clean, cheerful lad whom she had sent down
into the mine with a kiss and a blessing that very morning.

"Why, Derrick!" she exclaimed, the moment she made sure that it was
really he. "What has happened to you? has there been an accident? They
said you were kept down for overwork. Tell me the worst at once, dear!
Are you badly hurt?"

"No, indeed, mother," answered the boy in as cheerful a tone as he could
command. "I am not much hurt, only bruised and banged a little by a
blast that I carelessly stayed too close to. A little hot water and soap
will put me all right again after I've had some supper; but, if you love
me, mother, give me something to eat quickly, for I'm most starved."

By this time they were within the house, and as Mrs. Sterling hastened
to make ready the supper she had saved for Derrick, he dropped into a
chair utterly exhausted. He might well be exhausted, for what he had
passed through and suffered since leaving home that morning could not
have been borne by a boy of weaker constitution or less strength of
will. He was greatly revived by two cups of strong tea and the food set
before him. After satisfying his hunger he went to his own room, and
took a bath in water as hot as he could bear it, and washed his cuts and
bruises with white castile-soap, a piece of which Mrs. Sterling always
managed to keep on hand for such emergencies. It was fortunate for her
peace of mind that the fond mother did not see the cruel bruises that
covered her boy's body from head to foot.

The bath refreshed him so much, and so loosened the joints that were
beginning to feel very stiff and painful, that Derrick believed he was
able, before going to bed, to perform the one duty still remaining to be
done. Mrs. Sterling thought he had gone to bed, and was greatly
surprised to see him come from his room fully dressed. When he told her
that he must go out again to deliver an important message to the mine
boss, she begged him to wait until morning, or at least to let her carry
it for him. Assuring her that it was absolutely necessary that he should
deliver the message himself that very night, and saying that he would be
back within an hour, Derrick kissed his mother and went out.

On the street he met with but one person, a miner hurrying towards the
slope, to whom he did not speak, and who he thought did not recognize
him.

Mr. Jones had closed his house for the night, and was about to retire,
when he was startled by a kn