The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-01

He was called ShOni Rachel, MS "a
ther was called TOmos Rachel, and the
other children were all Rachels, and
everybody in Cwmcoed knew Rachel.
She was the head Of the nrm. When
Tomos married her. his own surname
an appendix commonly dropped at
Cwmcoed-was lost sight Of, as we'll
as his Individuality. in the fame of
Rachel. and the firm of Rachel e. Co.
loomed as large I'm the minds of the
neighbors as the Cooperative stores.
Rachel 4 Co. were universal providers
of squabbles, fights and salaciOus gos-
sip. and they gave a free entertain
ment every Saturday night in front of
the house, by way of advertising the
business.
Shoni's full. righ: name only saw
i. but once-a secret shared by few in
Cwmcoed-but thereby hangs another
tale.
He was really good-hearted sort of
a fellow and he was the only sympa-
thetic link between the Rachels and
their peace loving neighbors He be-
longed to the indispensable class of
hauliers. who hold their lives so cheap,
who divide their time almost equally
between the coal-pit and the public
house, seldom seen in any dress but n
trim. duck-suit, besmeared with oil,
with leather shield strapped to their
backs as If disdaining the use of it in
front, and placed behind as II to glance
off chance shot.
Shoni and / We're great friends. and
when one Saturday afternoon visited
the pay Office for the last time, and took
leave of many grimy friend before
starting out on a college career. Shoni
actually forced five shillings into my
waistcoat pocket. could not afford
to be proud then, ShOni knew right well
that I was badly In need of the money
and his kindness was like the whirl-
wind. and to say that 1T was so much
less money for the Black Lion that
evening would be to furnish the weak
est reason why / accepted Shoni-S gift
with gratitude. When the Great Led
ger will be opened and the investigation
of our tangled accounts will begin. I
shall be very much surprised If those
five shillings will not set off spree or
two in Shoni's debit.
Our friendship was struck on this
wise. Before dragging my weary
limbs a tedious mile and a quarter to
the pits bottom, / sat down to rest
awhile at the double parting" where
lamps We're lighted and tested, until
the dust raised by the mad stampede
of men and 'hOrses-a sort of "a daily
rehearsal at the close OF the turn" of
the rout Of Bulls Run or of Waterloo
would clear that / could make my way
out with tolerable precision Of step. AS
/ was sitting there, ! heard belated
haulier come laundering down the level.
then came to a sudden stop. Then I
heard a brief, fierce straining of man
and horse, as If both were, under n
crushing load. Soon recognized
Shoni's voice giving an illustration OF
the rare capabilities of the Welsh lam
guage, which Is strong In terms of love
and of anger. and by means of which n
Welsh haulier has developed swearing
into a fine art
l hastened to Shoni's rescue, and
found him sitting on one of the rails.
painting like hound after hunt, with
his lamc on the ground.
whats the matter, Shoni?" I said.
''Rhys, is II you? Look under that
blank tram"
I looked and saw the track derailed
and the wheels of the tram, which car
ried over ton of coal. fastly lodged
between the sleepers. The road repairers
had replaced some Of the rotten sleep
ers with new ones. but had not filled the
spaces between them with coal dust as
they should have done.
We'll, do you see him." asked Shoni.
''See whom?"
MAN alive. the devil himself Is there"
I looked again with strange curiosity,
for we. the men OF Caegarw Pit, be-
lieved in the personality of his sable
majesty. and during our morning whiffs
at the double parting" before separat-
ing for our stalls. we had some strange
stories to relate of his majesty's period
ical inspection of the works, especially
after the strange case of viii Acha
View had eked out. But could not see
anything of him around and under the
wheels
He is gone now for sure. Shoni." 1
said. Suppose we try again."
As Shoni had now ceased to call his
sable majesty names. his sableness al
lowed us TO extricate the tram i'm no
time and place It once more on the rails.
NO" said ShOni. you must ride out
with me. I'll hook on an empty tram
==-- --=---== s--===----=