Hard Times

lear and cool, when early in the morning Si

ustomary for those who now and then thirsted for a draught of pure air, which is not absolutely the most wicked among the vanities of life, to get a few miles away by the railroad, and then begin thei

etown showed as a black mist; in another distance hills began to rise; in a third, there was a faint change in the light of the horizon where it shone upon the far-off sea. Under their feet, the grass was fresh; beautiful shadows of branches flickered upon it, and speckled it; hedgerows were luxu

of bricks and beams overgrown with grass, marking the site of deserted works. They followed paths and tracks, however slight. Mounds where the grass was rank and high, and where bramble

a long time; and the solitude remained unbroken. 'It is so still here, Rachael, and the

pon the ground. She got up to look at it. 'And yet I don't know. This has not been broken

her round the neck. Racha

s the m

Rachael took it up, shaking from head to foot. She broke into a passion of tear

d! He has been made away wit

at any blood upon i

me days, for rain and dew had stained it, and the mark of its shape was on the grass where it had fallen. They looked fearf

eam that resounded over the wide landscape. Before them, at their very feet, was the brink of a black ragged chasm

uld be got from Rachael, by any tears, by any prayers, by any representations, by any means. It was impos

ove of Heaven, not these dreadful cries! Think

l the agony of such a moment, Sissy at last brought her to

ve him lying maimed at the bottom of this dreadfu

no,

re, for his sake! L

l. She listened, but no sound replied. She called again and listened; still no answering sound. She did this, twenty, thirty t

ll round her, seeing no help. 'Rachael, we must lose not a moment. We must go in different directions, seeking aid. You shall go by the way

g, wringing her hands as she ran, she turned and went upon her own search; she stopped at the hedge to tie

reaties in her thoughts, she ran from field to field, and lane to lane, and place to place, as she had neve

no sooner understood her than their spirits were on fire like hers. One of the men was in a drunken slumber, but on his comrade's shouti

her man to ride for life or death to the railroad, and send a message to Louisa, which she wrote and gave him. By this time a whole village was up: and win

ed swiftly back, accompanied by half-a-dozen labourers, including the drunken man whom the news had sobered, and who was the best man of all. When they came to the Old Hell Shaft, they found it as lonely a

arose to the surface, and they sat upon the grass, waiting and waiting. After they had waited some time, straggling people who had heard of the accident began to come up; then the real help of implements began to arr

rge ring round the Old Hell Shaft, and appointed men to keep it. Besides such volunteers as were accepted to work, only Sissy and Rachael were at first permitted wit

equisites had been found wanting, and messages had had to go and return. It was five o'clock in the afternoon of the bright autumnal Sunday, before a candle was sent down to try the air, while three or four rough faces stood crowded close together, attentively

to spare. Apparently so long an interval ensued with the men at the windlass standing idle, that some women shrieked that another accident had happened! But the surgeon who held the watch, declared five minutes not to have elapsed yet, and ster

lass, and all eyes were fastened on the pit. The sobered man was brought up and leaped out bris

great shout arose and ma

ld make himself heard again. 'Where's doctor? He's hu

d shook his head on receiving the replies. The sun was setting now; and the red light in the eve

made a thick bed of spare clothes covered with loose straw, while he himself contrived some bandages and slings from shawls and handkerchiefs. As these were made, they were hung upon an arm of the pitman who had last come up, with instructions how to use them: and as he

e he fell, except that he had moved his free hand to a side pocket, in which he remembered to have some bread and meat (of which he had swallowed crumbs), and had likewise scooped up a little water in it now and then. He had come straight away from his work, on being written to, and had walked the whole journey; and was on his way to Mr. Bounderby's country house after dark, when he fell. He

red into the pit. The rope went out as before, the signal was made as before, and the windlass stopped. No man removed his hand from it now. Every one wa

e, and think of its giving way. But, ring after ring was coiled upon the barrel of the windlass safely, and the connecting chains appeared, and finally the bucket with the two men ho

none but the surgeon went close to it. He did what he could in its adjustment on the couch, but the best that he could do was to cover it. That gently done, he called to him Rachael and Sissy. And

quite motionless looking up at the sky, he smiled and said, 'Rachael.' She stooped down on the grass at his side, a

el, my

smiled again and sai

at pain, my own

dree, and long, my dear-but 'tis ower now. Ah, Ra

d look seemed to pass

' been wi' th' Firedamp crueller than battle. I ha' read on 't in the public petition, as onny one may read, fro' the men that works in pits, in which they ha' pray'n and pray'n the lawmakers for Christ's sake not to let their work be murder to 'em, bu

ut any anger against any

atient, suff'rin, dear-how thou didst work for her, seet'n all day long in her little chair at thy winder, and how she died, young

uld not see her, lying with his

ourseln, I should'n ha' been, by my own fellow weavers and workin' brothers, so mistook. If Mr. Bounderby had ever know'd me right-if

she saw that he wa

an'in them better. When I got thy letter, I easily believen that what the yoong ledy sen and done to me, and what her brother sen and done to me, was one, and that there were a wicked plot betwixt 'em. When I fell, I were in anger wi' her, an' hurryin on t' be as onjust t' her as oothers was t' me. But in ou

over him on the opposite side to

ter a few moments' silence.

ve heard you. And y

r. Will yo tak'

isa, with dread. 'Shal

o ple

anding hand-in-hand, they both look

' mak my name good wi' aw

was troubled

leave none ahint me: not a single word. I ha' seen an' spok'n wi' yor son, one

, those who had torches or lanterns, prepared to go in front of the litter. Before it was ra

n there in my trouble, I thowt it were the star as guided

nd that they were about to take him in the dir

t let go my hand. We may wal

and keep beside thee,

oombody be pleased

he hand in hers. Very few whispers broke the mournful silence. It was soon a funeral procession. The star had shown him