Excerpt from Our Brother's Child: And Other Stories

The surface trembles, and the blackened forms Lie mute, distorted, 'mid the catacombs.

This, doubtless, will Shock the delver after unreality; who will, perhaps, never forgive us for this bit of realism. In apology: even the writer of fiction must occasionally get back to real life, and life, as the author is conversant with it, is far from being a flowery bed fit for continualrepose. He is proud to have shared the dangers and sym pathies of many Robert Oakleys, but few Bennets. The miner, generally Speaking, is not graceful, refined; but the vital qualities that proclaim the man are his; he stands always ready to defend the weak against wrong, whether from within or without his circle. In this we speak only_ as regards our knowledge of the fraternity comprising American, British and Northwestern European miners; of the later influx we know not. Bennet was an extreme exception, just as Oakley's actions were typical of nine - tenths of the young men with whom his lot was temporarily cast. Their language would indicate otherwise; but their hearts are true.

An almost complete prostration of physical power early removed the writer from among them, leaving the mind alone capable, and that only in periods of very short dura tion. Hence to the literati he need hardly convey the in formation that limda labor et mom is to him a veritable fact.

If you, who will recognize in our brother's child the fundamental principles of your several societies Shall be brought to a deeper realization of your obligations, and constancy to them bound to you by the most solemn vows conceived by man, the simple story will not have been written in vain. To you who, perhaps, not unkindly, depre cate exclusive beneficence as delineated therein, we have but the following to say: Is there on earth such a thing as uni versal charity? Universal brotherhood? Do not exigencies of race, opinion, society, confine to congenial circles, pow erful in greater or lesser degree, all organizations having for their foundation the alleviation of suffering and dis tress, the uplifting of ethic life? Are the followers of the Divine Humanitarian - the Teacher of all teachers of uni versal brotherhood - exempt from this frailty? None of us follow implicitly His teaching and precept, but in the several paths we choose to travel each may do his best. N 0 man may do more: none need do less.

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