Year: 1874

Patsy, laying aside his pick, which he
had been attentively examining, looked
up, and replied:


"Well | do, Jimmy! It's never
thought you nor | would be alive to tell


"That was one awful day, boys" con-
tinued the first speaker. "There was
weepin' and cryin' in the village that
same night. Eighty of us strong, hearty
men went down into the breasts in the
morning, and how many do you think
came up alive?"


The old man paused, and, taking his
pipe out of his mouth, looked around
among his audience as if he were expect
ing some one to give guess, There was
no reply, and he went on:


"There was just ten of us-thats all
just ten men came up alive. You can
count it yourself, how many was lost"


"'Twas there your father was killed,
Harry" said the man they called Patsy,
turning to the lad. -.r r-


eyes, know all about it; too WE'LL"
sorrowfully replied the young man.


"He was fine man, your father was, "
continued Patsy, "He might have savet
himself, only he went back to help his
friend"


eyes, sir; he died to save his friend,"
said the other. you'll never be such a
man as your father before you was, my
boy"


That was the opinion they all had Of
him, for weakness and seeming effemi-
nancy were damning faults in these mems
eyes, and Harry knew that in their heart
of hearts they considered him cowardly
and imbecile. He felt it was false.
Something within him told that if the
hour should come when his manhood
was to be tried, he would, despite his del
icate frame, not be found wanting.


The arrival Of the carriage that was to
convey them down into the pit cut short
all further conversation, and picking up
their tools, the hands prepared to de-
scend.


Harry and his partner began work at
their allotted place in the breast. Merrily
rang the picks, and loudly through those
long avenues echoed the singing of some
whose spirits neither damp nor darkness
could effect All was going On well in
this underground world. Suddenly, above
the noise and tumult, those nearer the
entrance heard the danger signal! They
sprang to the shaft and anXiOusly looked
up.


Great heaven! the breaker was on fire!
Quick men! if you value your lives!-
every moment is worth millions of gold
to you!


All over the mine went that terrible an
nouncement-d0nger!


Far away from this scene of horror and
confusion Harry was working uncon-
scious of his peril. At last he heard the
signal. Pick and bar were hastily drop
ped, and with all the speed Of which they
were capable, he and his partner ran for
what was now life and happiness-the
shaft


Flying thus, Harry stumbled over
something lying on the floor of the breast.
A hasty glance downward and he saw it
was the Superintendent @ = Emiy's N scffaaG fathGfr one
of his companions as he reached the
shaft where the rapidly ascending car
was indeed proving savior of men.


Without answering, he seized hold of
the side of the vehicle, was
was about springing in when, clear as a
bell tolling in the frosty air, there came
ringing in his ears these words:


Glove your enemies; bless them that
curse you; do good to them that hate
you"


Irresolutely he paused, like one en-
tranced.a Twas but few seconds, yet in
that time he lived ages. His father had
so, many years ago, resolutely turned his
back upon family and life, and in all his
glorious manhood met death for friend
here was a chance to die for an enemy;
one who had hurt him, one who hated
him. His mind was made up. He
loosened his grasp from the Car, and it
was soon far above his head.


When his companions saw he was not
with them, they called to him frantically,
and one threw him a rope, which, me-
chanically, he caught.


Was the finger Of God in this, telling
him that he must be saved? Here in his
hands he held life and safety-should he
accept it?


"Love your enemies"


He let go the rope, and without a tre-
NOR watched the Car leave him to his terri
BILE fate.


Now for his work! They would come
down again for him if it were possible for
man to fight his way through the flames,
for these miners never deserted one an
other. We well know that; but twas no
time for idle dreaming. Back to the
place where he had seen the man lying
PROSTATE, and all the while there was be-
fore him sweet face now lost to him for
ever-lost by the deeds of him he would
save. Covering his eyes with his hands,
as if to shut out the vision which was
sitting his good resolutions, he prayed
for strength to endure to the end.


Selling the helpless man in his arms, he
dragged him to the foot Of the shaft, and
anxiously looked up. Too late! too late
for instead of the sky above he saw mass
of burning, glowing embers, choking up
the only exit from this now vast place of
sepulcher-yes, it was death!


The next day, when the fire was sub
dued, and the men were able to enter the
mine, they found lying at the foot of the
shaft a powerful man, and resting partly
across his body, with calm, peaceful ex-
preston on his face, sleeping the sleep of
death, was Harry.-People's Monthly.


Concealed Weapons.