The Mine Owner and the New Hand
Once, two orphan brothers in Pennsylvania were so poor that the older brother, Thomas, who was 12, decided to work in a coal mine.
“We can always use strong lads,” said the mine’s owner. “I’ll hire you if you’ll stay one year. But if you fail to work while it’s still light, or become angry, you’ll have to pay me $50 to buy back your contract or work for seven years without wages. If I become angry, I will pay you $100.”
Thomas signed a contract, and the owner sent him to work as a breaker with other boys. Coal from the mine was crushed and poured down long chutes, while they picked slate and slag from the rushing streams of coal. Thomas cut his hands on sharp stones and choked on dust.
When the sun set, he started for the bunkhouse, but the owner exclaimed, “You’re supposed to work while it’s still light.”
“The sun has set,” said the boy wearily.
“There’s plenty of moonlight,” the man said.
“You must be joking,” said Thomas, frowning.
“Are you angry?” asked the grinning owner.
“No!” the boy said quickly. “I’m tired.”
But the man made him return to work. He had a little rest between moonset and sunrise.
One day, Thomas lost his temper. Shaking his fist at the owner, he cried, “Drat you and your coal!”
“You’re angry,” said the owner, smiling. “You must now work seven years for free — or buy back your contract.”
Trapped, the boy sobbed — positive he would die in the greedy man’s service.
Joseph, worried about his brother, came to the mine, heard what had happened, and promised, “I’ll fix things.”
When the owner made him the same offer, Joseph said, “The stakes aren’t high enough!”
The owner asked, “What do you propose?”
“If I slack off or get angry, I’ll work 14 years without pay. But if you grow angry, you must pay me $1,000 and tear up my brother’s contract.”
Smiling, the man produced a contract they both signed.
At dawn, the owner woke the other boys, but Joseph stayed in bed.
“Are you slacking off?” the man demanded.
“I saw how slowly the tired breakers work,” Joseph said. “I’m resting so I’ll work faster.”
“Get up!” the man insisted.
“Are you angry?” asked Joseph.
Remembering their contract, the fellow said, “I’m just reminding you there’s work to do.”
“I’ll start dressing,” said the boy. But he did so at a snail’s pace.
“Hurry!” the owner cried.
“Are you getting angry?” asked Joseph.
“Of course not! But time’s wasting.”
By the time they reached the mine, the others were eating lunch.
Joseph said, “I can’t work alone. And I need strength, so I should eat.” While the owner tried to keep calm, the boy chewed slowly.
Frustrated, the owner yelled, “It’s getting dark!”
“Are you getting angry?” asked the boy.
“Never!”
“Since the sun is down and it’s a moonless night,” Joseph said, “it must be time to stop working.” Off he went to the bunkhouse.
The next morning, the owner said to Joseph, “You’re going to be a door boy. You open the mine doors when the mule-drawn trams come through, and close them after they pass. It’s important work. The doors keep fresh air flowing in and keep back dangerous gases that could mix and cause an explosion.”
“Yes,” said the boy, curling up in a coal tram and falling asleep.
“What is this?” shouted the owner.
“I need a nap to gather my strength and wits for this important job.”
The flustered mine owner banged the tram with a hammer.
Joseph sat up. “You seem angry,” he said.
“I just want you to know that I am calling a short day and sending everyone home,” the man explained.
The next day, the owner said, “I’m making you a mule-tender. You lead the mule pulling a loaded coal tram to the surface, and then return him below with the empty tram. But tend those mules as best you can. Without them, the mine closes.”
Shortly after this, one of the miners ran up, shouting, “Your new boy has gone crazy! He’s set every mule free!”
The owner rushed to the mine entrance, as Joseph was untying the rope that hobbled the last mule. “What have you done, you idiot?” he roared.
“You told me to treat these mules the best I could. They are half-blind and bad-tempered from rarely seeing the sun. Fresh air, sunshine, sweet grass, and freedom from the coal tram seem best for them.”
“Here, now!” cried the owner, grabbing the mule’s halter. But the animal kicked him into a slag heap.
Joseph extended his hand to the man, who slapped it aside. “Are you angry, now?” he asked.
“Of course, you fool!”
“Then you owe me $1,000 — and my brother’s contract.”
“It’s worth it to get rid of you!” screamed the mine owner. He shredded the brothers’ contracts and paid Joseph, and the brothers went happily on their way home.
