THE
PETERITE. Vol . . II .
MARCH, 1880 .
No .
II.
DOWN A COAL MINE. APPENING to be staying a few days with a friend in Staffordshire, I expressed a wish to go down a coal mine, and, as he was " serving his time " under his father, he agreed to take me down to see, as he said, "what kind of pitman I should make . " At 5 a .m . one cold February morning, a loud tattoo sounded at my bedroom door, followed by a deep stentorian voice, bidding me arise . After rubbing my eyes I suddenly recollected that that morning I was to make my first acquaintance with the bowels of the earth, so springing hastily out of bed, I sought for some habiliments suitable for so black an undertaking . At last, after long search, I found some tolerably well-suited for my purpose, though by no means becoming, and stick in hand, I joined my companion, who of course was dressed pitmanlike with short knee-breeches, a leather-backed jacket, thick pit shoes and a leather cap, with the usual " yard stick ." A short walk brought us to the Colliery, and five minutes later saw us both seated in the cage, each provided with a Davy lamp . One, two, three, sounded the rapper, followed by a demoniacal shout, and I felt we were beginning to move. I do not know whether others have felt the same sensations as I felt,—all I know is that I inwardly vowed a vow that as ever I emerged safely from what seemed to me a descent into Hades, I never should essay the same again, but thinking that if Virgil, with all his experience in such matters, had assured us, " facilis decensus Averno, sed revocare gradum superasque evadere ad auras, Hoc opus, laie labor est, " I thought then that I certainly would never again see the light of Heaven. Bewildered as I was when I emerged from the cage at the bottom, my bewilderment was still further increased by the hubbub all
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