Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-01-15
Staniiislaus' Flute
(By Ralph Korngold.)

StanlSlaus had never known his
noihel-she had died the day he was
born, but he had his brother Tobias.
Tobias was mothe. fati-er, brother and
playmate to him. The boys father
was drunkard, and died of delirium
uremens when Stanislaus was but six
years old. A year later Tobias, who
was then seventeen, decided to sell
their little farm in Poland and come
to America. They settled in a small
mining town where there were many
other peasants from their native vii
liage. For few years Stanislaus at
tended school, then he went to WORK
in the mine, like all the other boys
in the town.
He became trapper-boy, and had
to watch two trap-doors and three en-
tries, and signal the mule drivers as
they came with, their trips of coal
down the long black road-ways.
1t would, have been very dreary
work indeed, had not Stanfslaus pos
sesSed his flute. That flute Tobias
had cut for him when they were still
in Poland Tobias had taught him to
play all the little ditties. sad and mer-
~, that are sung by the simple coun
try-folk at their work and at their play.
Stanislaus soon played much better
than Tobias. When Tobias played, the
little melodies seemed crude and col
orless, but when Stanislaus took the
flute, behold!-the melody began to
blossom and to grow, it grew into a
symphony. So does an Indian magi-
clan call forth beautiful tree from
little dwarfed plant.
,Stanislaus played the flute at his
work, 1t helped him through the weary
hours. Singularly out of place sound
ed the mellow piping at it fioated down
the entries of the mine The drivers
forgot to swear at their mules, while
the miners in the nearby rooms Of
ten rested their picks and shovels and
hummed the tune of their country.
One day there was terrific gas ex-
! plosion. All the lights went out, a
wind like hurricane swept down the
entries of the mine The trap-door
near which Stanialaus sat was torn
from it's hinges. and he was hurled
to the floor He was not hurt. He
heard men hurrying past him, and a
little later Tobias voice calling Stan
islaus! Stanislaus!"
6 Here l am, Tobias!"
Hand in hand they ran down the
entry towards the main shaft. Every
thing was swallowed UP in a great
cloud of darkness. None dared to
light a lamp, as the air was full of
marsh7gas. Men were hurrying hith-
er, thither, some one shouted that the
shaft could not be reached.
There was as crambl Some cursed
some prayed, some repeated Jesus,
Maria! Jesus, Maria!"' in low mon
otonous voice. Stanislaus had 10
cling to his brother in order not to
be orn away. Men and boys were call
ing to each other. Now and then
there was the wall of some little trap
per-boy
The crowd was making toward the
escape-shaft.
Suddenly there was another explo
simon, and another. Dust and little bits
of coal went flying. Panic smote the
fleeing men; they fought and cursed,
threy each other down and trampled
each other. Tobias, Stanislaus and
dozen others, ran down a side entry.
Behind them the roof collapsed crush
ing two in the rear. It was a blind
entry, they were caught as in a trap
2 To while away the time they ga+
around and sang. After while they
told their experiences. They all had
stories to tell, stories of horror and