The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-08-10
THE AMBITIOUS LITTLE SLATE
PICKERS

In large room sat the little slate
pickers. The floor slanted at an angle
of forty-five degrees, and the coal
having been masticated by the great
teeth was streaming sluggishly in long
iron troughs. The boys sat straddling
these troughs, and as the mass moved
slowly, they grabbed deftly at the
pieces of slate therein. There were
five or six of them, one above another,
over each trough. The coal is expect
ed to be fairly pure after il passes the
final boy The bowling machinery
was above them. High up, dim figures
moved about in the dust clouds.
These little men were a terrifically
dirty band. They resembled the New
York gamins in some ways, but they
laughed more, and when they laughed
their faces were wonder and a ter
ror. They had an air of supreme in
dependence and seemed proud of their
kind of villainy. They swore long
oaths with skill
Through their ragged shirts we
could get occasional gliInpses of Shout
ders, black as stoves. They looked
precisely like imps as they scrambled
to get view of US. Work ceased
while they tried to ascertain if we
were "IllillS W SlNedWdy any IODdcCO.
The man who perhaps believes that
he controls them came and harangued
the crowd. He talked to the air.
The slate-pickers all through this
region are yet at the spanking period
One continually wonders about their
mothers and if there are any school
houses. But as for them, they are not
concerned. When they get time off
they go out on the culm heap and
play baseball or fight with boys from
other breakers" or among them
selves, according to the opportunities.
And before them always is the hope
of one day getting to be door boys
down in the mines and, later, mule
boys. And yet later, laborers and
helpers. Finally, when they have
grown to be great big men they may
become miners, real miners, and go
down and get squeezed" or perhaps
escape to a shattered old mans estate
with a mere miners asthma" They
are very ambitions.
Meanwhile they live in a place of
internal dins. The crash and thunder
of the machinery is like the roar of
an immense cataract. The room
shrieks and blares and bellows
Clouds of dust blur the air until the
windows shine pallidly afar off All
the structure is a-tremble from the
heavy sweep and circle of the ponder
Gus mechanism. Down in the midst
of it sit these tiny urchins, where
they earn fifty-five cents each day
They breathe this atmosphere until
their lungs grow heavy and sick with
it. They have this clamor in their
ears until it is wonderful that they
have any hoodlum-valor remaining
But they are uncowed; they continue
to swagger. And at the top of the
breaker laborers can always be
seen dumping the roaring coal down
the wide, voracious NAV of the crea-
ture. McClure's Magazine.
FROM 4 YOUNG WEES DIARY.
Monday-Observed to Charley at
the breakfast table this morning that
| thought change of scene would be
beneficial to US both. He replied that
it would be impossible for him to get
away from business at present.
Tuesday-Ventured to remark that
when we took trip it would be just
splendid to go to Paris. He seemed
vexed at the renewal of the subject
and said quite decidedly that there
was no use to talk about it.
Wednesday-Wrote to dear mamma
inviting her to pay us visit and re-
questing an answer by telegraph.
Thursday-Made no allusion to our
going out of town, but followed Char
lev to the front door and kissed him
affectionately as he left.
Friday-Received a dispatch from
dear mamma saying she would come
next week. Left it lying open on the
table in Charley's room.
aturday-Charley says that he
has been able to arrange his business.
We're off to Paris by the early train
on Monday.