NOT ALONE.
Charlie's morning had passed away pretty well, and he began to think it
must be dinner time; at any rate he felt hungry, so he sat down and
looked to see what his mother had packed up for his dinner. There was a
nice little beefsteak pie, just about as much as he could eat, and two
or three of his favourite little round cakes to finish with; so Charlie
in high glee, spread the cloth they were wrapped in over his knees, said
grace, asked himself very politely if he would take a little pie, said
thank you, and took the dish. He had eaten about half of it, and was
enjoying himself very much when who should he see coming along but Bob
White. What should he do? Should he try to wrap his dinner up and put it
out of sight, or go on eating? but before he could decide, Bob was upon
him.
"Why," exclaimed Bob, pretending to start with surprise, "if here isn't
the ladies' pet! and getting his dinner too," said Bob, stooping down to
look curiously in the dish that was on Charlie's knee.
"Pie," he remarked, "and very good it looks; what else? Oh, cakes! well,
I'm in luck's way to-day, I am," breaking a piece off one and putting it
in his mouth. "What's in the can?" he asked, pointing to it with his
foot.
"Water," answered Charlie, trying hard to keep his temper.
"Well, you're a one to know manners," said Bob, "never to offer one a
place to sit down on--move along. I'll hold the dish;" and suiting the
action to the word, he snatched it up, and before Charlie had recovered
himself, the rest of the pie was half eaten.
[Illustration: CHARLIE AND THE PIE.]
"Give me that dish," said Charlie, trembling with passion.
Bob paused, and put on an injured countenance. "Can't you wait until
I've finished? shouting out for the dish like that."
Unseen by them both a gentleman was standing in the shade, watching the
whole affair, and just as Charlie was rushing upon Bob like a little
whirlwind, he stood out in front of them in the lamplight. Bob dropped
the dish in his fright, and stood with his hands hanging down and his
mouth open, staring in dismay at Mr. Carlton, the viewer.
Mr. Carlton took out his note-book, and turning to one of the pages,
quietly said, "This is the third time, White, that I have found you
quarrelling with and tantalizing boys younger than yourself, and
neglecting your work. Now this shall be the last time; you leave on
Saturday night."
All the impudence had faded out of Bob's face. "Oh, sir," he begged,
clasping his hands in his earnestness, "please look over it this once.
What shall I do if you turn me off? I dare not tell my mother; you know,
sir, that she is ill, and what I earn is all we have. I deserve it
perhaps, sir, but she doesn't--just this once!" he pleaded.
Mr. Carlton felt some one touch his sleeve; it was Charlie. "I beg your
pardon, sir," said Charlie, in a low tone, "but will you please forgive
him this time?"
Mr. Carlton looked at him with surprise. "Are you begging for him? have
you forgiven him?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," answered Charlie. "I am very sorry I lost my temper so. I
have been well taught, and perhaps he hasn't."
Mr. Carlton considered for a moment.
Bob could not hear what Charlie was saying, but he fancied from his
manner that he was telling his wrongs, and a sullen, angry expression
spread over his face.
"Come here, White," said Mr. Carlton. "I have consented to look over
your bad conduct once more; but remember you owe it to this boy,"
putting his hand on Charlie's shoulder; "he has pleaded for you; he has
returned you good for evil: see that you are not ungrateful." He then
left them, after asking Charlie his name.
Bob stood still, feeling and looking very awkward. Charlie went up to
him, and held out his hand. "You'll shake hands and be friends, Bob,
won't you?"
Bob shook hands shyly, and turned away to his work without speaking; but
Charlie fancied he saw tears in his eyes.
Soon after it was time for the men to leave. They came pouring out in
all directions from the workings of the mine, and Charlie was kept busy.
Hudson Brownlee came nearly last.
"How do you get on?" he asked kindly.
"Oh, pretty well; I'm getting more used to it already."
"Good-bye," said Brownlee, taking a step forward, and then standing
still. "What was it you were saying about not being alone?" putting on a
careless, off-hand tone.
"Oh," said Charlie, "I meant I should not feel lonely or afraid, because
I knew God was with me. I remember father reading out of the Bible,
'Fear not, for I am with thee;' and I know it is true, don't you?"
"No," said Brownlee, thoughtfully, "I can't say that I do."
"If I had my Bible here, I think I could find the words directly."
"Ah," said Brownlee, "that's a book I don't know much about. You see I'm
no scholar. I was careless about learning when I was young, and what
little I did know I have almost forgot. It takes me such a while to
spell out the words that I lose the meaning."
"What a pity!" exclaimed Charlie, "You see it's almost impossible to get
on right at all without the Bible, because God tells us in it what we
are to do, and what we're not to do," he went on impetuously. "I was
just thinking, as we came along down here with our lamps, about that
text, 'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.' If we
had not had lamps we should have been groping about in the dark,
stumbling over things, knocking up against the props, hurting ourselves,
and losing our way; but our lamps showed us the right path, and how to
keep out of danger. And we should go groping and stumbling through the
world in darkness, too, falling into all sorts of sin and temptation,
hurting our souls, and losing ourselves altogether, if we had not the
light of God's word to guide us."
"Where do you get all your learning from? you seem to know a deal for a
boy," said Brownlee.
"Oh, father reads these things from the good book every day. I dare say
he feels them comforting to himself when he's in the pit. Besides, I've
been to a Sunday school."
"Well, they are true," said Brownlee, thoughtfully; he held up his lamp
and looked at it. "For twenty years this has been the only sort of lamp
I've troubled myself about, but please God, if it's not too late----"
Charlie could not hear the rest, for he waved his hand and followed the
other men.
At the end of the twelve hours Charlie was preparing to follow some men
and boys to the shaft, when Bob White made his appearance. "It's rather
queer," said Bob, shyly, "finding your way about here; will you go up
with me?"
"Thank you," said Charlie heartily, setting off with him, and talking
away as freely as he could to put Bob at his ease.
You may be sure Charlie was very glad to get home and rest after he had
told his father and mother what he had seen and done. So ended his first
day down the mine.