Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-07-01
CHATTER VI

1t mus. not be supposed that my uncle
/ and aunt although they had adopted me,
could afford TO allow me 20 eat for very
long the breHd Of idIene. s. Had it been
necessary, they would willingly have
shared with me their slender means:
but | was fourteen years of age, | had
received good education. and l was
in every way fitted 10 earn my living.
Ny inclination was for the sea: not be-
cause | had any particular love for ships.
but because | had some wild idea that
il might ultimately he the means of
bringing me TO Madeline. | must own
that | was not exactly proud of home
/ which was 50 different to Ministers
Sometimes II night. when | sat furtvely
watching my aunt daruiug the stockings,
| fell to wondering what the boys would
say II they saw them, and my cheeks
burned with shame. Ii was on one Of
these evenings that 1 veutured to ex-
press my wish to go 10 sea. My aunt
threw up her hands IN horror.
WHY she cried If he be'ant like
/ his father Already, You'd like to gaw
+ 10 sayY to wander ever he face Of the
/ earth and die, like yo1r father did, with
out roof to eawvsr your headY a
/ saiIorr'
/ | stammered something about wishing
to work for my living. when my uncle
/ eat my explanation short by patting me
/ on the head and saying.
( "Youm good lad I'm glad to hear
zee talk saw but there's no cause for
ZEE to Saw to say You'm a comm to
/ wark wi me. Hugh"
In the minc"' exclaimed in delight,
for my strong desire TO go down the
/ shaft was growing; bur nay uncle look
his head
Nav. mas, lad, the mine he only for
big course men like ms. slip Of a lad
like sou will be better whac you'nl
gawsns -inta the awhee I fix d it wi
the master this fawrcnC o."
Thus it will be seen tha; my destiny
was mapped ont for ne. On Monday
began my aaties as uHdcr-elsrk, At hrsi
chafrd somewhat; bur Time, the healer
Of all things. brought solaee 10 sae A'
months rolled on. the memory Of Nun
strrs began IN grow dim: and when
thought of Madeline it was Of some love
Is vision seen ia dream.
The one great fascination for me wa
the mine Il was becoming a sort al
.Frankensteln." hp2ltiug ME by nigh
writing in the office. and when ! wa
asleep at night | saw il in my dreams
opening its huge black jaws and prcpar
ing 20 crush away some barlcss life
The more | heard Of it. the strougc
: grew my wish To explore for myself thos
dark bowels Of the earth Again aul
again had begged my uncle TO take IN
down. but be refused. At last. however
3 a,
70 my intense delight said.
"You can gaw dawn the mine t-daS
: Hugh BIZ GAVIN dawn. tax e
: wi me'
y The first thing 70 be done was 20 al
= Ire myself in one Of ms uncle's minin
suits # flannel. and possess myself q
one Of his broad felt hats My unel
, handed me- half dozen candles. whic
/ n, told me 20 put into my pocket; theI
= with "a merry Eod 10 the women folk, "
started.
IS Ii was 40 easy matter TO get TO IA
n entrance II the njHe. net being able
a 80 straigh. 10 the shafts as in the cas-
" Of mjaes on level ground The way wa
{ long and Jiiieult TO travel, az accouu
.e 81 the accumulation of mining gear ~
had 10 pass; Ioug chains stretched or
over hsl! crauks. wooden plattor,a~ looj
ie ing Ike battered remnants Of wreck
IT yet supporting large besms 81 timber am
n heavy coils 81 repe Here there VAS
little creakiug shed. there a brokeadow
20 post or two. aud there again we had /
lie wind round by the rocky path amids
chains aud cables and ascending load
n Wnea we gained the tcap-lo0, entraaS
~ 10 the mine. my heart begsa 70 beat viz
anticipation.