The Coal Mine.

(A MORAL TALE.)

It is well known that coals are found in the earth, and that men go down into large pits to work them up. John's father was a collier, and worked in one of these mines. He one day gave his son permission to accompany him. They set out early one morning, and soon arrived at the top of a coal-pit. John looked down into this large deep hole, and felt terribly frightened; and he kept tight hold of his father, who said to him, "Will you venture to go down, John?" John felt rather ashamed of being afraid, when he saw so many boys and men go down into the pit: he therefore replied, "I think I dare go down with you." They both stepped into a round basket, which was hung by chains from two thick posts at the top. The chains were then let down, and John and his father arrived safely at the bottom of the pit. As they reached the

bottom, John looked up, and saw a twinkling light like a star. He could scarcely believe it was the light from the large hole through which they entered, and that it looked so small because they were now at such a distance from it.

When the basket touched the ground, they both jumped out. The first objects that John saw, were men hard at work, whose appearance was frightful; their faces were almost black, and their figures looked terrible by the dim light of some torches which were burning in many parts of the mine.

John could not help wishing himself in open day-light again he was, however, of a patient disposition, and, as he knew that he could not return until his father went home at the proper hour, he tried to amuse himself as well as he could. He first of all began to examine this new and dismal world, for so it seemed to him to be: he observed that the walls consisted entirely of coal, which was so much cut out that it left large rooms and passages; in truth, John found that this mine was like a large house under ground. Until now John could never believe what he had often been told, that there were in some parts of the world mines so extensive, as to resemble towns. John thought he should not like to live in such a town as this: yet he had heard that some people remained always under

ground; and he found that even in the coal mine, where his father lived, many passed whole days together, and that horses existed there a long time without daylight. John was shocked to hear that these poor creatures became blind after they had been under ground a short time. He pitied them, when he saw their bodies worn out by hard labour; and he thought if ever it should be his fate to work in a mine, he would never flog them nor abuse them, as some inhuman boys were accustomed to do.

Towards the afternoon, the colliers all prepared to return home. John's father was obliged to work for an hour longer, having more to do than usual. When the men had left the mine, it was quite still and almost dark: one torch alone remained burning, and the whole looked so dismal that John wished his father had been ready to go home. However, he soon began to amuse himself by picking up those shining pieces of coal, called "peacock coal," from their bright colours, which resemble those in a peacock's tail. He was thus employed, when all at once something came against him with such force, that he was thrown down flat on the ground. He was terribly alarmed; but much more so when he looked round and beheld his poor father lying on his back, his body being almost covered with an immense heap of black earth, stones, and coals.

John instantly tried to rise, and to shake off that which had fallen on himself; this he could easily do, for, although he was much frightened, he was not hurt by the fall. He perceived that a part of the mine had fallen in. He now called to his father, but the poor man could not answer, because the heavy lumps of earth pressed upon his chest, and almost stopped his breath. When John found that his father could not speak, he was more frightened than ever, and began to call out very loud in hopes that some one would hear; but, alas! that was useless. He then set hard to work, to pull off the heap that almost crushed his father to death. For a long time he toiled on, but his little hands were unable to do much good, and for an instant he gave up the work in despair, crying out, "What shall I do?" His father opened his eyes, but it was impossible for him to speak to his son, and John thought he was going to die. At length, he thought of fetching a spade and other tools; with these he began to dig, and to clear away the earth and coal that lay in a large heap upon his father's chest after some time he succeeded so well, that, the weight being lightened, the poor man was able to raise himself a little, and to tell him to go on. With what joy did John continue his work, though he was much tired! but he was soon after assisted by the poor man himself, who could, when he

had the use of his limbs, push away the heavy lumps, and shake off the earth from his body. The first words he uttered, when he found himself able to walk, were, "You have saved my life, John !" He did not suffer much from this accident, although it appeared so dreadful to his son, who had not yet been in danger of losing his life. However, nothing ever produced so great a change in his mind as this accident in the mine; for he had an opportunity of observing the filial affection of his little son, and he could not help remembering how often he had neglected his duty towards this child.

Before this accident, John's father was indeed far from a good character; he frequently spent whole days in an idle and thoughtless manner. He never took any trouble to bring up his children in the fear of God; and if their mother had not been a good and pious woman, they might have grown up in ignorance, and perhaps in wickedness. She was thankful that her husband and child were not left to perish in the coalmine. They had indeed been in a dangerous situation: but what they then considered a misfortune, proved afterwards a great blessing; for the father could not any longer neglect a child who was so affectionate as John, nor a wife who had brought up her children in such dutiful habits. He was, besides, so grateful to Heaven for the preservation of his life, and he became