The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-21
A MINERS STORY.


Of Aquila, which is in thccentrnl part
of Italy. In the very heart of this
mountain WAS Il small hut wherein Il
party of men lmincrs by tlaldc) lived.
In the region of this mountain there
existed large mines of chalk. lime
stone and sandstone, and the men
had come there, employed 10y the
land to work in them. Among this
party of miners was one named
Hubert Drnvers, and although rough
looking, he was IL very kind-heartcd
man, always ready to aid amy poor
person whom lie thought worthy of
help: almost every day he could lie
seen carrying baskets Of provisions
into the hut of some poor miner, and
by his generosity he gained for him
self many friends.
lie could never he tempted to
smoke. drink or enter into the sports
and lollitirs of his companions, but
would spend most Of his spare time
visiting the poor and sick, reading
to the latter and cheering them up
as much us was in his power. His
companion were filled with curiosity,
and on" day as they We're sitting
around the hut, some smoking, 9th
ers playing cards, one of them. who
was smoking. said to Hubert Den
vers, who sat somewhat apart from
the Others rea,linY IL paper:
IL say, Dcnvcrs, you're n qunrc
chap; why don't you nivrr spake and
tell us IL yarn like We all do"
Very well, replied Dcnvrrs. oil
tell you the story of my life"
At this the men who had been
playing put up their cards and,
drawing their chairs to the fire ltor
it WAS rather chilly, nodded to
Dcnvrrs to begin his story.
81 was horn in Munich in Is, and
had good parents and loving
brothers and sisters. was very
well educated, but when | was II
years old my father died and my
mother was heart-brokrm, for she
loved him dearly, an, soon followed
her husband to their early graves.
The remainder of our family was
then broken up. some going to an
aunt, Others going to different
friends: but, as it seemed, nobody
wanted mo, and ] WAS brought to
the poorho,lsr, from which | was
taken by II farmer. who brought me
to Ins, in Switzerland. and, although
my education was not entirely
neglected. ! had to work very hard
and often received beating into
the bargain whenever ii pleased my
master to Lestow it. and soon
came to the conclusion that. rather
than stay inthatplnccandb be abused
and maltrcated. woulG run AWAY.
no matter where. SO long as could
get away from that drtrstcd house.
"Early one morning, willie every
one in the house WAS peacefully sleep
ing, started out, taking with me
some bread and butter, which had
been left over from supper the light
previous. had Il few pennies i'll
my pocket, given me bv some neigh
hors for whom ! went ON crrlnds
without the knowledge of my guar
dian. ] walked I'LL that day and as
! saw that night WAS approaching
hid in the bushes that grow near
the swamps. the latter being very
extensive throughout the western
part of Switzerland, and willie there
made many plans Tor my future
course of action, the chief one being
that ] would go to- France, and pro
viding that ] got there safe and
sound ] would look Tor some en-
ploymcnt. The next morning the
sun shonr brightly. and | felt the
pangs OF hunger very much; walking
To the nearest farm house la distance
of about Il miIc) knocked at the
door (which was opened by girl
and asked for something to eat, she
told meto come in and sit down, and
then brought me Il cup of steaming
coffee and some rolls, but to my
great JOY RETAINED from asking me
as to my whereabouts. When had
finished eating thanked her for the
meal she had given me and then took
my departure. The next question
which presented itself to my mind
was how toget to France; walk there
certainly could not do, Well, to
makes long story short, stole n
ride in II train going that way. and
WAS just rongrat ulating myself on
my good fortune when he man, I'M
der whose seat was hiding and who
was the only occupant of the car.
laid his hand roughly on my Shout
der. and. pulling Inc out from under