<h2><SPAN name="page31"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>PENNARBY MINE</h2>
<p class="poetry">Pennarby shaft is dark and steep,<br/>
Eight foot wide, eight hundred deep.<br/>
Stout the bucket and tough the cord,<br/>
Strong as the arm of Winchman Ford.<br/>
‘Never look down!<br/>
Stick to the line!’<br/>
That was the saying at Pennarby mine.</p>
<p class="poetry">A stranger came to Pennarby shaft.<br/>
Lord, to see how the miners laughed!<br/>
White in the collar and stiff in the hat,<br/>
With his patent boots and his silk cravat,<br/>
Picking his way,<br/>
Dainty and fine,<br/>
Stepping on tiptoe to Pennarby mine.</p>
<p class="poetry"><SPAN name="page32"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p.
32</span>Touring from London, so he said.<br/>
Was it copper they dug for? or gold? or lead?<br/>
Where did they find it? How did it come?<br/>
If he tried with a shovel might <i>he</i> get some?<br/>
Stooping so much<br/>
Was bad for the spine;<br/>
And wasn’t it warmish in Pennarby mine?</p>
<p class="poetry">’Twas like two worlds that met that
day—<br/>
The world of work and the world of play;<br/>
And the grimy lads from the reeking shaft<br/>
Nudged each other and grinned and chaffed.<br/>
‘Got ’em all out!’<br/>
‘A cousin of mine!’<br/>
So ran the banter at Pennarby mine.</p>
<p class="poetry">And Carnbrae Bob, the Pennarby wit,<br/>
Told him the facts about the pit:<br/>
<SPAN name="page33"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>How they
bored the shaft till the brimstone smell<br/>
Warned them off from tapping—well,<br/>
He wouldn’t say what,<br/>
But they took it as sign<br/>
To dig no deeper in Pennarby mine.</p>
<p class="poetry">Then leaning over and peering in,<br/>
He was pointing out what he said was tin<br/>
In the ten-foot lode—a crash! a jar!<br/>
A grasping hand and a splintered bar.<br/>
Gone in his strength,<br/>
With the lips that laughed—<br/>
Oh, the pale faces round Pennarby shaft!</p>
<p class="poetry">Far down on a narrow ledge,<br/>
They saw him cling to the crumbling edge.<br/>
‘Wait for the bucket! Hi, man! Stay!<br/>
That rope ain’t safe! It’s worn away!<br/>
<SPAN name="page34"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p.
34</span>He’s taking his chance,<br/>
Slack out the line!<br/>
Sweet Lord be with him!’ cried Pennarby mine.</p>
<p class="poetry">‘He’s got him! He has
him! Pull with a will!<br/>
Thank God! He’s over and breathing still.<br/>
And he—Lord’s sakes now! What’s
that? Well!<br/>
Blowed if it ain’t our London swell.<br/>
Your heart is right<br/>
If your coat <i>is</i> fine:<br/>
Give us your hand!’ cried Pennarby mine.</p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />
1 of 2
2 of 2
Previous
Next
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.