The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-03-15
HOW SANTA CLAUS CAME TO SNIP
SONS BAR.
ny BRET HARTE.

SUNS BAR.
ny BRET uARTE.
1t had been raining in the valley Of
. the Sacramento. The North Fork had
Owe flowed its banks, aud Rattlesnake
creek was impossible. The few boul-
ders that had marked the summer ford
at Simpsons crossing were obliterated
by o vast shest of water stretching to
the foothills. The up stage was stopped
at Changers; the last mail had been
abandoned in the tules, the rider swim
ming for his life. "An area" remarked
the Sierra Avalnche, with pensive local
pride, "as largo as the State Of Massa.
chusetts IS now under water"
Nor was the weather any better in
the foothills. The mud lay deep on
the mountain road; wagons that neither
physical force nor moral objurgation
could move from the evil ways into
which they had fallen, encountered the
track, and the way to Simpsons Bar
was indicated by broken.down teams
anu hard swearing. And farther on,
cut off and inaccessible, rained upon
and bedraggled, smitten by high winds
and threatened with high water, Simp-
sons Bar on the eve Of Christmas day,
1862, chung like a swallows nest TO the
rocky entabature and splintered CAPT
tails Of Table Mountain, and shook in
the blast.
AS night shut down on the settle.
ment, few lights cleaned through the
mist from the windows Of cabins on
either side Of the highway now crossed
and quilted by lawless streams and
swept by marauding winds. Happily
most OF the population were gathered
at ThOmpson's store, clustered around
red.hot stove, at which they silently
spat in some accepted sense of social
communion that perhaps rendered con-
versstion unnecessary. Indeed, most
methods of diversion had long since
been exhausted at Simpsons Bar; high
water had suspended the regular occu.
pations on gulch and on river, and
consequent lack of money and whisky
had taken the zest from most illegiti-
mate recreation. Even Mr.. Hamlin was
fain to leave the Bar with fifty dollars
in his pocket-the only amount actually
realized of the large sums won by him
in the successful exercise Of his arduous
profession. "Ef | was asked" ne re-
marked somewhat later-"ef | was
asked 10 pint out purity little village
where a retired sport as didn't care for
money could exercise hisself, frequent
and lively, I'd say Simpson Bar; but
for young man with a large family de-
pending on his exertions, it don't pay"
As Mr. Hamlin's family consisted main
ly of female adults, this remark is
quoted rather to show the breadth Of
his humor than the exact extent of his
responsibilities.
Howbeit, the unconscious objects Of
this satire sat that evening in the list.
less apathy begotten of idleness and
lack of excitement. Even the sudden
.plashing of hoofs before the door did
rot arouse them. Dick Bullen alone
paused in the act of scraping out his
pipe, and lifted his head, but no other
one of the group indicated any interest
in, or recognition of, the man who en-
tered.
1t was familiar figure enough to the
company and known in Simpsons Bar
as "The Old Man. A man of perhaps
fifty years; grizzled and scant of hair,
but still fresh and youthful Of COM
plexion. A face full of ready, but not
very powerful sympathy, with chame.
Ieon-like aptitude for taking on the
shade and color of contiguous moods
and feelinga. He had evidently Just
left some hilarious companions, and did
not at first notice the gravity of the
group, but clapped the shoulder of the
nearest man .jocularly, and threw him.
self into vacant chair.
"Jest~heard the best thing out, boys
Ye know Smiley, over yar-Jim Smiley
funniest man in the Bar? Well,
Jim was just telling the richest yarn
about
"Smiley's a-fool, interrupted a
gloomy voice.
"A OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES" added an
other in sepulchral accents.
A silence followed these positive state.
ments. The Old Man glanced quickly
around the group. Then his face slowly
changed. "Thats So" he said reflect
lively, after a pause, "certingly a sort Of
skunk and suthin Of fool. In course"
He was silent for a moment as in pain.
ful contemplation of the unsavoriness
and folly of the unpopular Smiley.
Dismal weather, amt ~ he added,
now fully embarked on the current of
Prevailing sentiment. "Mighty rough
papers on the boys, and no show for
money this season. And to-morrow's
Christmas"
There was movement among the
men at this announcement, but whether
OF satisfaction or disgust was not plain.
Hes" continued the Old Man in the
Iugubrious tone he had, within the last
few ipaments, unconsciously adopted
"yesAhrstmas, and to-nights Christ
mas eF Ye see, boys, kinder thought
-that,f, | sorter had an idee, Jest
passin IKE, you know-that NAV be
ye'd all <e to come over to my house
tonight pd have a sort of tear round.
But yppose, now, you wouldn't9
Don't fee like it, may be p he added