gentle, fair-haired boy; prosperity had not hardened _his_ heart (as it
so often does), and recollections of the long-ago flashed ever across
him, when he saw Davie bravely striving to do his best to help his
mother bear her burden of sorrowful poverty. He too had been a collier
lad in those far-off days, and 'the only son of _his_ mother, and she
was a widow.' The grass was green above that dear mother's grave, whose
latter years had been cheered and comforted by his tender, fostering
love; but his thoughts were of her, as, laying his hand upon the lad's
curly head, he kindly asked,--

'Would you like to leave the pit-work, David, and go into the engineers'
department?'

'What! and become a great man like Stephenson and Brunel? Oh yes, sir!'
the boy joyfully exclaimed, for, like all youthful ambitions he vaulted
at once to the highest pinnacle of greatness--there is no midway for the
ardent young.

The manager smiled at his enthusiasm, as he replied,--

'You can but try, my lad, to be as great and good as they were;' and he
added, 'You can enter upon your new work next week; there is a vacancy
for you.'

'But, sir,'--and the boy paused,--'shall I earn wages like I do now?
because'--

And his voice failed him, he could not utter the thought of his
heart,--should he still be able to help his mother?

The gentleman understood his hesitation, for he said kindly,--

'Yes, my little man, you will earn good wages, and, if you are only good
and steady like your poor father before you, I've no doubt but that you
may become a great man one day;' and he smiled encouragingly into the
boy's upturned face, a face which was beaming with hope and happiness.

As to Davie, he raised his generous friend's hand to his lips, for he
could not speak for very gratitude; then, with his blue eyes sparkling
with joy, ran quickly home to tell the blissful news.

'Mother, mother!' he cried, bursting in upon her as she sat at work; 'I
_shall_ become a great man now, and you shall ride in a carriage, and
never work any more;' and then, with his arms around her neck and his
curly head resting lovingly upon her shoulder, he poured forth his
bright hopes for the future.

* * * * *

So the last day came for working in the dark mine, and to-morrow--oh,
to-morrow!

'But I'll miss ye, Davie,' Mat Morgan observed, as he and his little
friend trudged on side by side to work; 'ye be bright and cheery-like
down