Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-03-08
HOW SANTA CLAUS CAME TO
SIMPSONS BAR.
BY BRET HARTE.

BY BRET HARTE.
From the Atlantic Monthly for March.
1t had been raining in the valley
of the Sacramento. The North
Fork had overflowed it's banks and
Rattlesnake, creek was impossible.
The few powders that had marked
the summer ford at Simpsons cross
ing we're obliterated by vast sheet
of water stretching to the foothills.
The up stage was stopped at Gran
gers: the last mail had been abanG-
oned in the tules, the rider swim
ming for his life. can area,''
remarked the Sierra Avalanche,
with pensivc local pride, as large
as the state Of Massachusetts 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
obHrgation could move from the
evil ways into which they had fallen
encumbered the track, and the way
to Simpsons Bar was indicated by
broken-down teams and hard swear
ing. And farther on, cutoff and in
accessible, raincd upon and be-
draggled, smitten by high winds
and threatened by high water, Simp-
sons Bar on the eve Of Christmas
day, 1862, clung like swallows
nest to the rocky entablature and
splintered capitals Of Table noun
tain. and shook in the blast.
AS night shut down on the settle
mcnt, few lights cleaned through
the mist from the windows Of cab
ins on either side of the highway
now crossed and quilted by lawless
streams and swept by marauding
winds. Happily most ofthc.popula,
ton 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
conversation unnecessary. Indeed
most methods Of diversion had long
since been exhausted on Simpsons
Bar; high water had suspended the
regular occupations on gulch and
on river, and a consequent lack of
money and whisky had taken the
zest from most illcgitimatc recrea-
ton. Even Mr.. Hamlin was fain to
leave the Bar with fifty dollars in
his pocket,-the only amount ac
tually realized Of the large sums
won by him in the successful exer
else Of his arduous profession. "E1
l was asked" he remarked some
what later,-"ef was asked to pin,
out purity little village where a
retired sport rs didn't care fol
money could exercise hisself, fire.
quent and lively, I'd say Simpson,
Bar; but fora young man with 6
large family depending on his excr
tions, it don't pay" AS Mr.. Ham
Inns family consisted mainly O
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
listlcss apathy begotten of idlcness
and lack of excitement. Even tht
sudden splashing Of hoofs before
the door did not arouse them. Dicl
Bullen alone paused in the act OF
scraping out his pipe, and lifted hi'
head, but no other one of the groul
indicated any interest in, or recogni-
ton of, the man who entered.
1t was figure familiar enough t
the company, and known in Simp
sons Bar as "Thc Old Man." A
man Of perhaps fifty years; grizzlcd
and scant of hair, but still fresh ant
youthful of complexion. A fac.
full of ready, but not very powerful
sympathy, with a chameleon-lik'
aptitude for taking OH the shade ant
color of contiguous moods and feel
ings. He had evidently just lef
some hilarious companions, and die
not at first notice the gravity Of til.
group, but clapped the shoulder o
the nearest man jocularly, and threw
himself into vacant chair.
Jest heard the best thing out
boys! Ye know Smiley, over yar,-
Jim Smiley,-funniest man in til,
Bar? Well, Jim was jest telling
the richest yarn about
"Smiley's a--fool," interrupted
a gloomy voice.
"a particular-skunk," added
another in sepulchral accents.
A silence followed these positiv,
statements. The Old Man glanced
quickly around the group. Thel
his face slowly changed. '"rhat''
So" he said rehectively, after :
pause, "ccrtingly a sort of skunl
and suthin Of a fool. In course.
He was silent for a moment as il
painful contemplation of the un
savorlness and folly of the unpopu
lar Smiley. "Dismal weather, aim
it?" he added, now fully embarked
Oh the current of prevailing senti
ment. "Mighty rough papers OF
the boys, and no show for money
this season. And to morrow's
Christmas"
There was a movement among
the men at this announcement, bu
whether of satisfaction or DISCUS
was not plain. eyes," continued
the Old Man in the lugubrious tom
he had, within the last few moments
unconsciously adopted-"yes, Christ
mas, and to-night's Christmas eve
Ye see, boys, l kinder thought
that is, l sortcr had an idee, jes
passin" like you know-that ma,
be ye'd all like to come over to my
house tonight and have a sort o
tear round. But l suppose, now
you wouldn't? Don't feel like it
may bc?" he added with anxious
sympathy, peering into the faces 0
hic comn0niOna