Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-11-15
FoT the REGISTER.
The Miners Little Queen.


For the Register
/ The Miners Little Queen.
The morn was calm, the dew of night la,
still
Upon the grass and leaves of yonder bill,
The sun was dressing in the cast to rise,
And spread bis radiance over vale and skies
The lark to leave his lowly bed of down
To mount heavenward and sing his morning
tune,
When toilworn miner left mis- humble cot
To earn pittance for those be nee'r forgot
| But first his morning leave he takes of her
The mother Of his babes, without noise OF
stir.
The last, his eldest hope, now ten years old,
He cautions lovingly to keep from cold,
She, wlfely like, betimes had risen,
To set his morning meal and get his parting
blessing,
For dearly as he loved his other tiny flowers
She claimed the worship of his leisure hours,
And sweeter child would be hard to find,
ween,
Than she whom dotingly he called his little
queen.
With steps less buoyant than wont to be
He wends his way o'er the f1owery lea,
foreboding something in his mind has
come
Since leaving his dear ones in their little
home.
Anon-'turn back" seems whispered in his
ear,
But scarce listened to is deemed some foolish
fear.
At last his scene of toll appears in view,
Morning greetings and friendships to renew
With fellow workmen, these seem lovingly to
last
As if fate had decreed "his die was cast"
The mine reported clear, each party then
decends
Into the bowels of the earth for needful ends,
To hew from Natures bosom, by pain and
toll,
Like the needy scholar DER the midnight oil,
Not fame, or fortune, however, or renown,
But bare subsistence his weary life to crown.
When, merciful heaven! cry of wild de-
spair
Comes roaring through the stiffied air;
BY sudden flame his care-worn flesh is
scourged,
His limbs disjointed into hidden works are
forged,
No moment left to say farewell,
Death, only death, has toll'd his funeral
knell.
The sad news are borne IN sudden haste
To the peaceful village yet in slumber prest,
And hundreds rush to that grim mouth of
He'll
To learn the fate of those they love so well.
A Gordon quick around the shaft is drawn
By first arrivals, yet to fame unknown,
But who, as volunteers to search the mine.
By deeds of valor, should live throughout all
time.
Instructed quickly the course to take
And to lose no time for mercy's sake.
With caps o'er brows, and courage true, to
reach
Those humble heroes step into the breech
To be swung down to where the demon turks,
Whose merciless breath such havoc works.
But ere out of sight into the depths below
Are stopped by cry, and appeal, in accents
low,
Not from the crowd, whose frantic grief is
shewn
To know the fate of those they call their
own,
But small, sweet voice, and eyes with large
Followed the heroes with her heartfelt pray
er,
A hush ensued. as if despair would learn,
Sorrow intensified, and how the heart can
yearn;
1t was the miners little queen, in attitude
of prayer,
Hands clasped appealingly and dishevelled
hair,
"Oh gle back my father" was all she said,
One sad look to heay zen, then bowed her head.
But hung around the scene at last to learn
The soreness of heart of a fatherless BARN.
The heroes returned, not a life had been
spared,
But the manged remains had been duly pre-
pared
To send to the light they so lately had left,
OF semblance and comeliness all were bereft.
The coroner's verdict appeared, o, so tame
"Some one had blundered-no one to blame"
The sad scenes that followed no pen may
portray;
The only relief seemed to weep and to
pray,
And our dear little queen, not strong at the |
best,
Dropped daily and wearied to take her long |
rest.
A few more painful days of ague and fever,
Her friends gathered round to see If forever
Her young life was to close, ere yet it was
crowned,
And join her dear fathers along with the
mourned.
One last beam Of joy, with voice sweet and
low
sob! gle me my father in heaven to know"
Her prayer was answered-her young spirit
has gone
To the mansions OF bliss. the innocents'
home.
Arcadia 1885 as