Growing up in coal country - Bartoletti, Susan Campbell 1958- (Houghton Mifflin, 1996)
Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-126)
Introduction: The Stories I heard -- The Breaker boys: The Breaker -- The Boys and the breaker boss -- High spirits -- Dangerous conditions -- Nippers, spraggers, and mule drivers: The Mines -- Nippers -- Spraggers -- Mule drivers -- The Courage of Martin Crahan -- William McKinney and his mule -- Mules and rats: The Sweethearts of the mine -- Harbingers of bad fortune -- The Miner and his butty: The Work begins -- The Freedom of the mines -- Working conditions -- Dangers in the mines -- Superstitions -- The Patch village: Company houses -- Monday, wash day -- The Company store -- The Culm banks -- School -- After a hard day's work: Quitting time -- Recreation -- Payday -- Old-world ways -- The Black Maria: The Worst offense -- The Black Maria -- Major tragedies -- Strike!: The Greatest honor -- Conclusion: The Legacy of coal country