CHAPTER XII.-(CONTINUED)

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1565, 15 July 1882, Page 5

CHAPTER XII.-(CONTINUED)

" Yes." ho said in a low tone ; "it will bo dangerous. If that side prop isn't strong when tho big one's {rone, nothing can keep the stone up. See how it's cracked everywhere." "You don't like Jack,'" said Snicker Sniggles, quietly. " I love all men, as becomes a changed man," said Obadiah scntentiously. "I have had cause to hate him, and my nature has striven with it; but I have , -wrestled with it and become tho victor. Amen.",, "Yet," continued Kuiggles, "ho has done much wrong to you. 13ut foi him you,would havo conveited and married that pretty girl Beitha "White. You aie fond of her, ainfc 1 you biother?" "Speak not of tho unholy longings of tho flesh, brother," said Obadiah, in a strange voice. " You have raised the rebellious Adam within me. It is true, she is pretty. It is Imp I nawkeied after her in the manner of this carnal woild. It i.s even hue that her father is a man of money ; but, 0, Snicker Sniggles ! ate we not changed men ? llavo we not put off the old man and his deeds, and entered upon tho straight path. But you have houblcd me, biother, and I mu^>t pray." It was nothing unusual for Obadiah to kneel down and pi ay in the levels ; and he had such a name for piety with the men t-inco he had been converted nt a rovival meeting, held by Matthew Burnett; that they always refrained from laughing at him; indeed, his disciples often joined him. Some of tho miners would laughingly rcmatk that praying was easier than work , but, notwithstanding, they oftcner joined than mocked. '* " Brethren," an id Obadiah loudly, " I have had a visitation. The sweet call of prayer hath come into mine heart, and I beseech you for a few moments to ynn me in solemn supplication, Come to the love feast! Come "' Thero w.i-n't much demur. It was nearly the end of the shift, and tho men were tired. One by one they laid aside their tool", and knelt by Obadiah. It was a stiiingc picture. Above, below, were the rocks lit by the faint light of the candles, flickeriugm the iniibty, ini-.ty air. The half - clothed miners, begrimed with clay, seemed hue the goblins wo lead of in Uerman tuleb. Here and there a huge shadow etched along tho flocr like tho arm of a spectral giant reached forth to seize a A'ictim ; and in the dim recesses it seemed as if ghouls and demons were lurking for prey in flickering shadows. Afar off the clanking of the machinery sounded like the evil spirits of Merlin vt work in chains. Obadiah tiroso ftom hir knees apparently sthengthencd. lie glanoed around in a sort of awe-inspiring way, and then waved his hand to command silence. "Brethren, I have wrestled anl been refreshed. Let us now sing that song of praise that our beloved friend Suickei Sniggles has written." Instantly tho miners arose and began to sing, led off by Snicker Sniggles, whose nasal intoning" wus something amusing. But the effect of the different voices resounding in the cavern was something like that which is heard in a great cathedral. Some saug without thought, it is true, but there were others, with simple, earnest voices, who threw all the iutonso longing of their hearts into the verses, seeking in music expres-ion lor their feelings. The heart oppressed with sorrow finds in music its truest vehicle. In the mine of life we \\ci k our \\ .ij, Down in the depths, in the miry cl.iv; Driving in darkness, seeking for light — Lord of Heaven guide us .iricht. Halleluiah, Hallelujah, Glory, glory, ri.illrjuj.ih. In the rocks of error, h.ird .md gi ey, AVo sink and drive by night md d.ij , Kecking for gold that's hidden theie. Listen, O Lord ' 'into our pi.ner--Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Glory, glory, H.illcluj.ih. Groping our way through levels dark, No light the " pass " to death to mark ; "Working in danger and shadow and pain, O, Lord I with Thy presence oui soujs sustain. Hallcluj.il), Hallelujah, Glory, glory. Hallelujah. "When the day-shift is over, the whistles sound, Kaisc us glorious unto higher ground. Let Thy " cage" with us to the realms ascend. Great Manager, to glory that will never end. Hallelujah, Halleluiah. Glory, glory, Hallelujah. The wild strains had hardly ceased -when Obadiah's hand airain waved, and silence again reigned. Then in place of the strains that had echoed through tho cavet there sounded his unmusical voice. "Brethren," saidho, "think well of .what wo have sung. Ts not our lifo like to a shift in this mine ? In tho morning 1 4 ,gwe awake and come to our work and pick ,' "and pick away in search of gold, with .' only the light of feeble candles to show us our way. As we work so will our wage be. We drive, drive, for the golden reef, and alaa! how few find it. Yet, wbrethron, it ia there. Ifc.,.may be hidden

1 * .The author has no intention to give offence to ','true religion. He merely wishes to show the ' manner jn which the most sacred of ordinances " are travestied by men of the Obadiali Sweet* , comfort stamp. „ • , ► . -, ; „

in masses of rock, but ib is there, and the way to it is through narrow drives, and much labor is necessary to reach it. And then brethren, after all toil and trouble tho evening draws apace, and the whistle of tho engine sounds telling us it is timo to knock off. .Some give over work eheerfuliy, and commit themselvos unto the cage with perfect happiness ; but others who have not done well feel no trust. Thoy do not look for any blessed light above ; thoy fear tho frown of tho manager, and dismissal. Ah, brethren ! may wo so work in the mints of hfo that, when the signal of the Great Manager sounds, we shall take our places in the cage of death, confident of ascending fiom the dim light of the dark mine unto the glorious realms above, whero Ho will receive xis with &miles, and pay our wages. Yet another simile. Brethren, are ye not also miueii, and is not your mabter seeking- in ye for gold, driving into your hearts to find the precious metal ? Have ye allowed Him to find the golden reef that is within every man ? Has Ho not stood without, day after day, knocking. Have yo not refused to open to him ? Has He not sunk into your heai ts expecting to find gold, and instead found mere valueless mullock? Ah, Inothren ! beware. He is long suffering, but his patience avill not last for ever. He will come to you m fury, and ca»t you into tho shaft that is bottomless, whcio you shall bo dashed to pieces with tho fall. Amen. Fleo from tho wrath to come ; fleo fiom tho blast that's in the rock, and will bcattor you in fragments throughout tho mine if you do not retreat into the .safe diivo of religion. Biethern, let us pray." " Let us work," said a strong, angry voice at tho tuunol, and William Brown, •lack's fiiend, and tho manager of the Hesperus lOxtcndcd, appeared. Instantly the devotees slunk away to their places, leaving Obadiah standing alone. '! What the devil do you mean idling lioic," said Mr Brown, who had become a btioug, bearded man, " wher you ougbt to be working." "We had a visitatation, sir," ay.is Obadiah's reply, " and impioved the occasion." " Yes," retorted tho manager; "I've no doubt you've had a visitation of la/mess; it often comes your way. I'vo hoard a good dual about the slylo you have been going on lately, and J've mado up my mind to clear you out. 1 wont have suchmen as you hindering round with yours sanotimonius cant and unholy blasphemy You're mining the men "' "Saving their souls,"' Haid Obadiah, whose eyes were flashing in a very unsaintly way. " .Saving your crucase, " paid the manager roughly. ' ' After to-day you quit the mine. Come on, men, it's tune to knock off." And he disnpponicd ir. the tunnel. Tho men now fixed their tools in readiness foi the next ,«hi ft, and piocccrled to the diive. Obadiah, who .seemed voiy crestfallen, liogeicrl behind. The men did not come to speak to him. Tho youn» man who so stoutly stood up tor -Jack, however, could not hulp twitting him as ho passed. " Hot," said lie, wiMi a giin. " Yes,"' replied Obndinh, with a sneer, and, scowling at tho speaker, '• hot as it will be for him and you hereafter." " We'll take our chance of that," said the other, and ho walked on tvith his mates to the shaft, keeping to the rails to avoid the water which flowed alonjr. The cage had stopped, and those who stepped into it could sec, far above, a gliu.psc of the blue sky, studded with a star or two. " Whole's Obadiah ?" asked Muickcr Sniggles, as tho hist cage was going 1 up, and he was about to signal to tho man above. " Here," said a sepulchral voice, and Obadiah stepped into the case. 11 o was in a perspiration, but very while ; indeed, as ho took hold of tho chain, .Sniggles noticed his hand-, shake. One, two, thiec pulls at tho telegraph cord, and away the o.igo went, up ; up, until it reached tho light of day.