Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-01-22
CHAPTER XIX.
TIE NEW OVERSEER,


| The news of my dismissal from the mine
was received by my aunt with infinite wan-
! ing. The poor soul, knowing that for some
| time past | had been the mainStay of the
! house, saw nothing before her but misery
and starvation; indeed, she was for going
| straight to RedTuth House and appealing to
the master, but | checked her.
Don't grievc aunt" said. ''It will all
| be right. by and by. Say | am dismissed
| from the mine-W.Iat then? The mine isn't
all the world. | shall get something, never
fear''
But my aunt shook her head.
''It be like young folk to make light o.
| things. When you'm bit aWlder, Hugh,
you'll see things rs ! do-troubIc ahead. IT'S
vary easy to talk. but what is there in the
village hUt the mineY'
But I'm going up to London, aunt"
$40 Lunn0n! LaWd save the ad!-and
what 10. should 'uu gaW to Lunnon?'
Il an 90ing up to see the cOmp,EI, and
tell them what's going on at the mine. Keep
your mind easy till come back, AUNT. Twill,
may be, all be right then"
But my aunt continued to cry quietly, and
grieved as bitterly as if she knew Of the dark
clouds which were gathering above.
AS for my uncle he sat and listened, and
made no remark whatever | concluded he
did not understand, so | made no attempt to
trouble him at all.
There was no time to be lost, and as soon,
therefore, as L had finished my task of com
forting my aunt, | began to turn over in my
mind what it would be best for me to do. |
was as fully conscious of the gravity of the
situation as my aunt herself, though | had
thought fit to make light of it in order to les
sen her pain. To be turned from the mine
meant facing starvation-unless | could find
a similar situation to the one | had lost: the
only way to facilitate this being to see the
company, who mi sht consent to place me
over some other mine. Besides, it was ne
ceSSary that L should see them and plead the
cause of the wTetched creatures who daily
faced death at George Redruth'S command.
Havingsfuily made up my mind that the
journey must be taken, [ resolved to start on
the following morning and began making
my preparations accordingly.
During the years that L had been overseer
Of the mine my salary had not been large,
but had been able to put by a small sum
weekly. Ny first care was to break into this,
to put INTO my pocket-book sufficient for my
journey and give sum to my aunt
Don't be afraid to use it, | said; there
is more yet; AMI before it's all gone I'll have
work please Godw
My hopefulncss, somehow, soon infected
my aunt and she set about putting my things
together with brighter face She dried her
tears, and talked quite cheerfully of my go
ing.
''They do say" she said, "that averything's
for the best, ami may be it's saw nav, though
us can't just see it. Mayhap you'll meet our
Annie III London and bring her back To us,
Hugh"
Its more than likely" l returned. Our
black cloud won't last for ever, the silver
lining must be coming round"
Wien all was ready, stepped down TO
the village To tell John Rudd to call for me
or Inc morrow when he was to start before
Gavpreak. Having done my Grand 1 lit my
pipe and strolled slowly back TO the cottage.
10 be CONTINUED