50

COAL MINES OF

in order to be directed in her way; but thework of destruction had been too extensive,and if expectation for a moment gained hopefrom the appearance of a closed door, it wassoon converted into horror, to see it open andlet out other processions of death.

At length a young woman came up and in-quired whether the lady wanted any thing :on being told that she wanted to find her wayto the mine, but was fearful of asking on ac-count of their melancholy engagements, thegirl pointed to the road, and immediately burstinto tears. Can the human mind contemplatethis, and see in it only a small portion of themisery these calamities have occasioned, with-out feeling how imperiously every individualis called upon, as a Christian and a fellowcreature, to step forward and avert the dangerwhich still impends over the miners.

But as those who are not well acquaintedwith a coal mine will be at a loss to trace thedifferent operations alternately alluded to, itwill not be uninteresting to introduce a de-tailed account of its interior, and relieve theimagination for a time from reflecting uponthese multiplied calamities.

To approach the subject however throughits respective gradations, and to account, as far