The Somerset reporter., 1890-08-14
SELECTED.
MISS PAPA.

ployed in the mines at Berard Assem-.
bled around the shaft to answer to the
roll call there could he seen, arriving last
of all, tall, sturdy looking fellow, who
led by the hand q little girl, seven or
eight years old. They were Michel Pier
ron and his daughter.
Before setting foot upon the platform
of the car to descend the man took the
child In his arms and kissed her, and then
replaced her on the ground. The little
one cried, "Good by, papa"
When he was upon the car she gazed
at him with two anxious eyes, and repeat
ed Good by, papa"
When the signal for the descent was
given she clasped her hands and kept
repeating the single word "papa," until
she was sure that papa could no longer
hear her. Then she went on to the
schoolhouse close by, where she spent
the day.
When evening came she was always
the first at the opening of the shaft, and
Michel Pierron was always the first man
who came up. AS at his departure, he
lifted the child in his arms, and she
threw her arms around his neck crying,
"papaw
The miners hadlheard her repeat these
two syllables so often, and had been SO
struck by the strange passion which she
put into them. that they gave her the
name of Miss Papa.
And certainly no name was ever more
applicable. Her father was everythin &
to her. Her mother had been dead q
long time she had scarcely known her
she had only him. All the memories OF
her childhood were filled with him. TIC
her his great rough hands had been as
gentle as q womsn's. For her his hard
grimy face had always worn tender
smile. For her this man had become 9
woman and child at the same time.
All! how she loved her father, and
how terrified she was every morning
when she saw him descend into tina,
great black hole, of which no one could
see to the bottom.
One day a miner held her over the
mouth of the shaft and she had gazed
down into the dark depths. Uttering q
cry of terror, she drew back.
"Papa goes down there" she thought.
"Oh, II he should never come up!"
And that day, when Michel took her
In his arms as usual and kissed her, she
chung more tightly than ever to his neck,
and said tn him:
"You will come up, won't your"
"Of course, my little one"
as there any danger, tell me, papa"
"Why no, little coward"
docs any one-can any one-die
down there?'
"Have no fear,,' replied Michel, laugh
ing II will not die without letting you
know"
"Ah! Good by, papa"
All that ier father said was gospel
truth to her, and she went to school com
pletely treasured.
But the memory of that black gulf
into which her eyes had plunged could
not be effaced, and from that time she
was afraid every morning and trembled
every evening; she feared that her faith
er would never return from those mys-
terious depths into which she had seen
him descend.
Was it q presentment? Who knows!
One day the report suddenly spread
that an explosion had occurred In the
mine. In q moments time a crowd had
gathered at the shaft. From all direc-
tons people, wild with terror, came flock
ing to the spot. or all those buried far
below there, how many would ever see
the light again?
Michel's daughter was at school. She
knew nothing Of 1t, and, besides, II any
one had spoken of 1t before her, would
she have comprehended?
Could she know, poor little one, what
AN explosion was2 No. But at her age
understands, at her age, when one sees
inanimate, mutilated bodies extended
upon the ground; and the approaches TO
the shaft were strewn with them when
she arrived, that evening. TO meet her
father.
She was stupefied for q moment, and
then the truth suddenly flashed upon her;
she had seen those men whom she knew
well, who had kissed her many . time;
and now they were brought up dead.
Would they bring up her father like
them9
This thought distracted her. She be-
gan to run wildly among the debris,
which they had brought up from the
mine, crying: Papa papa! papaP
There were. It Is true. many others
who cried and who called "Paps!" but
not one In such despairinR accents. The
others they drove back, but no one could
DO found 70 push her way. They let her
run, poor child, from one body to anoth-
or, sometimes stopping before disdg-
ured face, hesitating for . moment ~
II she feared that she might recognize
her father.
No, he was not among the dead. She
grew calmer, and sought among the liv-
Ing. HI Was not there. She questioned
every one, but no one had seen him.
OF the 60 miners who went Sdown In
the morning. IS had come up alive, IA
were dead. Thare remained but one to
be accounted for; that one was Michel.
She had made them explain al that 70
her and she understood. She clappsd
her hands joyously - II they bad said 70
her, "He Il al right You viii ~ him
again., Al! how she hoped 70 - him.
Thsn she suddenly recollectsd Tie morn
ing On which her lhther had said 10 her :
II will not die without letting you
know'"
II nssded only that to give her the Ger
tAlnty that he Was livino.
A cAild1 faith u stroag. Il b not
sasy 70 div out a idsa which hes oscs
taken root In their minds. 30, whsn The
next mosning-shs bad remained tAegs
I'll night-they tsisd 70 make W undee-
stasd tAat there was no hops, tAa& 10
WoUld never again - her talhaej list
thsy had exploEsd I'll ths galleries, eoegeh-
a ever eofDss end I'D Dot 1oesd hin,
- eAook ~ carly Aeed cd hagAa %
49, agiags 'osek fee papA