The Progress., 1892-11-05
A CHRISTIAN HERO.

Tar Down His Lifo for = Friend and
IL Himself Ariracuioasly Saved.
There are heroes in every class of life;
Iany a name unnoticed and unknown
fame is vet written in the Book Of
Ife. enrolled in the noble army Of mar
In who have laid down their lives foi
hsrs for his sake who died for them.
Such q hero was Michael Verran, q
Slendid specimen and true type OF o
hristian Cornish miner.
From boy he had lived and worked
the dark mines, but he had learned
! lisp the name Of Jesus at hin mothers
bee, and the dark galleries and levels
the mine did not hinder his having an
biding sense of the Saviour's presence.
One day in his full manhood he wa:
hRseed with two others sinking . shaft.
hey had bored q, hole in the usual way
X blasting, and then according to rule
he Of the three had ascended the shaft,
sving the others to finish the prepare,
on for firing the charge.
The hole was filed with powder and
kcurely tamped, and all that was left
J do was to cut the fuse and then foi
be man to ascend tho shaft and lei
bwn the bucket for the last, no that he
5ho fred the fnse might have time to
drawn up to the surface before the
barge should explode.
| Michael and his companian had be
bme familiar with danger. They were
hreless; and while the fuse was at-
kchsd to the charge. they set to work
B cut it through with q stonesnd an
ION drill. In doing 1t the iron gave ont
spark, and in a second the kissing OF
y fuse told them that in few mo-
hents the charge would explode.
| Both dashed the shaft, and holding
INTO the bucket, gave the signal to b.
)rswn mp; but alasi the strength Of the
han ut the windlass was not equal to
)fting two; he could wind up only ono
ban ut aNtime.
TO remain was death to both, and it
Vas Michael Verran's turn to ascend.
BE looked at his companion, stepped
|rom the bucket and quietly said:
"Escape, lad, for thy life; shall be
d heaven in q minute"
Swiftly the bucket ascended, and the
han saved leaned over the pits mouth
Ind listened-listened for what? Fo:
|he great roar and boom that told hin'
" the sudden destruction of the brave
(omrade who had given up life to cave
him.
Up came the smoke and rubbish,
binding and siclsening. There could
be no donbt of the miners fate close
|hut against that fearful hole. Yet
Bowp they hurried, and among the scat
|ered blocks of rock at the bottom Of the
|haft they shouted in faltering tones
bis name, michael! Michael! where art
fouy'
And the strong answer came, "Thank
Bod. am here!''
Eager hnnds dragged away the rub
pish and rock, and there underneath a
huge slab of stone that had blown
bcross him, and lodging againft the end
pf the shaft protected him from all the
test. They found him safe; not n
kcratch upon him por his clothes torn,
lie had sat himself down in the corner
sf hissrocky prison. placed a shield OF
fock before his eyes and commended
bis soul in prayer to God, and the God
Eho cared for Daniel in his rocky dun
icon had delivered him and saved him
From death.
For years he had lived to tell of Gods
goodness to him and to lead others by
bis example to the Saviour, and the1
Rhey laid him in the quiet country
where the long grass now
waves over his sleeping place. But hi:
Anne still lives in the hearts of the
|dmple Cornish miners; his heroism /.
|kill remembered by maiden and strip
ling, who have learned his story from
he aged folk who lived in the time
when the brave. good fellow gave him.
belf up to die for his friend and comrade
|n the bottom of the pit shaft.
"Greater love hath no man than this
Mat he lay down his life for his friend.
christian at Work.