Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-03-14
HOW SANTA CLAUS CAME TO SNIP.
SONS BAR.
BY BRET HARTE.

BY BRET HARTE.
1t had been raining in the valley of
the Sacramento. The North Fork had
overfowed its banks, aud Rattlesnake
creek was impossible. The few boul-
ders that had marked the summer ford
at Simpsons crossing were obliterated
by vast sheet 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. IAN area" remarked
the Sierra Avalanche, with pensive local
pride, [" as large 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
and 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 che eve of Christmas day,
1862, chung like a swallows nest to the
rocky entablature 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-
versation 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 l was asked" ne re-
marked somewhat later-"ef l was
asked to pint out a purity little village
where a retired sport as didn't care for
money could exercise hisself, frequent
and lively, I'd say Simpsons Bar; but
for a young man with 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
splashing of hoofs before the door did
rot arouse them. Dick Bullen alone
paused in the act of scraping out hi:
pipe, and lifted his head, but no othel
o. of the group indicated any interes
in, or recognition of, the man who en-
tered. L IS
1t was familiar figure enough to tn,
company and known in Simpsons Ba
as 1.-THE Old Man" A man of perhap
fifty years; grizzled and scant of hair
hut still fresh and youthful of com
plexion. A face full of ready, but no
very powerful sympathy, with chame
leon-like aptitude for taking on tn
shade and color of contiguous mood
left some hilarious companions, and di
not at first notice the gravity of tn
group, but clapped the shoulder of tn
nearest man jocularly, and threw hin
self into a vacant chair.
"Jest heard the best thing out, boys
Ye know Smiley, over yar-Jim Smile
funniest man in the Bar? Wei
Jim was just telling the richest var
about
"Smiley's a-fool, interrupted
gloomy voice.
ga particular-skunk," added al
other in sepulchral accents.
A silence followed these positive stat
ments. The Old Man glanced quick
around the group. Then his face slow
changed. That's So" he said refec
lively, after pause, "certingly sort
skunk and suthin of fool. In course
He was silent for moment as in pail
full contemplation of the unsavorine
ard folly of the unpopular Smile
Dismal weather, amt it?'' he adde,
now fully embarked on the current
prevailing sentiment. mighty roug
papers on the boys, and no show f
money this season. And tomorrow
Christmas"
There was movement among Il
men at this announcement, but wheth
of satisfaction or disgust was not plai
"Yes,'' continued the Old Man in Il
lugubrious tone he had, within the la
few moments, ,inconsciously adopted,
"yes, Christmas, and to-night's Chri:
mas eve. Ye see, boys, kinder thoug
that is, sorter had an idee, je
passin' like, you know-that may
ye'd all like to come over to my hou
tonight and have sort of tear roun
But | suppose, now, you wouldn'
Don't feel like it, may be?' he addt