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A Miner's Tale

The year is 1764, my name is Sammy Todd, my friends call me Sam. My birthday was the other day, I am now six. My da told me today that I was going to be working down the pit on Monday. He said I would be a trapper boy, the money I earned, was needed for the family, I had seven brothers and one sister, and I am the youngest. The oldest is Fred who is 16, he works at the pit as well. At two o'clock on Monday morning my ma woke me, and told me to get ready, I would be down the pit one hour later. I was taken to the in road and shown how to open and close the door, I was given a candle to see with, but a cold draft of air blew it out, it was total darkness, I was alone, and would be here for 12 hours...

 

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Chapter By Sandra Hamilton Sunday, June 29, 2003 at 00:29:36

I was so scared. I just wanted me mam. I had never been away from home before. And I had always hated the dark. Me sister used to sleep in the same room as me and when I got frightened she used to tell me stories and make everything all right. Now she was gone and I was all alone in the dark. There was a noice behind me and I got really scared. I wanted to run away but I stayed put. Me dad said no matter what I had to stay there and do me duty. I had to earn me own keep. So I sat there in the dark thinking a fire breathing monster was coming to get me. And when it came for me...well. I was ready for it, wasn't I...

Chapter By Paul Lanagan Monday, August 11, 2003 at 22:54:02

Ah could hear it creeping closer, and closer and ah wished ah was back at bank with me Ma and old Granny. Ah could hear it crunching and breathing heavy. The door started to swing oppen and ah was expecting the fire breathing monster to jump out at me....but all that appeared was a dirty white pitpony! Dixie was his name and we soon became great friends. It was the highlight of foreshift seeing Dixie appear as ah opened the door each day. He was a flighty so and so, especially with me Da and his marras but he was okay with me. He was a strong hoss, he could pull more than his weight. Ah started visiting Dixie and the other ponies at the stables and help old Bob fill the choppie boxes.

Chapter By Sandra Hamilton Saturday, August 23, 2003 at 22:08:21

No matter what me da and brothers said to me, I was still scared of the dark. But I couldn't tell them lads and fellas down the pit that, could I? I was part of the working force, a man in the making. Men aren't scared of the dark, are they? that's what I alwasys thought., Until that morning I went down the shaft and found...

Chapter By Derek Wednesday, May 5, 2004 at 19:35:27

is this going to be the end then, or is someone brave enough to add something

Chapter By lenni Tuesday, December 28, 2004 at 00:04:08

that If I thought really hard that I was me grandad, that was 6 foot tall and at least the same wide - nothing would frighten me. Me grandad, when he was young and fit was the pit blacksmith. He tended the pit ponies and I now knew that I loved thos ponies as much as he did. Me Da said he was not built for the mines - and I remember me Grandad Billy often complaining of terrible backaches. On the other hand, me mam told me I was built for the mines because I am small for me age, and squat. She says I will be the perfect size. Just over five foot tall. I know me brothers think I am the runt of the litter, like that skinny pig, me mam's friend Nellie keeps in the back yard - but he will be killed at Easter - and I will live for ever! So I'm not really afraid for the dark mine shaft, the damp walls and the slippery floor. I am born and bred for this life. I just wish I was not so scared......

Chapter By Amanda M. Garraway: Monday, April 25, 2005 at 10:54:26

With the passage of time and the end of boyhood, my fear of the dark places diminished, only to be replaced by another horror. A monster I would never conquer, that eternally loomed over me and threatened my very existance. I had heard tell of the gas. I had seen the aftermath of it's prowl and attack - the scorched bodies of men who had once held their newborn sons in their arms, and the reddened, leather corpses of my playmates, obliterated on the threshold of youth. I named it the beast. It slept. It hunted. It watched. It waited. And it's appetite grew. Living with such terror, in the very depths, affected my soul. I was among the living dead, and forever aware that the invisible dragon delighted in just one thing - my candle. And so it was , that the darkness became my consoler, and the light, my enemy

Chapter By Marky Mark Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at 12:45:22

As i became older, my fellow pit colleagues got used to me working in the dark, fearful of that one day, that one day when i would find a pocket of gas and end this life of torment and torture, if only there was another way to earn the pennies we so desperatly needed to survive, just keep digging and thinking....."Owl" shouted todd, Owl was my nick name because of the dark that i surrounded myself in, ...Owl; "where are you" todd shouted again, your wanted up top streight away, the car is coming down for you now,...what's all this about i thought to myself, never mind, good excuse to get off this pit wall, in the car i go... Tommy the car driver would not look me in the face, "Tommy, whats wrong" Tommy still didn't look up, the car stopped and the gate went up, the light hurt my eyes, i'd never been up when it was daylight before, as my eyes filled with haze i could see three...no four people standing at the shaft entrance..."Sammy Todd"...uh, "are you Sammy Todd" a voice said louder, "yes....yes" i replied, what is it,..."Sammy i'm afraid i've got some bad news for you"..........

Chapter By beth Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at 22:54:18

Through the blinding light I could the overman, he looked upset. Sammy get yersel' home yer Da needs you, its not good news. I struggled to the surface wiping the dust from me eyes and coughing as I breathed in the cold air. A strong arm went around me shoulder it was our Tommy. "What you doing here?"The grip on me arm tightened." Aw Sammy its our mam, she's really poorly, you know she's not been well, that cough of hers it got worse and she coughing up something awful." H'way now we have to get home the doctors in and Mrs Landers from down the lane." Mrs Landers was bad news she always saw folk off in a good way, but you really didn't want her in your house when there was illness aboot. I picked mesel' up and gathered me thowts like and soon me and our Tommy were running up the lane.....

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