The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-03-15
HOW SANTA CLAUS CANE TO SIMP
SONS BAR.

BY BRET HARrE.
1t had been raining in the valley O
the Sacramento. The North Fork ha,
overlooked its banks, aud Rattlesnak
creek was impossible. The few boul
ders that had marked the summer fore
1t Simpsons crossing were obliteratee
BY vast sheet OF water stretching t.
the foothills. The up stage was stopped
at Changers; the last mail had beer
abandoned in the tules, the rider swim
ming for his life. can 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 hills. The mud Law deep on
the mountain road; wagons that neither
physical force nor moral obiureation
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 VIII. dis
and threatened with high water, Simp.
sons Bar on the eve of Christmas day,
1862, chung like swallows nest to the
rocky entablature and splintered cal ri.
tails Of Table Mountain, and shook in
the blast.
As night shut down on the settle.
me mt, 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 a
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.
nate 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 to pint out a purity little village
where retired sport as didn't care for
money could exercise hisself, frequent
and lively, Id say Simpsons Bar; but
for young man with large family de.
pending on his exertions, it don't pay.''
As Mr.. Hamlin's family consisted main
" 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
splashng 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.
Ii was a familiar figure enough to the
com pany 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.
llexion. A face full Of ready, but not
very powerful sympathy, will a chame.
leon-like aptitude for taking on the
shade and color of contiguous moods
and feelings. He had evidently lust
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.
'elf 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 I
bout"
Smiley's fool, interrupted a {.
gloomy voice. Ii
A particular-skunk," added an
'ther in sepulchral accents.
A silence followed these positive state
nents. The Old Man glanced quickly /
round the group. Then his face SLOWLY !
hanged. "That's So" he said reflect !
vely, after pause, "certingy sort of '
skunk and sutbin of fool. In course" u
ie was silent for moment as in pain. b
III contemplation of the unsavoriness il