The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-05-04

look for one. 1t stood perilously close
to the edge of deep pit caused by
one of those convulsons SO common in
the anthracite coal fields If Pennsyl
vania, and usually known a. the "cav-
ing-in" Of the mines. As this surface
spasm OF Mother Earth occurred som.
time after Tom Early had built his
home, in what he considered desir-
able spot, the little garden that he
once took 80 much pride in, and cult
waited so carefully in his spare hours,
was demoralized beyond hope of res
toration, ano the house itself was so
twisted that it was as much unlike the
original plan as it well could be.
Abrupt hills covered with spruce and
hemlock, that intensified the deep.
dark green of Natures picture-frame,
rose sharply up on each side of the
marrow valley in which Tom Early
home WAS situated, and in summer
time the place was a. wild and pictm
esque as it was dreary ana d. solate III
winter.
Tow Early, his wife, and then
daughter Mamie, gent girl of fil-
teen, who reflected in her sweetness of
disposition the framing of the refined.
unsel6sh ard pure-minded ladies' who e
school she attended at intervals som
distance down the valley; were the
only occupants of this primitive dwell
ing. There had been others-boys
aud girls-but Death had found them
out as easily in that lonely spot as il
they had lived in a palace, AID took
tn .m one by one away, until Mamie
was the only child eft to the devoted
parents, whose grief was written IL
whitening hairs and furrowed cheeks
And az Death made repeated inroads
in the sanctuary of the little home, and
took ts treasures away, Mamie grew
all the dearer, until father and mother
| felt that she was more than all the
world to them.
Nannie's chief delight in the pleas
ant summer afternoons was romp
along the banks of the stream, which
ran near theiI home, with her faithful
and devoted dog Nero.
One bright afternoon this play was
particularly full of EST for Mamie, and
her dumb. companion Nero barked
with joy, as the laughing girl led him
a merry chase up and down the path
and flung sticks into the water. Once
she threw piece of wood with such
force that it crossed the stream and
landed clear on the opposite shore.
Nero plunged into the water and vas
swimming rapidly across, in obedience
to the urging of his young mistress,
when Mamie heard moan that seem
ed like a stab.
Turning suddenly around, she saw a
group of miners coming up the path
from the Brlsbin coal bereaker, carry
ing a litter, upon which a PROSTATE
man was lying. Instantly the color
went out of Nannie's cheeks, and the
laughter fed from her voice. There
was cloud on her sky Of joy. Dog
and fun were forgot en-.
| Mamie walked down thu path in
direction of the group of men. who
were IN working-clothes, and whose
faces were black from the colddust
Their appearance awed her, and some
thing whispered to her spirit thai some
one very dear to her was in pain.
"Tell me, tell me-" she pleaded pa
sionately in a hoarse whisper, as abe
met the foremost of the group of mi
ners, "who is hurt 7"
| ''It is your father, Mamie" said the
man ''but | do not think he is badly
injured. There was an explosion t
fire-damp in the chamber where he
was working, and he is burned som :
what in the face and breast, but hi
Injuries are not serious, ana no doubt
a doctor will give him relief and max
him feel easier in a short time"
Mamie uttered a cry of pain on
learning the sad news, and with closp
I'd hands begged to know If her dear
father was very much injured by tn.
explosion of fire damp. The MINER
tried to console her as best they could
saying they werr not familiar with all
the details, but that they hoped tht
case was not as bad as it seemed.
The dog Nero, meanwhile, had re
turned from the opposite side of the
stream with the stick he had been sent
for, and laid it at the feet of his young
mistress, at the same time looking up
into her sad face and barking mer'ily
as much as to say "Well, I've done
my share ; why don't you play :" Bul
Mamie had no eyes or ears for enjoy
ment. A great sorrow had suddenl,
overshadowed her, and taking her
p ace in The path behind the men whc
were carrying her stricken father home
she moaned piteously, praying ferven,
ly at the same time that God nigh
spare the life of him who was so very
dear to her.
The strong and rough, but tender,
hearted men carried Tom Early to bis
bed room, where they stayed till the
doctor came, and, after an exsmina
ton had been maze of the wounded
mans injuries, II was sscertained that
he was totally blind.
When the doctor, after doing al
that he could for the sufferer, was
about to leave the place, Mamie pluck
ed nervously at his sleeve, and said
doctor, doctor, will he live Tel
me, will my poor papa liver
The doctor, who was a young man
of fine sensibilily, was touched to tht
heart by the anguish of soul which
shone through the large, intelligen,
eyes that looked so plesdingly into hi,
and he scarcely knew at first what an
swer to make, but finally said 4:
"Yes, he will live"
He did not dare to tell her the worst
that her father was blind for ever
and he almost chided himself for hold
ing this back from her ss he saw he
kneeling upon the floor, and utterinl
a fervent THANK Heaven u
"Poor Mamie II whispered the mi
ners one to another as they left tn,
shanty, and wiped the tears that coulC
not be kept back, from their eyes
Accustomed as these strong men wer,
to such scenes, they conld not hell
feeling keenly for the mother ant
daughter whose whole support haC