THE LAD.

And took him out of the cage.

His face was covered with coal dust,

They could not tell his age.

In fact, he was a young lad,

On his first day down the pit,

He did not hear the noises

Just before the pit prop split.

Down came the roof and crushed him,

Against the stone hard floor,

Squeezing out a young life,

That would run and laugh no more.

Who would tell his mother?

Who would tell his dad?

That the coal had claimed another

And this one just a lad.