West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-05-07

answered the idol "Sevcral thousands
of years ago. when was Young. pre-
sided over the dcSt,nic, of a kingdom
and was consulted about every thing
that was done
Il dare SAY. snapped back the
Knife, "and where, may ask. is that
nation now?'
'Nhat makes YOU 80 valuahlep"
asked the Paper-W eight of the Vase.
Il ann 81 rare. answered the orna-
ment with faint trace of enthusiasm.
"and cost the labor OF many mon for
very many years. represent years Of
toll, of trials, of sacrifice, for the men
who made me gave up their pleasures
during that time and were shut up i'm "A
dingy workshop like so many slaves. |
am the result of a secret process.
Even the Emperor didt know how
was made.
And YOU, interrupted the Knife.
mquls,tiNclN To the Weight, what did
you cost? How much are YOU worth?''
1t asked, sarcastically
II really don't know" replied the
Weight modcstly II never asked. "
Never asked, repeated nhc Idol,
diSdmnfully Have YOU history2
Have YOU any thing To recommend YOU
to this remarkable and choice collcc-
tion?"
81 don't know" answered the
Weight, rclcctively, after short
pause. II was dug out of an iron
mine in Michigan.
Michigan? Where's that?' qucried
the Vase "Anywhcrc near Paris?"
NO, responded the Weight, art
leSsly. Michigan is i'm this country
This mine is near the white shore of
Lake superior, by the side of mount
ain brook which tumblcs over the
sharp rocks and seethcs and boils rs il
ruShc~ through "A narrow cut i'm the hill
side. On one side of the great shaft
with It's Stccple of pine boards is the
lake; on the other side are the pine
forests, thick and dense as when they
were owned 10y the Indians. In this
forest IA little space hitl been cleared,
and within this are score or more of
houses, where the miners live. One
day not many years ago stout, strap
ping miner named Bill, left his wife
and babies nc his cottage door for this
miner wife was neat and thrifty
soul and had bcautiiicd their house un-
til IT was the pride Of the camp and
started for the shaft In his great coat
pockets he had few slices of bread
and flask of liquor, together with
piece of meat, i'm case he met with any
accident while underground. With his
comrades he descended the long shaft,
the end of which reached way down
into thr very bowels of the earth Hand
over hand ne climbed down the first
ladder, then down the next. then the
next, and still down another, Getting
deeper and deeper into the darkness,
farther and farther into the warm
blackness Of those regions where the
light of day is never seen, down an
other ladder and still another he went.
until at last ne reached the solid rock
and was soon at the farther end of one
of the great tunnels which stretch out
from the base of the shaft like the lcgs
OF spider. so crooked and black are
they. All morning long they worked
until II was almost noon time and he
was just preparing to leave his work
Tor his luncheon. The lamp on his
glazed hat had burned almost out His
strong arms were tired with their hard
work and he was not sorry that the
day was half over. He gave one
more stroke with his pick, sinking il,
sharp point into the ore and bringing
To- ms feet small piece which -paTklcd
and glowed like great black diamond
IN the dim rays of hi, lamp. As hc
stopped over TO pick il mp he heard
sound that blanchcd hi, brown checks.
turned his blood into water and
made his heart stand still a sound
that once heard is never for
gOttcn-thc sound Of fire damp
explosion. II was a dull roar. which
made thc-carth tremblc as il with fear
Then there was darkness an un-
healthy, ,uiiOcating cloScncss- and all
was over. With'a wisdom born of cx-
pericncc Bill instinctivcly felt i'm his
pocket for his matches, then hastily
cXtinguishing his lamp threw himself
prone upon hls face and waited. Soon
he Ward a call which was answered by
another call. then another. and he soon
found that there were six live miners
cOopcd mp in this narrow tunnel for
the explosion had blocked one end with
au unyielding mass of rock iu Egypt
IAN darkness cOOpcd mp there to
~tarvc. or perhaps 10 -ullOcatc Shut
out forever from the blessed light of
day. from the free, open air; shut up
there ~ though they were buried alive
I'M their collins with not single
.fhancc 10 live. With AN instinct more
than reason Bill kept this little piece
Of iron in his hand until IL was warm
and damp with the sweat Of horror be
fore hc discovered that ne had IL.
Then he put il into his pocket mcchan-
ically. then took IL out 90 throw it
away and then again. unthinkingly.
put it back, a- a man might idly count
hi- fingers as ho stood upon the gal
lows
"Ilow long they sat there dumb with
horror they couldn't tell. The tunnel.
fortunately, was high and the air they
broathcd promised 10 last some time.
but what use was tLat2 II only pro-
lOngrd their agony. and when thcy
realized this they sworc again Atlast
thcy felt the pangs Of hunger and thry
ate. 80 length, tired out with excite
menl. they slept and thus the hour,
passed into days until finally their
food, treasured with the utmost care.
had dwindicd into nothing not oven 20
bite and. weak with hunger. the,
dragged themselves TO- the lower end
Of their grave and laid themselves
down 20 die.
FINALLY they heard the faint tapping
Oi pick. The miner, were coming to-
E...rr. 4 q