The Somerset reporter., 1890-08-14

sroiCH oub Oil VAIN. lu the opinion
Of all nothing more could be done. and
explosion, the unfortunate man had been
buried by the falling debris and 1t was
impossible to tell where or how.
For forty-eight hours little Miss Papa
waited anxiously, but without manifest
ing the slightest uneasiness. At every
human form which appeared at the open
ing she started forward and not recog.
nizing him whom she awaited, she sank
back upon the ground with q deep sigh,
they tried 70 take her away and she ut
tered such piercing cries that they con-
sidered 1t best to leave her there. They
thought that she must soon yield to IA
tlgue.
Whence comes TO the weak and feeble
such strength in the great crisis of life2
Ask Cod 1t Is His secret.
The third day the child WAS still at the
shaft
II must put an end to this" said the
chief engineer, approaching her; come,
my little one, be reasonable"
Papa seek for papal"
Alas he is dead"
mo"
She uttered this mo" with such ener-
gy that the engineer was struck by 1t.
Why do you say no" he asked.
"He would have told me-"
Poor little onen murmured the engi.
neer.
And he made a sign to the men to take
her away. But she chung desperately to
him. crying;
Papa is not dead. l want to go
down. | will find him."
They bore her away and left her with
the school teacher. An hour later she
was back at the shaft, and, clinging to
the engineers knees, she kept repeating :
II want to 60 down. l will find hint
He was tender hearted msu, that en-
gineer, and he took pity on her.
AFTER all :" he said to himself, THAT
will, perhaps, be the best thing. When
she has seen with her own eyes she will
believe. This excitement, II II lasts
much longer, will kill her."
And, taking her in his arms, he bore
her to the car and gave the signal to
descend.
She shuddered when she felt beneath
her that yawning pit from which arose
foul air which almost Buffocated her
The engineer felt her little arms inclose
his neck and her curly head was pressed
against his own.
When they reached the bottom she dis
engaged herself sprang to the ground,
and rushed straight forward, calling:
Papa Papa!''
The engieeer could hardly keep up
with her, was tired of explaining to her
twenty times what he had already ex-
plained-how the explosion had taken
place, where 1t had occurred, and what
they had done to find the victims, and
the child kept questioning him, and re-
peated:
"He is living! Seek for him! p
She would have remained down there
in the mine three days, as she had al
ready done q! the surface, II they had not
taken her by force and carried her up.
The engineer gave orders that she
should be taken back to the school teach.
er, and also orders that II she reappeared
at the shaft she should be prevented from
going into the mine.
Gan his measures had been carefully
taken, and the next day, no longer think
ing Of her, he was inspecting one of the
galleries when he felt himself seized by
the arm of his coat. 1t was Miss Papa.
She had escaped fromthe school sec
ond time. Repulsed at the shaft, she had
slipped into an empty coal car and thus
descended to the mine.
She told all this to the engineer and
obtained his pardon, Five minutes later
undiminished faith. The miners follow
cred her with plying eyes, Struggling
their shoulders, saying
Poor little papa!'
Little Papa kept on seeking with un-
diminished faith. Suddenly they saw
her running toward them, pale excited
Down there" she gasped. Down
there! Papa."
what? Down theref" said a miner.
His blouse !"
bah! Where?'
Down there"
In moment every one had heard the
news, and the mine was In a tumult,
The child declared that she had seen
piece of blue cloth, in hole, which she
could not raise, because it was held
down by an enormous block of coal.
, "Where2' they asked again.
She turned, followed by the crowd of
miners. Then she stopped and hesta-
ted.
She could not find the spot. All the
blocks of coal resembled each other; all
the cavities were alike, all the galleries
were the same. Aud yet she was sure
she had seen that piece of blue CLOTH
Where the blouse was the man must be,
living, no doubt ana that man was her
father, and she could not find him
One by one, tired of the useless search
persuaded that the poor little girl was
crazed by grief, the men withdrew and
returned to their work. But they had
hardly taken up their pick-axes when
loud cry recalled them to the child
II have found it. have found it,"
They pushed her aside and looked.
Yes, 1t was piece Of blue flannel, 1t
was blouse! There was man there!
They set atIwork with q will, and, 10
the twinkling Of an eye, the wall was
beaten down, and In deep excavation
they saw man extended it was Michel
Pierron. He had been there three days
and four nights.
Loud cries arose on all sides, and
ringing loud above all the others, a cry
escaped from the lips of the child, She
threw herself upon the body and clasp
ed 1t in her arms half mad. weeping and
crying;
| Papa. papa!
He was nearly dead, poor Michel Ex-
hausted by lack VI air and nourishment
he recovered consciousness only to sink
back fainting; but he was alive.
Miss Papa told the truth. The man
would not die without telling his child,
and the thought of her had sustained
him and given him the strength to con-
quer death.
week later he was out and ready to
recommence his work.
On the evening Of the day before that
on which he WAS to return to the mine
q grand banquet was given by all the
miners to Papa. The place Of honor
was reserved for her. A loud hurrah
and wild applause greeted her when she
entered, holding on to Michel's hand.
There were kisses given. shouts Of bra
vol and wild huzzas In honor of the
little queen.
And do you know what she replied to
all this, smiling and clapping her little
hands?
| She replied Papa"
| 1t would be difficult to describe how
and in what tone she uttered that one
word. But all those brave fellows
whose eyes had hardly known tear will
tell you that they wept that night. -Ne1
York Press.
Ono Man That outranks Him.
Before you run the bids for that trot-
ting horse any higher" said the man
| vith the hoavv Watrh chain in a Low tOne