My paternal grandfather was a miner's child, in Pennsylvania. His father died (not mine-related) when Gramp was nine years old. He then went to work in the mines near Clark's Summit as he was the oldest and had his widowed mother and younger brother and sister to help support (no child labor laws then.)I come from hardy stock, though. He lived to be nearly 90. Between mining and shoecrafting he was also a terrific dancer, and was offered a spot on the vaudeville circuit but declined because he had just met a pretty little blue-eyed blonde and decided to stick around. He courted her by singing under her window, and she responded by emptying the contents of a chamber pot over his head. She was feisty and fun and it was love at first splash. They were married just over 50 years. Thanks for the video - it's one of my favorite songs.
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