ke to learn so curious an art. The missionary,
seeing this, explained how it was done; and Dick forthwith drew a rolley
on a block, and cut away all the white wood between the lines. Then he
rubbed over the raised parts with lamp black, and pressed it down on a
piece of white paper. There, to his delight, was the drawing of a
rolley. It was not very well done, but Lawry and David thought a great
deal of it.

The missionary smiled when he saw it. "A very good beginning, my boy.
Persevere, and it may be that you may make some use of your talent in
this way," he observed.

Dick had not, however, learned to do much better before the doctor said
that he thought his foot was healed enough to let him go to work in a
few days. Dick was eager to go at once, but Samuel said that he must
stay at play a few days longer. Dick had no love for his task in the
pit, but he felt that as he was fed he ought to work as soon as he
could. At last it was arranged that Dick should go to work the next
Monday.

Samuel kissed his younger children, as he was about to start with his
eldest boy to his work.

"We'll have you with us, Dick, all right and strong next week. You are
to be a half-marrow, I hear. Well, it's better than sitting at a trap
all day." He said, as he went out, looking back with a pleasant smile,
"Good-bye, all."

"He's a kind father, and he is much kinder and gentler than he used to
be before the missionary came," thought Dick, as Samuel disappeared
round the corner of the street.

Samuel Kempson went on his way to the pit's mouth, where a number of
other men collected, ready to go down as soon as the banksman called
them.

It was a fine morning; the sun was just rising in the clear sky out from
the far-off sea. Samuel drew a breath of the pure morning air, and
gazed round at the blue sky and glorious sun, as he stepped off into the
corve, in which, with many others, he was to descend the shaft. Bill
Hagger, who had completely recovered from his accident, and was now a
hewer, was among his companions. Bill, unhappily, was not among those
who willingly listened to the missionary. He was the same rough, coarse
being as before, a constant visitor at the ale-house, a fearful swearer,
and ready at all times for any mischief. There were too many like him.

Samuel and the others having got their picks newly sharpened, and their
spades, went to the lamp-house for their lamps. These were handed to
them, carefu