The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-07
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"Goodby, mother; goodby, sister, said
little Tim Seasonsood, as he closed the
gate In front of their cottage In western
local mining town one morning and Joined
tho "Tin Bucket Brigade" as the miners
were called, on their way TO the works
His little sister Cora stood on the from,
steps as long as she could see her brother
and waved her plump hands after him.
he looked back occasionally and threw
kisses to her.
Tim was fifteen years old and was driver
In the coal mine; that is, he drove q mule
which drew the loaded coal cars from
where the miners worked to the mouth Of
the mine, where they were hoisted out at q
shaft, then run down long incline to the
river, where the coal was loaded into
barges by means Of tipple.
Tins father had worked in the mine
nearly all his life, and the boy had gone
down into the darkness and among the
mysteries of the mine when Just old
enough to walk without assistance, and by
the time no was twelve years old he was
familiar with all parts of 1t.
At the age Of thirteen he was anxious Ia
earn something to assist his father In sup
porting the family, and after much plead
ing his father permitted him to become a
driver.
Tim was assigned to drive old Ned, a do
Gle mule, which had spent the most of his
daylight life underground. Ned was q
knowing animal and took kindly to his
new master. Tim always had caress for
his four footed friend. A bit Of apple or
some other dainty morsel was Ned's daily
reward from Tim. In time the two became
50 friendly that there was no friction be.
tween them, and the miners playfully
called them UT. & N" Tim got hold Of
tome brass tacks one day and drove them
INTO Ned's harness In such way as TO
make these characters appear in bright
letters
AS Tim clattered along that morning
IN his way to the mouth of the mine the
sun was Just rising. It was early In Octo-
per and the surrounding hills were re-
,plendent in their fall attire. Now and
then red leaf dropped from among its
fellows and futtered to the ground in tho
alm atmosphere. The sun was out in all
is splendor that morning, the first time
for several days.
Ahh hOb hbNASC viz DCduLlCS Vi udLuEt
IL he hurried along, not that he was not a
lover of the beautiful, but his thoughts
we're on subject which more directly con-
serned his welfare.
His father had been killed In a mine ao-
sident a few months before, and Tim felt
the responsibility Of the support Of his
mother and sister resting on his young
shoulders. He desired to attend school
and acquire an education which would fit
him for higher duties in life, but ut that
moment the outlook was decidedly gloomy
for our young friend. He could not see how
ne could accomplish that which he desired,
Is the support OF the family depended al
most solely on his labor
When he reached the mouth OF the mine,
Ned was backed into the cage and Tim fol-
lowed and put up the bars. While waiting
Tor the man in charge Of the machinery to
ihove back the lever and lower the cage to
he bottom Of the shaft hupdred feet be-
ow, he heard some one inquire as to the
stage of the water in the river, which
lowed swiftly by 900 yards away. Tim
danced hastily riverward at the instant
he cage started downward and saw that
lie water was almost to the top of the
hanks OF the stream and was filed with
icating driftwood. Heavy fall rains had
Jet in week before, and in consequence Of
he great rainfall the stream was extremely
ligh.
Without a thought of serious danger,
however, Tim dropped foot after foot to-
" ard the center of the earth, with Ned
breathing softly on his neck as the two
stood crowded into the cage.
BE quiet, Ned" commanded Tim, as the
animal manifested some uneasiness ut the
sound OF water dripping faster than usual
down the sides Of the shaft. you are not
getting skittish in your old days, trust,n
batting Ned on the nose. The animal
placed his head affectionately on Tins
shoulder and became quiet.
When the cage stopped at the bottom the
bars were lowered and Ned followed Tim
out Tim had lighted a little tin lard oil
lamp, which he carried at the front of his
sap, before entering the cage. When he
emerged from the cage he saw the lamps
Of many miners flashing about here and
there, like firehies before a storm in sum
nler, as the men prepared to go to the vari-
Gus departments of the mine. He had wit
messed similar scenes many times before
and paid no attention to them, but hitched
Ned to the train of empty cars that stood
waiting, and with merry crack OF his
whip and a cheerful "G'long, Ned" went
rafting away over the steel rail track
Half dozen miners had clambered into
the cars with their dinner pals and the
tools which they had taken out OF the
mine the night before to get re-pointed.
Tim was perched up on the head of the for
ward car, and he had to frequently duck
his head to avoid colliding with well
known overhanging distractions.
After going a short distance Tom looked
into the car next to him, and observed that
It's occupants, two old miners, were dis
1ussing something of a serious nature
Thomas Jenkins, the one nearest Tim, had
removed his lamp from his cap and was
gently tapping the side OF 1t against the toe
af his shoe in order to expose more of the
wick 50 that the light would burn brighter
Az the blaze Haired up Tim could see the
aces OF the two men, aud was alarmed al
ahair seriousness He caught the word
water" as he strained his ears to hear
what they were saying. The rumble Of the
ears and the many echoes bounding back
from the walls and the roof of the mine
drowned the remainder of the conversation
Tim had marlborough, however, to make