The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-11

aYou can gaw dawn the mine t'day. Hugh.
/ be GAVIN dawn I'll tax ZEE wi me"
Excitement IS welcome to all boys, and it
was especially welcome to me. but there was
one cloud on my sunshine, when / looked
up and saw that my cousin Annie was as
white as a sheet and trembling violently.
Don't, father. don'tv' she said. piteousiy.
Nv father laughed.
'.Ler uussey. Annie what fTawhtened
little woman you III gettin' = he said ''Wha,
you Amt like a miners lass, Annie. We
must max the lad man, nawt milksop.
Nav then. Hugh, hurry up. and get ready,
we'm nawt got much time to loser
The first thing 10 be done was to attire my
self in one Of my unces mining suits OF
flannel. and possess myself of one of his
broad felt hats This was soon done. l was
now man in all bat years. and l managed
10 cut a toleTable figure in my uncle'S clothes;
indeed, when l made my temperance In
the kitchen. he declared. with nod Of APP
proval- that looked every inch miner. Ii
was proud moment for me; now, for the
hrsi time, felt my manhood upon me, and
l laughed with lny uncle 1t Annie's pale
cheeks and my aunt'S sad eyes
Ny uncle handed me half dozen candles
which he told me "a put into my pocket then,
with a merry nod 10 the wonenfolk, we start
Ell
1t was no easy matter to get 10 the entrance
Of the mine, not being able 10 20 straight to
the shafts as in the ease of mines on level
ground. First OF all we had to make our
way TO the counting house, in which sat at
my daily toll. The way was long and diff
cult TO travel, on account OF the accumula-
ton of mining gear we had to pass; long
chains stretched out over bell cranks, wood
en- platforms looking like battered remnants
OF wrecks, yet supporting large beams of
timber and heavy coils of rope. Here and
there was a little creaking shed, there a
broken-down post or two, and there again
we had TO wind round by the rocky path
amidst chains and cables and ascending
loads
l. having TO travel this road every day of
my life. was well accustomed 10 il, and ac-
cortingly followed on my unele's footsteps
without much feeling of curiosity or joy; but
when we had passed the eounting-house, as
cended the cliff, and gained the trap-dOor
entrance 70 the mine, my heart began TO beat
with anticipation
Here we both paused.
You'll keep a strawng head" said my
uncle, looking at me. Twill be a bad busi-
ness if you begin to tramble like our Annie.
shAN NNh SAtAt fta 1A4 ! 0Atdttis AdAs
Not Bit, returned; then. looking at
the ladder which was set at the entrance of
the mine, l asked, "Shall go first?"
'Bide bit, bide bit, ladr he returned.
''G's one o than candles.
l did SO. whereup0n he lit il and stuck il
into my hat then he lit another for himself;
after this he began to descend the first lad
der, and followed him
The first object was conscious of was the
huge beam of a steam-engine, which worked
on my right, alternately bowling and rising,
and heavily straining at the deluge of water
which it lifted On the other side, through
boards, the ehinks of which admitted Just
light enough at the foot of one of the ladders
to show the passage, / saw the loaded tubble
or bucket, rushing past its descending com
panion.
We were now between two shafts, descend
ing from stage to stage; the daylight was
completely gone, and we depended solely on
our candles, which threw but a faint light
into the gloomy abyss below.
After descending two or three ladders,
which were almost perpendicular, we came
TO a platform, and made a halt.
WAL, lad?" said my uncle, holding his
fiickering candle above his head, and look
ing into my face.
laughed, and fastened to assure him il
was all right though, in reality, | began TO
feel some of my cousins misgiving We
rested a second or two, the halt indeed being
made more for me than for my guide; then
my uncle took another lighted candle, and
stuck it into my hat
Nav, lad" said he 'eome on WI a will;
lay hawid o. the sides o. the ladder and ha'
a care"
promised to obey him, and we recon-
menced our descent, he going first and fol-
lowing. We went down first one ladder
and then another, till again we came to
platform and rested.
Whats below?' / asked of my uncle, who
was again regarding me curiously, trying to
detect if possible any sign of fear or shrink
ing in my face.
Whats belaw, Iad?' he said ''Wha, the
water drained from all the mine, the pumps
at wark pumping it awt, and p'raps cart
load o rattling human bawns"
We descended couple more ladders
and landed again, this time to traverse one
OF those side galleries in which the pit
abounded. 1t was about seven feet high, but
so narrow that two persons, If thin, could
just squeeze past one another. The only
light now was that afforded by our candles,
which fiickered in the hot sickly, damp
vapor which fioated about us.
The fetid air of the place was beginning
to tell upon Inc, my breath became labored
the perspiration streamed down my face.
while mud and tallow and iron drippings
were visible on my clothes. My uncle, who
was similarly bespattered to myself, but who
was breathing more freely, recommended a
rest sat down on the floor while he set
himself to replenish the candles, which had
nearly fiickered out.
Sitting thus in the stiffness, became con-
scious OF strange moaning and soughing
sound. After listening intently, / asked my
uncle what it was
Its the sac, he returned; 'it be rolling
up thar above our heads"