The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-03-07
THE STORY-TELLER.
HOW SANTA CLAUS CAME TO SNIP
SONS BAR.

1t had been raining in the valley OF
the Sacramento. The North Fork has
overtlowed its banks and Rattlesnake
Creek was impossible. The few bould-
crs that had marked the summer ford at
simpsons Crossing were obliterated by
u vast sheet of water stretching to the
foothills. The up stage was stopped at
Changers the last mail had been aban-
doned in the tules, the rider swimming
for his life. An area" remarked the
Sierra 1UalaHche 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 obiurgation
cguld move from the evil ways into
which they had fallen, incumbered the
track, and the way to Simpsons Bar was
indicated by broken-down teams and
hard swearing. And farther on, cut of
and inaccessible, rained upon and be-
draggled, smitten by high winds and
threatened by high water, Simpsons
Bar on the eve of Christmas day, 1862,
clung like swallows nest to the rocky
entablature and splintered capitals of
Table Mountain, and shook in the blast.
AS night shut down ON the settlement,
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 ac-
cepted sense of social communion that
perhaps rendered conversation unneces-
sary. Indeed, most methods of diver
sion had long since been exhausted on
Simpsons Bar; high water had suspend
ed the regular occupations ON gulch and
on river, and q consequent lack of money
and whiskey had taken the zest from
most illegitimate 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 excr-
else of his arduous profession. "Ef l
was asked" he remarked somewhat later
Tel L was asked to pint out q purity
little village where retired sport as
didn't care for money could exercise his
self frequent and lively, I'd say Simp-
sons Bar but for young man with u
large family depending on his exertions,
it don't pay" AS Mr.. Hamlin's family
consisted mainly of female adults, this
remark is quoted rather to show the
breadth of his humor than the exact ex-
tent 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
not 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
i'll, or recognition of, the man who en-
tered.
1t was figure familiar 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 complex
ion. A face full of ready, but not very
powerful sympathy, with a chameleon
like aptitude for taking On the shade
and color of contiguous moods and feel
ings. 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 himself into
a vacant chair
Jest heard the best thing out, boys
Ye know Smiley, over yar-Jim Smiley
funniest man in the Bar? Well,
Jim was jest telling the richest yarn
about"
"Smiley's - fool" interrupted a
gloomy voice.
"A particular - skunk" added an
other in sepulchral accents.
A silence followed these positive state
ments. The Old Man glanced quickly
around the group. Then his face slow
ly changed "That's So" he said re-
fectively, after pause, "certingly a
sort of skunk and suthin of fool. In
course" He was silent for moment
as in painful contemplation of the un-
savoriness and folly of the unpopular
Smiley. "Dismal weather, amt it 2"
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 aatiafao otion or 6iso,rct xuoS not nlain