WORKING AND PRAYING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 212, 22 February 1872, Page 7

WORKING AND PRAYING.

The following story of what is done '^below" at times, says the Ballarat correspondent of the " Argus", was told me by a most trustworthy friend: — At a certain mine within a hundred miles of Ballarat, it was found as impossible to get men to tender for the work as it was to get those who went on wages to earn the amounts paid to them. The miners in the locality were nearly all Cornishmen, and seemed to be very piously inclined. The mining manager, on going down the shaft one hot day lately, out of his regular time for inspecting the works, was told by the man at the bottom, that the other men ) had retired up the drive for prayers. This novelty he desired to witness, and went on towards the face, where he found six. nieu sitting down, three of whom were smoking, while a- seventh was mouthing a strong exhortation to them to make up to their masters for the time devoted to their Maker, a hint no doubt prompted by the appearance of the " boss." After a little time, the address or prayer was terminated, and the manager was asked if he did not feel refreshed by what he had heard. He was a hard reasoner, and told them he did not like it, begging of them in future to render unto God and Caesar each their due, by keeping their prayers for their place of worship and. their labour for the mine. This sensible and reasonable suggestion evoked a lamentation from the prayers for the sinfulness of their manager. That night one of these pious vagabonds was caught in the act of stealing a fat sheep, and only escaped arrest by paying the double of its value; and two others were locked up for having been eng-iged in a drunken row at a low house. The pockets of one of these contained washdirt, with gold in it— in very small quanity, however; but the pockets showed that .they had been well filled with the same material, and left no doubt on the minds of the manager and others as to'the real cause of the prayerful assemblages near the face of the drive.