The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-27


towns, situated in the
northeastern part of Penn
sylvania, near coal mine, which was
In fact the cause OF the towns exist
ence.
some time, ever since the apparatus
that was used in operating the mine
had begun to show signs of wearing
out. Also the colliery managers were
becoming intolerable They often re-
quired the miners to work overtime
without full extra pay, threatening
them with the pain of dismissal If
they refused; so thinking of their fam
lilies who depended upon them for
support, the tired men worked patiently
on. The unsafe machinery had been
pointed out to the managers and at
last they had written to Robert Morse
the man who owned the greatest num-
ber of shares in the mine, asking him
wha to do. His only answer was,
that things were all right the last
time he was there and he guessed il
would last while longer"
But the climax was suddenly reached
the day that one of the miners was
dashed to his death by the giving
away of the ropes of the cage or Gle
rator Picks and lanterns were drop
ped, and carrying the body of their
dead comrade with them every man left
his post and refused to return until
matters should he arranged to their
satisfaction. Mr.. Morse was informed
of what had occurred. but his opinion
was that the accident was probably
due to the mans own carelessness, and
a lack OF bread and butter would soon
cause the men to sing different song"
This wealthy man had other sources
OF income and he refused to yield an
| inch to the requests of the miners.
| The managers became so alarmed with
| the threats Of the men that they lost
no time in disappearing.
Time passed with no change i'm the
| obstinacy of Robert Morse. The stu
alton of the miners and their families
| was fast becoming desperate.
One Saturday evening in early spring
| well dressed elderly man quietly
| entered the small hotel" of this dis
tressed mining town. In the early gray
Of the following morn the stranger
made his way to the now dsused coal
| he could from the outside. and taking
general survey, he muttered doggedly.
| pears good enough to me-anyway
things can't afford any better now:
and the way things look yonder,"
| pointing his thumb back toward the
| town. they'll soon be glad enough to
| go to work with anything and for most
| any price"
| Sol tizin httG h.a AH to, httt
stopped short. Not far away "A fair
| haired girl of about seven years, was
searching diligently among the dried
| leaves.
Loose something, youngster?" in
| quired the man stepping over to where
| the child was kneeling.
| Springing to her feet. the little girl
looked up with wondering alarm in
| her great blue eyes.
| "Oh. sir | didn't know there was
anyone here. sir" and she commenced
to gather up into the lap of her pima
fore the few sticks of dried brush and
wool that lad fallen with her startled
| surprise.
rs that what you were looking for?'
came from the man. in surprise.
| mo, sir, not exactly, sir. You see
| y,
| this is Easter morning, and I was try.
ing to find some flowers" holding up a
| struggling bunch of spring beauties
"and"-very earnestly-"mamma read
| to us story about the rabbits thai
left pretty colored Easter eggs at the
homes of lots of children on Easter
Mamma said We We're too poor this
year; but. sir ] thought I'd just look
little and maybe I'd find one for my
little brother, that the rabbits haC
left"
A twinkle came into his eye, and hs
said, kindly: "Oho! so that's what yol
were searching for, my little maid?"
Yes, sir if you please, sir
"But | don't see what you want with
that apronful of trash; did you intenc
| to make pen for your eggs"
A peal of merry laughter rang from
the child at this queer idea, but she
soon told him it was to be used by hel
mother to make a fire with, at home
He readily understood why a fire waI
needed as it was SO early in the sprinl
that the breath of winter still hovereC
near. Robert Morse also knew enough
OF life to know that this was not al
| uncommon form of poverty yet /
| seemed strange that some other person
was not sent on this errand.
Where is your father" demanded
the stranger; why does he not get tn,
| wood?"
For moment the little girls lii
trembled, and then, looking up Will
the tears shining in the large eyes, sh,
said, softly:
My papa's dead, sir; he was killeC
in the mine by the fall of the elevator
sir"
Your father" cried the man, Will
! sudden start. 1t had been easy
| enough 10 think II was all the mans
own carelessness that had caused hi
| death before, but now, Robert Morse
can you stretch your elastic Conscienc,
before this embodiment of innocen
truth, and tell her that her fathers
death was due to his own carelessness
Yes, sir''-he had forgotten IN,
child's presence-"and that's why
wanted the flowers, sir, to put on hi
grave"
As she spoke, she began To mov,
along the path. Mechanically, Mors,
followed her, until they reached tn,
little church just in the outskirts o.
the village. There were a few scat
tered graves In the little churchyard
and going up to one, the child dropped
on her knees and carefully arranged
border OF flowers around her father!
mound Finishing her labor of love
she suddenly sprang to her feet, hel
face radiant with eagerness, and crieC
joyfully:
You know, sir, Jesus rose on Easte
day, long ago, and II my papa goes (,
heaven today, do you think ! could Sc,
| him Sir2"