
ment of large force of workers.
Not one of them all to-day buFas he
passes that lonely grave beside t. trail,
will reverently bend his head Id feel
that, standing there, he is very elose to
God. If you have time to listh will
tell the simple little story aQai9 for you.
was acting as foreman owe the night
shift aSAthe 'Mohawk" mipS all that
winter; hard, rough job enotgh it was,
but was all could get to o.; and this
boy, McGinn, was a 'helpGH in Shaft
No. 3.
] remember well the n kht he first
came to us. 1t was in DeC5mber, rough
and clustering outside, schhat even the
thin boards of the little snaft-house af-
forded small protection q ON the wind.
l was huddled close to roaring fire,
trysng to study out sop@plan for max
ing the Snake river dqh safer before
spring foods should 'ceme. Close as ]
kept, the red flames ro&ing up the chin
lney yet would shi8r, as q heavier
itblast would come swefping around the
sedge of the mountaH and shake the
cabin as if it were in &r.
Just then some he knocked at the
low door, and without even glancing up
u bade whoever it wfs to come in.
A burst of icy Wild swept over me, a
foot shuiiled along the floor and /
turned--to see trange boy standing
before me. his raayed, patched clothes
covered with snoH, his face red from the
wind, and paiHof big. blue eyes look
ing mp anxiouslBinto my face.
''What is it, NY lad?" asked gently,
\ for something 85out his forlorn appear
ance had toucIfd d my heart with pity.
y His eyes fell TO the floor, and he stood
Il there for an slant twirling his ragged
hat in mis- co "a hands without saying q
tword. ThenBh Bhe gulped out, as if man
1 fully trying keep back the tears
D "Please, Sr, want some workm
His voic95was honest, his face earnest,
his words true.
"Sit dokn, my little man." said,
! kindly yWhere are you from2n
b He put his well-worn boots out to-
ward the heat of the fire and looked
Astraight1nto my face as he made answer
'From Trinidad sir. / left there this
norninA."
"TriR Ridad7" l echoed, in surprise,
glancin & at the snow beating against the
Windows almost like hail. "Why, that
is iifteeb miles from herem
'Ik1 low it, sir.n He shlvered a little.
sit wab very cold, but they said | could
get work here"
"Y5u are rather young for the mines, y
" began, but he leaned forward eagerly.
h mOh, sirA don't say that! Father is
n Sud, and ltnsst work. am strong
4 tfideed am, atk must work, or what
oiwill become of NAg?"
Tt felt the tears MAJ own eyes in sym
/. lathy with his.
a "Marylp said q oo 10 is Maryp
r ushe is - n "a Y O's - Is out